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Cited by 11Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skillsPrimate Behavior and EcologyAnimal Behavior and Welfare Studies

Performance of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) on a quantity discrimination task is similar to that of African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana)

Snyder, Rebecca J., Barrett, Lisa P., Emory, Rachel A., Perdue, Bonnie M.·2021·Animal Cognition
DOI 10.1007/s10071-021-01504-5
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Abstract

Using an object-choice task, we measured the relative quantity discrimination ability of Asian elephants. Two zoo-housed elephants were given auditory cues of food being dropped into two containers (Nonvisible condition), and in one condition they could also see the food on top of the containers (Visible condition). Elephants received sets of varying ratios and magnitudes. We found that the elephants chose the greater quantity of food significantly above chance in both the Visible and Nonvisible conditions. Additionally, we found the elephants' ability to discriminate between quantities decreased as the ratio, and not the absolute difference, between the quantities increased, which is predicted by the accumulator model. We also compare our findings to those from a study using the same methods with African savanna elephants and found that the two species performed at similar levels, but given our small sample size it is difficult to make strong species-level conclusions. In discussing our results, we consider differences between the two species' wild environments as well as the types of sensory cues provided in human care, and we provide recommendations for extensions of this work.

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  • Other studies on elephant quantity discrimination have found different results, which were consistent with the accumulator model.

    “However, other studies on elephant quantity discrimination have found different results, which were consistent with the accumulator model (Perdue et al., 2012; Plotnik et al., 2019; Snyder et al., 2021).”

    From Do elephants really never forget? What we know about elephant memory and a call for further investigation (2025) · cites this paper as Snyder et al., 2021

  • Both Asian and African savanna elephants can discriminate between different quantities of food using both or either visual and/or auditory cues.

    “both Asian and African savanna elephants can discriminate between different quantities of food using both or either visual and/or auditory cues (when baits were dropped into a container; Irie-Sugimoto et al., 2009; Perdue et al., 2012; Snyder et al., 2021).”

    From Do elephants really never forget? What we know about elephant memory and a call for further investigation (2025) · cites this paper as Snyder et al., 2021

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Authors
Snyder, R. J., Barrett, L. P., Emory, R. A., & Perdue, B. M.
Affiliations
Agnes Scott College (US)
Corresponding author
Snyder, Rebecca J.
ORCID
Venue
Animal Cognition
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-04-03
Volume
24
Issue
5
Pages
1121-1131
ISSN
  • 1435-9448 (ISSN-L)
  • 1435-9456
DOI
10.1007/s10071-021-01504-5
OpenAlex
W3140832664
Cited by
11
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1
FWCI
1.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Animal Cognition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Keywords
Asian elephant, African savanna elephant, quantity discrimination, numerical cognition, object-choice task, accumulator model, ratio effect, auditory cues, cross-species comparison
MeSH terms
Animals, Cues, Elephants, Food, Humans, Grassland

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