News Life

Tortoise see, tortoise do

Though they rarely meet in the wild, solitary creatures can pick up skills by example

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

View a video of tortoises exhibiting social learning from their peers.

WATCH AND LEARN A red-footed tortoise named Quinn joined three others in lab tests that tested their ability to imitate a trained tortoise navigating a path to food. Martin Krondorfer
ALONE TOGETHER Red-footed tortoises that lead minimalist social lives spent several months living in the same compound, as they often do in zoos, before taking a test of social learning.