Tay (Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró)
@biotay.bsky.social
Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró, Goffin Lab, Vienna, Austria
PhD^2 and Ninja Biologist.
Animal Behavior and Comparative Cognition.
Human perch for cockatoos.
Also here: twitter.com/BioTay
More about me here: https://osunamascaro.weebly.com/
PhD^2 and Ninja Biologist.
Animal Behavior and Comparative Cognition.
Human perch for cockatoos.
Also here: twitter.com/BioTay
More about me here: https://osunamascaro.weebly.com/
5/5 After this, the invader assumes the role of queen: the workers care for her, cleaning and feeding her, while she begins to lay the eggs that will give rise to her new colony.
Furthermore, there appears to be a convergence between the two species.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
Furthermore, there appears to be a convergence between the two species.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
November 18, 2025 at 7:56 PM
5/5 After this, the invader assumes the role of queen: the workers care for her, cleaning and feeding her, while she begins to lay the eggs that will give rise to her new colony.
Furthermore, there appears to be a convergence between the two species.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
Furthermore, there appears to be a convergence between the two species.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
1/5 Parasitic queen ants
The queen of certain ant species has been found to act as a parasite in the colonies of other species. She manipulates the behaviour of the workers so that they kill their own queen, allowing her to replace her.
The queen of certain ant species has been found to act as a parasite in the colonies of other species. She manipulates the behaviour of the workers so that they kill their own queen, allowing her to replace her.
November 18, 2025 at 7:56 PM
1/5 Parasitic queen ants
The queen of certain ant species has been found to act as a parasite in the colonies of other species. She manipulates the behaviour of the workers so that they kill their own queen, allowing her to replace her.
The queen of certain ant species has been found to act as a parasite in the colonies of other species. She manipulates the behaviour of the workers so that they kill their own queen, allowing her to replace her.
2/2 The advantage of those individuals who are calmer around humans would be selecting traits typical of domestication (behavioral and physical changes).
I think it makes sense, however, I wonder if there could be a bias in the photographs taken.
(blog) www.scientificamerican.com/article/racc...
I think it makes sense, however, I wonder if there could be a bias in the photographs taken.
(blog) www.scientificamerican.com/article/racc...
November 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
2/2 The advantage of those individuals who are calmer around humans would be selecting traits typical of domestication (behavioral and physical changes).
I think it makes sense, however, I wonder if there could be a bias in the photographs taken.
(blog) www.scientificamerican.com/article/racc...
I think it makes sense, however, I wonder if there could be a bias in the photographs taken.
(blog) www.scientificamerican.com/article/racc...
1/2 Raccoons are domesticating themselves
They have studied iNaturalist photographs from the countryside and cities, and city raccoons have snouts 3.56% shorter in proportion to their skulls. This could indicate a domestication syndrome
(paper) frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
They have studied iNaturalist photographs from the countryside and cities, and city raccoons have snouts 3.56% shorter in proportion to their skulls. This could indicate a domestication syndrome
(paper) frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
November 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
1/2 Raccoons are domesticating themselves
They have studied iNaturalist photographs from the countryside and cities, and city raccoons have snouts 3.56% shorter in proportion to their skulls. This could indicate a domestication syndrome
(paper) frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
They have studied iNaturalist photographs from the countryside and cities, and city raccoons have snouts 3.56% shorter in proportion to their skulls. This could indicate a domestication syndrome
(paper) frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Extra: Cleaner fish are wrasses, a group that has been called the "primates of the fish world" because of their tool use, social cognition, and mirror self-recognition.
Take a look at this amazing wrasse (Semicossyphus reticulatus).
Sometimes intelligence is visible at first glance.
Take a look at this amazing wrasse (Semicossyphus reticulatus).
Sometimes intelligence is visible at first glance.
November 15, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Extra: Cleaner fish are wrasses, a group that has been called the "primates of the fish world" because of their tool use, social cognition, and mirror self-recognition.
Take a look at this amazing wrasse (Semicossyphus reticulatus).
Sometimes intelligence is visible at first glance.
Take a look at this amazing wrasse (Semicossyphus reticulatus).
Sometimes intelligence is visible at first glance.
6/6 They suggest that the shared ancestry hypothesis can explain its origin.
Brace yourselves: the mental representation of oneself must have originated before the divergence between actinopterygii and sarcopterygii, around 430 million years ago.
Brace yourselves: the mental representation of oneself must have originated before the divergence between actinopterygii and sarcopterygii, around 430 million years ago.
November 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
6/6 They suggest that the shared ancestry hypothesis can explain its origin.
Brace yourselves: the mental representation of oneself must have originated before the divergence between actinopterygii and sarcopterygii, around 430 million years ago.
Brace yourselves: the mental representation of oneself must have originated before the divergence between actinopterygii and sarcopterygii, around 430 million years ago.
5/6 The authors reject the gradualist view of the evolution of self-awareness, as well as a possible origin by convergence, as there is no ecological explanation for why some species possess this ability.
November 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
5/6 The authors reject the gradualist view of the evolution of self-awareness, as well as a possible origin by convergence, as there is no ecological explanation for why some species possess this ability.
3/6 The best evidence that motivation is essential to passing the famous mirror test can be found in cleaner fish. They pass the test with mirrors and photographs of themselves when the mark is relevant to them in terms of color and size (when it resembles a parasite).
November 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
3/6 The best evidence that motivation is essential to passing the famous mirror test can be found in cleaner fish. They pass the test with mirrors and photographs of themselves when the mark is relevant to them in terms of color and size (when it resembles a parasite).
2/6 If pigs, chickens, dogs, and other animals are capable of using mirrors in this way, why do they fail the famous mirror test?
Here, it is argued that it is due to a lack of motivation, the movements required, because they do not care about a stain, or because it focuses on vision.
Here, it is argued that it is due to a lack of motivation, the movements required, because they do not care about a stain, or because it focuses on vision.
November 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
2/6 If pigs, chickens, dogs, and other animals are capable of using mirrors in this way, why do they fail the famous mirror test?
Here, it is argued that it is due to a lack of motivation, the movements required, because they do not care about a stain, or because it focuses on vision.
Here, it is argued that it is due to a lack of motivation, the movements required, because they do not care about a stain, or because it focuses on vision.
1/6 Self-awareness could be VERY ancient
In this review, Masanori Kohda argues that the ability to use a mirror to locate objects, which roosters and hens possess, requires the prior ability to recognize oneself.
(paper) royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
In this review, Masanori Kohda argues that the ability to use a mirror to locate objects, which roosters and hens possess, requires the prior ability to recognize oneself.
(paper) royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
November 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
1/6 Self-awareness could be VERY ancient
In this review, Masanori Kohda argues that the ability to use a mirror to locate objects, which roosters and hens possess, requires the prior ability to recognize oneself.
(paper) royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
In this review, Masanori Kohda argues that the ability to use a mirror to locate objects, which roosters and hens possess, requires the prior ability to recognize oneself.
(paper) royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
What does it feel like to be a remora?
It seems that, despite the benefits they provide, whales do not like their presence and do everything they can to get rid of them. They observe them, jump several times, and check again to see if they are still there.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
It seems that, despite the benefits they provide, whales do not like their presence and do everything they can to get rid of them. They observe them, jump several times, and check again to see if they are still there.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
November 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM
What does it feel like to be a remora?
It seems that, despite the benefits they provide, whales do not like their presence and do everything they can to get rid of them. They observe them, jump several times, and check again to see if they are still there.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
It seems that, despite the benefits they provide, whales do not like their presence and do everything they can to get rid of them. They observe them, jump several times, and check again to see if they are still there.
(blog) phys.org/news/2025-11...
Not as Victorian as previously thought
Nearly half of the diversity we see today in dog breeds was already present in the middle of the Stone Age.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) www.bbc.com/news/article...
Nearly half of the diversity we see today in dog breeds was already present in the middle of the Stone Age.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Not as Victorian as previously thought
Nearly half of the diversity we see today in dog breeds was already present in the middle of the Stone Age.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) www.bbc.com/news/article...
Nearly half of the diversity we see today in dog breeds was already present in the middle of the Stone Age.
(paper) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
(blog) www.bbc.com/news/article...
The intelligence of slime mold is that of its materials
All of Physarum's intelligent behaviors can be explained by physics, as in non-living materials (e.g., water following the path of least resistance), and do not require a representation of the problem.
(preprint) arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
All of Physarum's intelligent behaviors can be explained by physics, as in non-living materials (e.g., water following the path of least resistance), and do not require a representation of the problem.
(preprint) arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
The intelligence of slime mold is that of its materials
All of Physarum's intelligent behaviors can be explained by physics, as in non-living materials (e.g., water following the path of least resistance), and do not require a representation of the problem.
(preprint) arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
All of Physarum's intelligent behaviors can be explained by physics, as in non-living materials (e.g., water following the path of least resistance), and do not require a representation of the problem.
(preprint) arxiv.org/pdf/2511.08531
7/7 Like other mammals, we are also “vocal learners,” and very good ones at it!
x.com/i/status/198...
x.com/i/status/198...
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
7/7 Like other mammals, we are also “vocal learners,” and very good ones at it!
x.com/i/status/198...
x.com/i/status/198...
6/7 Large brains allow them to learn many different sounds (in a general way), while parrots with small brains are better at learning a few sounds, but really well.
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
6/7 Large brains allow them to learn many different sounds (in a general way), while parrots with small brains are better at learning a few sounds, but really well.
5/7 Interestingly, this study has revealed that parrot species with larger brains are worse at accurately imitating sounds. Species with smaller brains, such as parakeets and cockatiels, performed better.
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
5/7 Interestingly, this study has revealed that parrot species with larger brains are worse at accurately imitating sounds. Species with smaller brains, such as parakeets and cockatiels, performed better.
4/7 Of course, unlike parrots, starlings are capable of producing polyphonic sounds with greater precision. This is because they can control both sides of the syrinx independently, whereas parrots cannot.
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
4/7 Of course, unlike parrots, starlings are capable of producing polyphonic sounds with greater precision. This is because they can control both sides of the syrinx independently, whereas parrots cannot.
3/7 In this other study, they compared the ability to imitate R2D2 between different species of parrots and starlings. As expected, for monophonic sounds, both groups performed equally well.
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
3/7 In this other study, they compared the ability to imitate R2D2 between different species of parrots and starlings. As expected, for monophonic sounds, both groups performed equally well.
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(paper) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
1/7 Vocal mimicry, robots, and music
The ability to mimic sounds could be extremely common among corvids. Here, it has been found in 39 species (30%), but it is predicted that it could be present in around 82% of them.
(paper) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The ability to mimic sounds could be extremely common among corvids. Here, it has been found in 39 species (30%), but it is predicted that it could be present in around 82% of them.
(paper) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
November 10, 2025 at 7:25 PM
1/7 Vocal mimicry, robots, and music
The ability to mimic sounds could be extremely common among corvids. Here, it has been found in 39 species (30%), but it is predicted that it could be present in around 82% of them.
(paper) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The ability to mimic sounds could be extremely common among corvids. Here, it has been found in 39 species (30%), but it is predicted that it could be present in around 82% of them.
(paper) link.springer.com/article/10.1...
1/2 Lethal violence in bonobos
On February 18, five females fatally beat a male at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project (Congo). The authors believe this may have been due to a minor attack on a baby two days earlier. The details are horrific.
(paper) www.cell.com/current-biol...
On February 18, five females fatally beat a male at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project (Congo). The authors believe this may have been due to a minor attack on a baby two days earlier. The details are horrific.
(paper) www.cell.com/current-biol...
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
1/2 Lethal violence in bonobos
On February 18, five females fatally beat a male at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project (Congo). The authors believe this may have been due to a minor attack on a baby two days earlier. The details are horrific.
(paper) www.cell.com/current-biol...
On February 18, five females fatally beat a male at the LuiKotale Bonobo Project (Congo). The authors believe this may have been due to a minor attack on a baby two days earlier. The details are horrific.
(paper) www.cell.com/current-biol...
3/3 It suggests that these experiences are more common than is generally thought and that, at the "level" of those studied, they reflect stable differences in how people process unconscious information, rather than being pathological. .
November 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
3/3 It suggests that these experiences are more common than is generally thought and that, at the "level" of those studied, they reflect stable differences in how people process unconscious information, rather than being pathological. .
2/3 There are three studies (n = 2,200) in which this correlation remains even when controlling for paranormal beliefs or psychological absorption.
(paper) psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
(paper) psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
November 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
2/3 There are three studies (n = 2,200) in which this correlation remains even when controlling for paranormal beliefs or psychological absorption.
(paper) psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
(paper) psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-...
1/3 The unconscious and anomalous experiences
Repeated anomalous experiences, such as déjà vu, premonitions and out-of-body experiences, are associated with 'subconscious connectivity' (the influence of unconscious processes on thought).
(blog) www.psypost.org/study-links-...
Repeated anomalous experiences, such as déjà vu, premonitions and out-of-body experiences, are associated with 'subconscious connectivity' (the influence of unconscious processes on thought).
(blog) www.psypost.org/study-links-...
November 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
1/3 The unconscious and anomalous experiences
Repeated anomalous experiences, such as déjà vu, premonitions and out-of-body experiences, are associated with 'subconscious connectivity' (the influence of unconscious processes on thought).
(blog) www.psypost.org/study-links-...
Repeated anomalous experiences, such as déjà vu, premonitions and out-of-body experiences, are associated with 'subconscious connectivity' (the influence of unconscious processes on thought).
(blog) www.psypost.org/study-links-...
2/2 After losing in a confrontation with other males, they were looking for the other side of the Kazinga Channel in Uganda in search of females.
I talked about it here
(blog, in Spanish) www.eldiario.es/sociedad/fil...
This was the paper
(paper; 2024) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
I talked about it here
(blog, in Spanish) www.eldiario.es/sociedad/fil...
This was the paper
(paper; 2024) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
2/2 After losing in a confrontation with other males, they were looking for the other side of the Kazinga Channel in Uganda in search of females.
I talked about it here
(blog, in Spanish) www.eldiario.es/sociedad/fil...
This was the paper
(paper; 2024) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
I talked about it here
(blog, in Spanish) www.eldiario.es/sociedad/fil...
This was the paper
(paper; 2024) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
1/2 Jacob
The three-legged lion who became famous for swimming 1.5 km through crocodile-infested waters remains active and healthy because he has changed his hunting style: he now ambushes his prey in densely vegetated areas, like a leopard.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
The three-legged lion who became famous for swimming 1.5 km through crocodile-infested waters remains active and healthy because he has changed his hunting style: he now ambushes his prey in densely vegetated areas, like a leopard.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
1/2 Jacob
The three-legged lion who became famous for swimming 1.5 km through crocodile-infested waters remains active and healthy because he has changed his hunting style: he now ambushes his prey in densely vegetated areas, like a leopard.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2503...
The three-legged lion who became famous for swimming 1.5 km through crocodile-infested waters remains active and healthy because he has changed his hunting style: he now ambushes his prey in densely vegetated areas, like a leopard.
(blog) www.newscientist.com/article/2503...