Groundbreaking Research Reveals Tool-Using Behavior in Wrasses
A recent study published in Coral Reefs on March 26, 2025, has shattered the long-standing belief that tool use is exclusive to mammals and birds. Scientists have now documented tropical fish using rocks as tools to break open shellfish, highlighting remarkable intelligence in marine life.
Dr. Juliette Tariel-Adam from Macquarie University’s School of Natural Sciences led the research, which tracked tool use across multiple species of Halichoeres wrasses—a group of vibrantly colored reef fish.
Wrasses Demonstrate Advanced Foraging Skills
The study reveals that these fish deliberately pick up hard-shelled prey, such as crabs and mollusks, and repeatedly smash them against rocks to access the edible meat inside.
“Tool use is commonly associated with humans and primates, but this discovery proves that fish are far more intelligent than previously assumed,” explains Dr. Tariel-Adam.
First-Ever Evidence of Anvil Use in Multiple Fish Species
The research, conducted by scientists from Australia, Brazil, and the Caicos Islands, provides the first documented evidence of anvil use in several species of Halichoeres wrasses. These fish leverage hard surfaces—referred to as ‘anvils’—to break open their prey.
Through the citizen science initiative Fish Tool Use, researchers collected 16 new observations across five species of Halichoeres wrasses. This study marks the first-ever recorded evidence of anvil use in three of these species and the first video documentation for the remaining two. The findings significantly expand the known range of tool use behaviors in fish, particularly in the western Atlantic.
Implications for Understanding Fish Intelligence
Dr. Tariel-Adam emphasizes that these newly discovered tool-using species indicate a widespread behavioral trait among wrasses.
Professor Culum Brown, head of Macquarie University’s Fish Lab and senior author of the study, adds, “This research enhances our understanding of fish intelligence and tool use evolution in the animal kingdom. Wrasses exhibit flexible and dexterous behaviors that challenge traditional views on cognitive abilities in fish.”
Watch the Video Evidence
For more insights, watch video footage of wrasses using tools: Watch Here.
Further Information & How to Contribute
The study, Tool use by New World Halichoeres wrasses, was authored by Juliette Tariel-Adam et al. and published in Coral Reefs (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s00338-025-02633-w.
Explore more or contribute observations at Fish Tool Use.
Provided by: Macquarie University