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Crows can recognize geometric regularity

(phys.org)
178 points wglb | 3 comments | 17 Apr 25 14:20 UTC | HN request time: 0.422s | source
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countWSS ◴[21 Apr 25 04:50 UTC] No.43748585[source]▶
Does the idea that "only humans can recognize shapes" sounds ridicolously outdated? Its like "Science confirms animals feel pain".
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1. cloudbonsai ◴[21 Apr 25 07:56 UTC] No.43749392[source]▶
The interesting part of this research is that baboons, while evolutionary closer to humans, fail to perform this task.

So scientists were thinking "hmm, maybe perception of geometric regularity is a unique skill to homo sapiens?". It turned out that crows can tell a square from trapezoids, too.

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2. Kuinox ◴[21 Apr 25 10:47 UTC] No.43750387[source]▶
Did they tested the baboons eyesight ?
3. NoTeslaThrow ◴[22 Apr 25 03:06 UTC] No.43758735[source]▶
I would argue the interesting part is that these shapes are nearly impossible to find outside of human society. Sure you can find quasi-crystals and straight lines occasionally, but either this is reused functionality (abstract thought?!) or they have a special relationship with things humans see as human.