These sea creatures have more self-control than you

Transcript

You've probably seen those videos of kids trying so hard not to eat a marshmallow for the promise of getting two later. Well, it turns out cuttlefish can pass that test, too. Researchers created a fishy version of the marshmallow test, offering cuttlefish a choice: a piece of king prawn they could eat right away, or their absolute favorite snack, live grass shrimp, if they waited. And wait they did. These squishy geniuses held out for up to 130 seconds, which is comparable to brainy animals like chimps, crows, and parrots. What's wild is that the cuttlefish who waited the longest also performed better on learning tests. This link between self-control and intelligence had previously only been seen in primates. Unlike social animals that might learn patience to strengthen group bonds, cuttlefish are solitary. So why the self-control? One theory is that it's a byproduct of their camouflage skills. They spend a lot of time sitting perfectly still to avoid predators, only breaking cover for brief hunting trips. Being picky and waiting for a high-quality meal makes those risky trips more efficient. This shows how different evolutionary paths can lead to similar cognitive skills, a process called convergent evolution. So, if cuttlefish evolved this trait to be better hunters, what other surprising skills might be hiding in the animal kingdom, and why?