Today we will talk about whether a fish has a brain. Can she really think?
The tale of the goldfish excites the imagination of many. Many men dream of catching such a smart individual or, at worst, a wish-fulfilling pike. But, unfortunately, in nature there are no talking fish. And even “thinking”, in the human sense, crucian carp cannot be found in nature.
Do fish have brains (brain) or not?
Of course he is. And some lovers of sitting with a fishing rod by the river seriously consider an unsuccessful day to be the tricks of a cunning creature. But it is much easier to explain. The brain of a fish is responsible for its behavior at the level of instincts laid down by nature. And the fact that she does not fall for the hook, completely different circumstances are to blame.
What is the IQ of a fish? It is generally accepted that this indicator depends on the ratio of the brain and body. And although life proves that exceptions are too common. Even scientists accept these rules as dogma.
Body to brain ratiofish are too varied. In nature, there are a huge number of species of all sizes and intelligence. For example, the Nile elephant fish is recognized as the largest percentage of the brain-body ratio. But is it possible to call her smart, even if she does not get along with her relatives when there is not enough space.
If we consider the brain of fish and their body, then scientists have where to turn around. About 30,000 known breeds provide ample scope for research in search of the most intelligent individual.
So do fish have brains? What is its structure?
Any anatomy textbook will tell you that a fish brain is worth one hemisphere. And only in bottom sharks it is represented by two. It is customary to consider this organ as consisting of three parts: anterior, middle and posterior. The olfactory bulbs, located in the forebrain, are responsible for the recognition of odors. Due to the importance of this function, the olfactory lobes in fish are greatly enlarged.
The midbrain, consisting of three types of thalamus, is responsible for most of the body's functions. Visual endings are arranged by analogy with the olfactory lobes, but have an extended function. The ability of fish to recognize the time of day lies in the peculiarities of the structure of the optic nerves. The control center for body movements is also located here.
The cerebellum, the bridge and the elongated brain make up the hindbrain of the creature. The relative simplicity of the structure provides all the life processes of fish.
What is the fish brain for?
We have already figured out if a fish has a brain. Like any living being, this organresponsible for the functioning of organs and the body. For a creature to swim, breathe, eat, it needs a brain no less than a person.
Scientists have found that fish are able to remember the situation and the way out of situations. Therefore, fishermen have to look for new baits and baits for a big catch. The bigger the fish, the harder it is to catch. Although this is not due to the fact that she is smarter, but because she is more experienced. Naturally, in order for the pike to grow to a meter, it will take a long time. She puts it to good use. Of course, all these concepts are conditional. What can be good for fish? Eats and remembers how her food behaves. It gets used to places where there is enough food and there are no bipedal predators. Therefore, catching such a "smart" representative of the underwater world is much more difficult than roach, which has a short lifespan. Studies conducted on carps have shown that fish are able to remember situations. Once caught, an individual is extremely rarely caught a second time. She is able to remember circumstances and assess danger. Scientists suggest the possibility of transmitting information at the gene level. It turns out that the children of the surviving fish will be able to deceive any predator. So far, no one has been able to prove the validity of such a statement. But it is also impossible to refute it. The world of underwater inhabitants is too large and diverse.
It should be concluded that it is impossible to consider a fish as an intelligent creature. At least in this understanding, how do we take into account the presence of mind in humans and animals. It is certain that there are some rudiments of consciousness, since the fish is capable of self-learning. And if we consider world history, then we can assume that with a long directed development, in a million or two years, the fish will turn into a rational being. At least, scientists consider the water element to be the place of origin of life on Earth.
Do they feel pain?
Do fish feel pain? The question is more important for determining the attitude to fishing. The sensation of pain is provided by nerve endings. Ichthyologists have long determined that there are such on the body of the fish. And that means she can feel pain. An ethical problem arises. How to evaluate the suffering of caught fish? It is better to leave this question to the discretion of everyone, depending on personal moral character.
The smartest
We have already found the answer to the exciting question of whether a fish has a brain. And what is the smartest of the fish known to the world? This is the goldfish Comet, who knows how to play ball. Moreover, she throws a special ball into the basketball basket and the football goal, arranged in her aquarium. Dr. Pomerleo applied his own training methodology and claims that anyone can raise a highly intelligent water inhabitant.
Long memory
Freshwater fish croaker is able to remember a meeting with a predator for a period of several months. This conclusion was made by British scientists based on the study of the behavior of this species. Anglers can also give more than one example of this.
Singing fish
It seems impossible to meet a singing fish in nature. Yes andthey only speak in fairy tales. But scientists have identified some species that can communicate using sounds. True, this is not like the speech, growling or whistling of birds. Fish communicate with the help of a special rhythm of released bubbles. Some are able to give certain signs through fins and gills. Naturally, fish “hear” not with their ears, but with their bodies.
More precisely, feel the vibration. The researchers used the ability of sound waves to propagate rapidly in the aquatic environment. Experiments carried out on ordinary crucian carp showed that it is possible to teach them to swim to the place of lunch on a whistle. It took a month of classes for the whole flock of fish to respond to the sound.
Conclusion
Now you know the answer to the question "Does a fish have a brain?". Of course. And this means that fish can still think. We hope that the information provided in the article was useful to you.
