A longstanding issue in biology is whether the intelligence of animals can be predicted by
absolute or relative brain size. However, progress has been hampered by an insufficient …

Noting that some theropod dinosaurs had large brains, large grasping hands, and likely
binocular vision, paleontologist Dale Russell suggested that a branch of these dinosaurs …

Comparative studies have identified a wide range of behavioural and ecological correlates
of relative brain size, with results differing between taxonomic groups, and even within them …

Reptiles and birds are a fascinating group of animals that is most critical to understanding
the evolution of vertebrate brains. Birds are the only class of vertebrates that can rival …

Environmental variability has long been postulated as a major selective force in the
evolution of large brains. However, assembling evidence for this hypothesis has proved …

Urbanization is a major driver of local biodiversity losses, but the traits that determine
whether species are able to tolerate urban environments remain poorly understood. Theory …

Understanding why some species thrive in captivity, while others struggle to adjust, can
suggest new ways to improve animal care. Approximately half of all Psittaciformes, a highly …

Corvids possess cognitive skills, matching those of nonhuman primates. However, how
these species with their small brains achieve such feats remains elusive. Recent studies …

Abstract Theory and evidence suggest that some selective pressures are more common on
islands than in adjacent mainland habitats, leading evolution to follow predictable trends …

Play behaviour and tool using in birds, two well-delineated and amply researched
behaviours, have generally been associated with cognitive abilities. In this study, these …