Posted on 11/11/2006 5:04:21 AM PST by bannie
Back in 1902, a scientist examining the smooth, grapefruit-size brain of a manatee remarked that the organ's unwrinkled surface resembled that of the brain of an idiot. Ever since then, manatees have generally been considered incapable of doing anything more complicated than chewing sea grass.
But Hugh, a manatee in a tank at a Florida marine laboratory, doesn't seem like a dimwit. When a buzzer sounds, the speed bump-shaped mammal slowly flips his 1,300 pounds and aims a whiskered snout toward one of eight loudspeakers lowered into the water. Nosing the correct speaker earns him treats.
Hugh is no manatee prodigy. Such sensory experiments, along with other recent studies, are revealing that sea cows aren't so stupid after all.
Researchers contend that if the plant-eating beasts seem slow-witted, it is because they faced no threats to their survival before the advent of boat propellers. ... At least 75 manatees have been killed this year in collisions with watercraft, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. ... Scientists have long assumed brains with many folds _ such as those belonging to dolphins and humans _ are a sign of intelligence. But Reep argues the cause behind those brain folds is unknown, and smooth- brained manatees don't seem to be missing anything important.
"The brain looks just as complex internally as any other mammalian brain," said Reep, co-author with Bob Bonde, a Florida biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, of a book on manatee physiology.
Hugh and his half-brother Buffett, both born in captivity, have spent many days since 1998 showing researchers what they can learn. The manatees have been trained to respond to whistles and stop at underwater targets.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Why, thank you!
:-) I enjoy running after a running joke.
...I am convinced Hugh is no dummie. In fact he is smarter than much of the Hugh manatee I've known!
To determine that, I need to know his party affiliation.
:-)
Now, if only we can teach Congress to follow our commands.
That's the way the average Democrat would spell it..."Oh, the Hugh manatee!"
Hugh Manatee.
Second cousin to Noah Shark.
What's your opinion?
I'm witcha' on'at.
Who enjoys a good Hot Dog once in a while
Hugh's lucky to be in the tank... We would'nt want to see him get harPUNned - by accident...
LOL. It's easy to see this thread is declining rapidly. Will check back later just to see how far it goes.
LOL! The guys here at work are wondering why I'm giggling here. Only a FReeper would get this, I guess.
Word.
Hugh Manatee for Speaker of the House.
Award for the most clever post of the day!
You shouldn't be at work!
:-o
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