Learning to the Rescue
Australia’s northern quoll (left) is threatened by the introduction of an invasive species known as the cane toad (right). The quolls eat the toads, which carry a lethal dose of poison, but they can learn to avoid this toxic prey through conditioned taste aversion (O’Donnell et al., 2010).
Australia’s northern quoll (left) is threatened by the introduction of an invasive species known as the cane toad (right). The quolls eat the toads, which carry a lethal dose of poison, but they can learn to avoid this toxic prey through conditioned taste aversion (O’Donnell et al., 2010).
left: Eric and David Hosking/CORBIS; right: Chris Mattison/FLPA/Science Source