巴拿馬猴子可能已經開始了他們自己的石器時代

A group of Panamanian monkeys may have entered their own Stone Age, scientists said.

科學家們日前表示，一羣巴拿馬猴子可能已經進化到了它們自己的石器時代。

A population of white-face capuchin monkeys living on the Panamanian island of Jicarón have been observed using stones to smash open nuts and shellfish, New Scientist reported last Monday.

據《新科學家》上週一報道，一羣生活在巴拿馬島的白臉捲尾猴被觀察到用石頭砸開了堅果和貝類。

Scientists first made the discovery in 2004, but returned to the island in March 2017 with cameras to catch the monkeys in the act.

科學家們在2004年首次發現了這一行爲，而在2017年3月，他們帶着相機回到島上拍攝到了猴子的這種行爲。

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Scientists do not know when the 6 million-year inhabitants of the island began the practice, but believe the skill was learned "by chance." Scientists said the practice was only evident in a few males.

科學家們不知道在島上生活了600萬年的猴子是什麼時候開始有這樣的行爲的，但他們相信這項技能是“偶然”學會的。科學家表示，這種行爲只在少數雄猴身上體現出來。

No other nearby populations have been observed making use of stones, the report said.

該報告稱，附近沒有發現其他使用石頭的種羣。

The discovery marks the fourth observed group of non-human primates that have used stones for tools.

這一發現標誌着將石頭作爲工具使用的第四種非人類靈長類動物被成功觀察到。

Other species with similar practices include chimpanzees in West Africa, macaques in Thailand and other species of capuchins in South America, New Scientist reported.

據《新科學家》報道，其他有類似行爲的物種還包括西非的黑猩猩、泰國的獼猴以及南美洲其他種類的捲尾猴。

Until a few decades ago, scientists believed humans were the only species that appropriated stones into tools. The Stone Age for humans began 2.5 million years ago.

直到幾十年前，科學家們還認爲人類是唯一將石頭當做工具的物種。人類的石器時代始於250萬年前。