Giraffes are able to do maths.
Giraffes know how to do basic maths
A team from Barcelona Zoo believe that the long-necked animals have figured out basic statistics by predicting the odds of getting their favourite snack.
The experts tested the abilities of two male and two female giraffes and showed each animal two containers containing various amounts of their preferred snack carrot sticks and less-preferred courgette sticks.
The researcher discreetly picked up some food from each container in a closed fist so that the giraffes could not see what had been selected and gave them both options to choose from.
In 17 out of the 20 trials, the giraffes selected the carrot sticks.
The ability to make inferences based on statistics has only previously been studied in large-brained animals such as parrots but the boffins believe that the function could be widespread across the natural world.
Alvaro Caicoya, first author of the study and a PhD student at the University of Barcelona, said: "The results of the study suggest that large relative brain sizes are not a necessary prerequisite for the evolution of complex statistical skills.
"Statistical abilities might provide crucial fitness benefits to individuals when making inferences in a situation of uncertainty, and it should not be surprising if these abilities are widespread across animal taxa."