Which animals besides primates are known to use tools?

The answer

Tool use extends far beyond primates. New Caledonian crows craft hooked stick tools from specific plants, a skill passed culturally across generations. Dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia, wear marine sponges on their snouts to protect against stingray barbs while foraging - a behavior documented since 1984 and transmitted maternally. Archerfish spit calibrated water jets to knock insects from branches, adjusting for light refraction. Egyptian vultures hurl rocks to crack ostrich eggs. Tuskfish slam clams against coral anvils. In 2024, researchers documented wild boar in France using bark pieces to dig more efficiently, adding to a growing list of over 300 non-primate tool-using species.