Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Search

Refine search

Refine search

Access:
Content type:
Publication date:
Apply   From and To filters
Subject: Show more
Journals Show more
Publishers: Show more
Societies Show more
Series: Show more
Collections: Show more

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

1 results

  • 25 - Numerical Competence in Fish

  • from Part V - Numerical and Quantitative Abilities
  • Edited by Allison B. Kaufman, University of Connecticut, Josep Call, University of St Andrews, Scotland, James C. Kaufman, University of Connecticut
  • Book:
    The Cambridge Handbook of Animal Cognition
    Published online:
    01 July 2021
    Print publication:
    22 July 2021, pp 580-601

  • Summary

    Although fish represent approximately half of vertebrates, the quantitative abilities of fish have been investigated only recently. Two methodological approaches commonly used with mammals and birds have been used: the observation of spontaneous behaviour and training procedures. In the former, fish are observed in their preference for reaching the larger or smaller quantities of biologically relevant stimuli (in most cases, whether they join a larger shoal when placed in an unfamiliar environment). In the latter, fish are trained to select the larger or the smaller of two sets of abstract objects (e.g., two-dimensional figures that differ in numerosity). These studies showed that different fish species process numerical information in a similar way to that of mammals and birds. In this chapter, we review the relevant literature, giving particular regard to the strength and potential weaknesses of the two methodological approaches.