Cat Hobaiter
@nakedprimate.bsky.social
Primatologist studying communication and cognition in wild apes. Some time academic. Full time naked ape. PI Wild Minds Lab @ University of St Andrews. She/her.
www.wildminds.ac.uk
www.wildminds.ac.uk
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
I'm sure this is a funnier @tomgauld.bsky.social cartoon for people who are not former primatologists who spent the morning looking at birds in the snow just to get the "I am watching an animal in a tree through binoculars" rush again.
February 8, 2026 at 2:33 AM
I'm sure this is a funnier @tomgauld.bsky.social cartoon for people who are not former primatologists who spent the morning looking at birds in the snow just to get the "I am watching an animal in a tree through binoculars" rush again.
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
We can all agree that metaphors are nice. But are they also sometimes necessary? Could there be ideas we simply can't approach literally, thoughts we can't think without metaphors?
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
February 6, 2026 at 5:14 PM
We can all agree that metaphors are nice. But are they also sometimes necessary? Could there be ideas we simply can't approach literally, thoughts we can't think without metaphors?
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @sflusberg.bsky.social!
Listen: disi.org/the-aura-of-...
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
Thrilled that our elephant gesture work got featured in the latest National Geographic PhotoArk edition @natgeophotos.bsky.social @angelastoeger.bsky.social @nakedprimate.bsky.social. Photo Ark uses the power of photography to inspire people to help protect at-risk species before it’s too late.
January 21, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Thrilled that our elephant gesture work got featured in the latest National Geographic PhotoArk edition @natgeophotos.bsky.social @angelastoeger.bsky.social @nakedprimate.bsky.social. Photo Ark uses the power of photography to inspire people to help protect at-risk species before it’s too late.
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
An underexplored word order principle, swap distance minimization, constrains word variation even after controlling for the actual word order diversity.
Joint work with @hectobreak.bsky.social and Arnau Martí Llobet
Free <50 copies
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/Y6CPR...
Joint work with @hectobreak.bsky.social and Arnau Martí Llobet
Free <50 copies
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/Y6CPR...
Swap Distance Minimization Beyond Entropy Minimization in Word Order Variation
Consider a linguistic structure formed by n elements, for instance, subject, directobject and verb (n=3) or subject, direct object, indirect object and verb (n=4). We investigate whether the freque...
www.tandfonline.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:40 AM
An underexplored word order principle, swap distance minimization, constrains word variation even after controlling for the actual word order diversity.
Joint work with @hectobreak.bsky.social and Arnau Martí Llobet
Free <50 copies
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/Y6CPR...
Joint work with @hectobreak.bsky.social and Arnau Martí Llobet
Free <50 copies
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/Y6CPR...
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
Great piece on prioritizing quality over quantity in scientific publication.
For those of us with labs, this necessarily involves shrinking our group size. After I got tenure I started to downsize my lab and have not regretted it one iota. More time for each student & more time to think & write.
For those of us with labs, this necessarily involves shrinking our group size. After I got tenure I started to downsize my lab and have not regretted it one iota. More time for each student & more time to think & write.
I’m going to halve my publication output. You should consider slow science, too
If we don’t slow down, the research enterprise is going to crash, argues Adrian Barnett.
www.nature.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Great piece on prioritizing quality over quantity in scientific publication.
For those of us with labs, this necessarily involves shrinking our group size. After I got tenure I started to downsize my lab and have not regretted it one iota. More time for each student & more time to think & write.
For those of us with labs, this necessarily involves shrinking our group size. After I got tenure I started to downsize my lab and have not regretted it one iota. More time for each student & more time to think & write.
Gotta keep some of those eight legs up out the way when the safari ants are marauding…
#bugomaprimates #bugomaforest #notachimp #tarantula #furryfriend 🧪
#bugomaprimates #bugomaforest #notachimp #tarantula #furryfriend 🧪
January 7, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Gotta keep some of those eight legs up out the way when the safari ants are marauding…
#bugomaprimates #bugomaforest #notachimp #tarantula #furryfriend 🧪
#bugomaprimates #bugomaforest #notachimp #tarantula #furryfriend 🧪
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
After reviewing nearly 200 applications from prospective grad students and postdocs over the past few months for a couple different 🧪⚒️ postings, here are some tips, at least as they apply to North American positions. I hope they help future applicants. Share with your networks. 🧵
January 4, 2026 at 2:17 PM
After reviewing nearly 200 applications from prospective grad students and postdocs over the past few months for a couple different 🧪⚒️ postings, here are some tips, at least as they apply to North American positions. I hope they help future applicants. Share with your networks. 🧵
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
I had the honour of working to bring @auersperga.bsky.social’s baby to life. It’s a VERY heavy baby - over 200 references (and yes I read them all) - but necessary to do justice to our new hypothesis of combinatory tool use origins 📝👶🛠️
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The flexible, the stereotyped and the in‐between: putting together the combinatory tool use origins hypothesis
Tool use research has long made the distinction between tool using that is considered learned and flexible, and that which appears to be instinctive and stereotyped. However, animals with an inherite...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 31, 2025 at 9:16 AM
I had the honour of working to bring @auersperga.bsky.social’s baby to life. It’s a VERY heavy baby - over 200 references (and yes I read them all) - but necessary to do justice to our new hypothesis of combinatory tool use origins 📝👶🛠️
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
Take note! 📝 There are a lot of important dates coming up for #ASABSpring2026 and #ECBB2026 🗓️
More information here: www.asab.org/conferences-...
More information here: www.asab.org/conferences-...
December 23, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Take note! 📝 There are a lot of important dates coming up for #ASABSpring2026 and #ECBB2026 🗓️
More information here: www.asab.org/conferences-...
More information here: www.asab.org/conferences-...
fieldwork fairylights 💚💚💚 Happy Chimpmas Eve everyone!
🧪🐵
🧪🐵
December 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
fieldwork fairylights 💚💚💚 Happy Chimpmas Eve everyone!
🧪🐵
🧪🐵
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
Had fun with this one!
In which I discuss: dolphins, elephants, marmosets, teknonymy, necronymy, reciprocal names in New Guinea, nominative determinism, the Bob-Kirk effect, the face-name-matching effect, name signs, toponyms, dog names, name uniqueness, alexinomia, toponyms, name taboos, etc.
In which I discuss: dolphins, elephants, marmosets, teknonymy, necronymy, reciprocal names in New Guinea, nominative determinism, the Bob-Kirk effect, the face-name-matching effect, name signs, toponyms, dog names, name uniqueness, alexinomia, toponyms, name taboos, etc.
New episode!! 🎉🎙️
An audio essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social about names in the natural world.
The search for "name-like" symbols in animals is intensifying. But if the enterprise is to succeed, we first need to pause and ask ourselves: What even is a name?
Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...
An audio essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social about names in the natural world.
The search for "name-like" symbols in animals is intensifying. But if the enterprise is to succeed, we first need to pause and ask ourselves: What even is a name?
Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...
December 22, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Had fun with this one!
In which I discuss: dolphins, elephants, marmosets, teknonymy, necronymy, reciprocal names in New Guinea, nominative determinism, the Bob-Kirk effect, the face-name-matching effect, name signs, toponyms, dog names, name uniqueness, alexinomia, toponyms, name taboos, etc.
In which I discuss: dolphins, elephants, marmosets, teknonymy, necronymy, reciprocal names in New Guinea, nominative determinism, the Bob-Kirk effect, the face-name-matching effect, name signs, toponyms, dog names, name uniqueness, alexinomia, toponyms, name taboos, etc.
just above the equator #wintersolstice is technically still the shortest day in #bugomaforest, but didn’t feel like it on a 13hr follow, light scrumping, rain dancing, shout at northern neighbours & a slow peaceful settling into the nest for well deserved sleep… not a bad welcome back furry fam 💚 🧪
December 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
just above the equator #wintersolstice is technically still the shortest day in #bugomaforest, but didn’t feel like it on a 13hr follow, light scrumping, rain dancing, shout at northern neighbours & a slow peaceful settling into the nest for well deserved sleep… not a bad welcome back furry fam 💚 🧪
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season ❄️🎄⛄
At @abcmicrogrants.bsky.social 🐝🐝🐝, we’re excited to support even more #AnimalBehavior students through #microgrants + #mentorship. Your generosity makes this possible - consider donating to help us keep this work going!
At @abcmicrogrants.bsky.social 🐝🐝🐝, we’re excited to support even more #AnimalBehavior students through #microgrants + #mentorship. Your generosity makes this possible - consider donating to help us keep this work going!
December 22, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season ❄️🎄⛄
At @abcmicrogrants.bsky.social 🐝🐝🐝, we’re excited to support even more #AnimalBehavior students through #microgrants + #mentorship. Your generosity makes this possible - consider donating to help us keep this work going!
At @abcmicrogrants.bsky.social 🐝🐝🐝, we’re excited to support even more #AnimalBehavior students through #microgrants + #mentorship. Your generosity makes this possible - consider donating to help us keep this work going!
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
Linguaphile Magazine is crowdfunding printing for their first physical edition. It looks very beautiful.
www.linguaphilemagazine.org
This project received a 2024 #lingcomm grant commendation, it's exciting to see this turn into a physical product!
www.linguaphilemagazine.org
This project received a 2024 #lingcomm grant commendation, it's exciting to see this turn into a physical product!
Linguaphile Magazine
We are a non-profit magazine exploring the essence of languages and the cultures they shape. From endangered dialects to the global impact of multilingualism, we delve into the stories behind the worl...
www.linguaphilemagazine.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Linguaphile Magazine is crowdfunding printing for their first physical edition. It looks very beautiful.
www.linguaphilemagazine.org
This project received a 2024 #lingcomm grant commendation, it's exciting to see this turn into a physical product!
www.linguaphilemagazine.org
This project received a 2024 #lingcomm grant commendation, it's exciting to see this turn into a physical product!
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
If you’re sad #ASABWinter2025 is over, have no fear! #ASABSpring2025 🌼 is coming soon, from March 23-25 at Bristol University. It’s an especially fantastic meeting for students and ECRs 🤠
Don’t forget travel grants are due Feb 1!
www.asab.org/conferences-...
Don’t forget travel grants are due Feb 1!
www.asab.org/conferences-...
December 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
If you’re sad #ASABWinter2025 is over, have no fear! #ASABSpring2025 🌼 is coming soon, from March 23-25 at Bristol University. It’s an especially fantastic meeting for students and ECRs 🤠
Don’t forget travel grants are due Feb 1!
www.asab.org/conferences-...
Don’t forget travel grants are due Feb 1!
www.asab.org/conferences-...
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
"misinformation is widespread in biological systems spanning levels of organization, and [...] is probably an inevitable property that inherits from fundamental constraints on biological communication systems, rather than a pathology"
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsif/article...
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsif/article...
A brief natural history of misinformation
Abstract. The idea that organisms benefit by acquiring information through social connections is a cornerstone of our understanding of social evolution and
royalsocietypublishing.org
December 14, 2025 at 6:36 AM
"misinformation is widespread in biological systems spanning levels of organization, and [...] is probably an inevitable property that inherits from fundamental constraints on biological communication systems, rather than a pathology"
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsif/article...
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsif/article...
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
I'm Kenyan. I Don't Write Like ChatGPT. ChatGPT Writes Like Me.
I'm Kenyan. I Don't Write Like ChatGPT. ChatGPT Writes Like Me.
I'm calm. I'm calm. I promise.
marcusolang.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I'm Kenyan. I Don't Write Like ChatGPT. ChatGPT Writes Like Me.
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
Attending #ASABWinter2025 this coming week? Feel free to stop by my poster and check out how we used novel visual field estimations for freely-flying hawkmoths to investigate lateralized sensorimotor control! Excited to share the results from the past two years of work 🦋👁️👅🦾 and happy to chat!
December 13, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Attending #ASABWinter2025 this coming week? Feel free to stop by my poster and check out how we used novel visual field estimations for freely-flying hawkmoths to investigate lateralized sensorimotor control! Excited to share the results from the past two years of work 🦋👁️👅🦾 and happy to chat!
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
We have already received many wonderful abstracts, thank you all! 🌟
For those who need a little extra time, we have good news: the #EHBEA2026 deadline has been extended to 9 Jan. ✍️✨
Add the finishing touches, hit submit, and join an exciting, inspiring conference!
👉 www.ehbea2026.com
For those who need a little extra time, we have good news: the #EHBEA2026 deadline has been extended to 9 Jan. ✍️✨
Add the finishing touches, hit submit, and join an exciting, inspiring conference!
👉 www.ehbea2026.com
Overview | EHBEA2026
The upcoming conference of the European Human Behaviour & Evolution Association will take place in Leiden, The Netherlands, 14th-17th of April 2026.
EHBEA conferences bring together researchers applyi...
www.ehbea2026.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:35 PM
We have already received many wonderful abstracts, thank you all! 🌟
For those who need a little extra time, we have good news: the #EHBEA2026 deadline has been extended to 9 Jan. ✍️✨
Add the finishing touches, hit submit, and join an exciting, inspiring conference!
👉 www.ehbea2026.com
For those who need a little extra time, we have good news: the #EHBEA2026 deadline has been extended to 9 Jan. ✍️✨
Add the finishing touches, hit submit, and join an exciting, inspiring conference!
👉 www.ehbea2026.com
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
The deadline for abstracts for the 2026 European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association has been extended to 9 January 👇
We have already received many wonderful abstracts, thank you all! 🌟
For those who need a little extra time, we have good news: the #EHBEA2026 deadline has been extended to 9 Jan. ✍️✨
Add the finishing touches, hit submit, and join an exciting, inspiring conference!
👉 www.ehbea2026.com
For those who need a little extra time, we have good news: the #EHBEA2026 deadline has been extended to 9 Jan. ✍️✨
Add the finishing touches, hit submit, and join an exciting, inspiring conference!
👉 www.ehbea2026.com
Overview | EHBEA2026
The upcoming conference of the European Human Behaviour & Evolution Association will take place in Leiden, The Netherlands, 14th-17th of April 2026.
EHBEA conferences bring together researchers applyi...
www.ehbea2026.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The deadline for abstracts for the 2026 European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association has been extended to 9 January 👇
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
🚨 DEADLINE 🚨
EHBEA is searching for people who wants to help in the development of the evolutionary human sciences 👀
Do you feel like it? Then apply for PRESIDENT and/or SECRETARY for 2026-2029!
Deadline? December 16/12/2025
More information?👇 👇 👇
EHBEA is searching for people who wants to help in the development of the evolutionary human sciences 👀
Do you feel like it? Then apply for PRESIDENT and/or SECRETARY for 2026-2029!
Deadline? December 16/12/2025
More information?👇 👇 👇
EHBEA is looking for new PRESIDENT and SECRETARY for 2026-2029! 👀
If you know of anybody who could represent EHBEA, nominate them as president!
If you know with good organisational skills, nominate them as secretary!
DEADLINE: 16/12/2026
HERE IS THE FORM 👇
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
If you know of anybody who could represent EHBEA, nominate them as president!
If you know with good organisational skills, nominate them as secretary!
DEADLINE: 16/12/2026
HERE IS THE FORM 👇
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
EHBEACommitteeNominationForm_Pres_Sec.doc
EHBEA Committee 2026-2029: Nomination Form The EHBEA Steering Committee is calling for nominations for the following open committee positions for 2026-2029. You are invited to nominate one or more c...
docs.google.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:19 AM
🚨 DEADLINE 🚨
EHBEA is searching for people who wants to help in the development of the evolutionary human sciences 👀
Do you feel like it? Then apply for PRESIDENT and/or SECRETARY for 2026-2029!
Deadline? December 16/12/2025
More information?👇 👇 👇
EHBEA is searching for people who wants to help in the development of the evolutionary human sciences 👀
Do you feel like it? Then apply for PRESIDENT and/or SECRETARY for 2026-2029!
Deadline? December 16/12/2025
More information?👇 👇 👇
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
PhD studentship on antimicrobial resistance in wild baboons! Fully-funded by @swbiodtp.bsky.social Application deadline: Wed 3 Dec 2025. More details: bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo.... Apply here: www.swbio.ac.uk/programme/ho...
@inesfuertbauer.bsky.social @xavh.bsky.social
@inesfuertbauer.bsky.social @xavh.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 9:18 AM
PhD studentship on antimicrobial resistance in wild baboons! Fully-funded by @swbiodtp.bsky.social Application deadline: Wed 3 Dec 2025. More details: bpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristo.... Apply here: www.swbio.ac.uk/programme/ho...
@inesfuertbauer.bsky.social @xavh.bsky.social
@inesfuertbauer.bsky.social @xavh.bsky.social
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
Come and join our lab! We have TWO fully funded PhD positions AND a paid field assistant opportunity in our Behavioral Ecology group @uni-goettingen.de & @primatenzentrum.bsky.social. Projects will be part of @rtg2906-curiosity.bsky.social & @sfb1528.bsky.social!!
Details in thread. Please re-post!
Details in thread. Please re-post!
November 25, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Come and join our lab! We have TWO fully funded PhD positions AND a paid field assistant opportunity in our Behavioral Ecology group @uni-goettingen.de & @primatenzentrum.bsky.social. Projects will be part of @rtg2906-curiosity.bsky.social & @sfb1528.bsky.social!!
Details in thread. Please re-post!
Details in thread. Please re-post!
Reposted by Cat Hobaiter
🚨NEW PUBLICATION ALERT!🚨
The 'Design Features' of Language Revisited (w/ @mperlman.bsky.social @glupyan.bsky.social Koen de Reus & @limorraviv.bsky.social)
Feature Review out now in #OpenAccess in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social! #language #linguistics
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
The 'Design Features' of Language Revisited (w/ @mperlman.bsky.social @glupyan.bsky.social Koen de Reus & @limorraviv.bsky.social)
Feature Review out now in #OpenAccess in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social! #language #linguistics
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
November 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM
🚨NEW PUBLICATION ALERT!🚨
The 'Design Features' of Language Revisited (w/ @mperlman.bsky.social @glupyan.bsky.social Koen de Reus & @limorraviv.bsky.social)
Feature Review out now in #OpenAccess in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social! #language #linguistics
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
The 'Design Features' of Language Revisited (w/ @mperlman.bsky.social @glupyan.bsky.social Koen de Reus & @limorraviv.bsky.social)
Feature Review out now in #OpenAccess in @cp-trendscognsci.bsky.social! #language #linguistics
Paper: doi.org/10.1016/j.ti...
#teamSTRANGE goes to Switzerland! @mikemwebster.bsky.social talking @ Uni Bern about sampling biases in animal behaviour research and how acknowledging them helps us improve replications and ask cool new questions!
www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
November 18, 2025 at 9:23 AM
#teamSTRANGE goes to Switzerland! @mikemwebster.bsky.social talking @ Uni Bern about sampling biases in animal behaviour research and how acknowledging them helps us improve replications and ask cool new questions!
www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪