Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A June 2019 PMID 31160445

Elephants have a nose for quantity.

Joshua M Plotnik, Daniel L Brubaker, Rachel Dale, Lydia N Tiller, Hannah S Mumby, Nicola S Clayton

Mentions

25
Peak: 11 in Jun 2019
across 4 sources since Jun 2019

Extended reach

658,351
potential audience

Total likes

7,969

Video views

576,626

Mentions per month

Jun 2019 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter18 posts
  • News3 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

These discussions demonstrate high enthusiasm about the research, with posts emphasizing how elephants' ability to use smell for quantity assessment is fascinating and novel. Words like 'exciting,' references to sharing with kids, and mentions of media coverage across platforms reflect both curiosity and the perceived importance of the findings, though mostly from a general interest perspective rather than deep scientific critique or widespread impact acknowledgment.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the findings, noting the novelty and significance of elephants using olfactory cues for quantity judgment, though some express enthusiasm rather than deep skepticism or endorsement.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high interest, with many sharing enthusiasm, plans to discuss with others, and expressing excitement about the research's implications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments include sharing, retweeting, and mentioning how they will use or promote this research, indicating active engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions highlight the potential influence of the study, especially in educational or conservation contexts, though the overall recognition of broad scientific impact is moderate.

Abstract in brief

  • Elephants can distinguish between different quantities of food using their sense of smell, not just sight, by choosing the container with more sunflower seeds.
  • Their ability to differentiate depends on how different the two quantities are, performing better when the difference is larger, regardless of the total amount of food.
  • These findings suggest that animals rely on different sensory methods for judgment, which should be considered in future studies comparing cognition across species.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
AlamSemenit
@AlamSemenit · X

Mari kita bicarakan gajah

Sep 25, 2023 · 15 likes · 3 shares · 1,877 followers View post →
Rebecca Sear
@RebeccaSear · X

Elephants have a nose for quantity: "elephants may be unique in their use of olfaction in cognitive tasks" https://t.co/skHGdEflzb

Jun 18, 2019 · 4 likes · 12,701 followers View post →
Andrew K. Schulz
@SchulzScience_ · X

@NoahwithFish @ICB_journal I’m biased but I love @CCCAnimals et Al’s paper: https://t.co/RpUNVs0Wyn. Imo every section is simple, elegant, readable, and understandable even if you have no formal training in animal behavior

Sep 28, 2023 · 4 likes · 2,259 followers View post →
Prof.Dr.AytugAltundag
@aytugaltundag · X

Fillerin bu eşsiz koku ayırt etme yeteneklerini sadece farklı kokuları değil, aynı kokuya sahip ayçiçeği tohumlarının farklı oranlarında olduğu yerleri bulmada da kullandıkları yani koku duyusunu miktar tayininde göz yerine kullandıkları da bulundu. https://t.co/o7lUFMrsfu

Sep 18, 2022 · 3 likes · 3,848 followers View post →
WildlifeNutrition Lab
@primateeats · X

exciting new paper showing that elephants can detect food quantity by our colleague Josh Plotnik at Hunter College CUNY....Elephants have a nose for quantity | PNAS https://t.co/Et3cNQBemu

Jun 6, 2019 · 3 likes · 1 share · 1,540 followers View post →
Wissenschaftskolleg
@wiko_berlin · X

#MadeAtWiko "Elephants have a nose for quantity", coauthored by Fellow 2017/18 @hannahsmumby https://t.co/5X6QnZUXAP #LifeSciences

Jun 5, 2019 · 1 like · 4,670 followers View post →

All mentions

epan
@earthpri · X

https://t.co/DWeiW7jHB1

Sep 16, 2024 · 856 followers View post →
mal ⛅
@13nightletter · X

gajah bisa berduka kayak manusia

Sep 29, 2023 · 2,237 followers View post →
Yosep FAR
@yosep_far · X

@jellypastaa https://t.co/vXODL6sevD

Sep 29, 2023 · 284 followers View post →
Andrew K. Schulz
@SchulzScience_ · X

@NoahwithFish @ICB_journal I’m biased but I love @CCCAnimals et Al’s paper: https://t.co/RpUNVs0Wyn. Imo every section is simple, elegant, readable, and understandable even if you have no formal training in animal behavior

Sep 28, 2023 · 4 likes · 2,259 followers View post →
Akasa
@nrkhzn_ · X

RT @AlamSemenit: Mari kita bicarakan gajah

Sep 26, 2023 · 3 shares · 162 followers View post →
Makhluk Halus
@suhadasambas · X

RT @AlamSemenit: Mari kita bicarakan gajah

Sep 26, 2023 · 3 shares · 1,477 followers View post →
ea
@tenroou · X

RT @AlamSemenit: Mari kita bicarakan gajah

Sep 25, 2023 · 3 shares · 242 followers View post →
AlamSemenit
@AlamSemenit · X

Mari kita bicarakan gajah

Sep 25, 2023 · 15 likes · 3 shares · 1,877 followers View post →
temukanaku
@piscesagagila · X

https://t.co/PdUUuUPOLA

Sep 25, 2023 · 88 followers View post →
Prof.Dr.AytugAltundag
@aytugaltundag · X

Fillerin bu eşsiz koku ayırt etme yeteneklerini sadece farklı kokuları değil, aynı kokuya sahip ayçiçeği tohumlarının farklı oranlarında olduğu yerleri bulmada da kullandıkları yani koku duyusunu miktar tayininde göz yerine kullandıkları da bulundu. https://t.co/o7lUFMrsfu

Sep 18, 2022 · 3 likes · 3,848 followers View post →
Kathy Owens
@Ko123Owens · X

Elephants have a nose for quantity https://t.co/Sj4FumEN6T

Oct 4, 2019 · 120 followers View post →
Francis Villatoro
@emulenews · X

Elephants have a nose for quantity. Elephants chose the larger quantity of food by smelling for it. https://t.co/GJOttytROr https://t.co/vjzjCPrjyg

Jun 19, 2019 · 45,110 followers View post →
Chenxi He
@permutation1000 · X

Elephants have a nose for quantity https://t.co/3d6BDYb5JU

Jun 19, 2019 · 32 followers View post →
Rebecca Sear
@RebeccaSear · X

Elephants have a nose for quantity: "elephants may be unique in their use of olfaction in cognitive tasks" https://t.co/skHGdEflzb

Jun 18, 2019 · 4 likes · 12,701 followers View post →
Wen Zhou
@Wen2hou · X

I will share this with kids in the Zoo: Elephants have a nose for quantity. https://t.co/Ox2HAOz37s

Jun 9, 2019 · 312 followers View post →
WildlifeNutrition Lab
@primateeats · X

exciting new paper showing that elephants can detect food quantity by our colleague Josh Plotnik at Hunter College CUNY....Elephants have a nose for quantity | PNAS https://t.co/Et3cNQBemu

Jun 6, 2019 · 3 likes · 1 share · 1,540 followers View post →
Mark E. Hauber
@cowbirdlab · X

Elephants have a nose for quantity | PNAS https://t.co/zKbzlpNPDv

Jun 6, 2019 · 1 like · 3,835 followers View post →
Wissenschaftskolleg
@wiko_berlin · X

#MadeAtWiko "Elephants have a nose for quantity", coauthored by Fellow 2017/18 @hannahsmumby https://t.co/5X6QnZUXAP #LifeSciences

Jun 5, 2019 · 1 like · 4,670 followers View post →
Can Asian Elephants Use Water as a Tool in the Floating Object ...
News

Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, 116(25), 12566-12571. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1818284116. Plotnik, J. M., & de Waal, F. B. M. (2014a) ...

Dec 13, 2025 View →
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Blogs

Elephants have a nose for quantity. PNAS. Doi: 10.1073/pnas.1818284116. More references. Share on Facebook ...

Jun 6, 2019 View →
Elephants can differentiate between food amounts by smell alone
News

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1818284116. Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. © 2019 Science X Network. + Explore further ...

Jun 5, 2019 View →
Elephants can judge the quantity of hidden food just by using smell ...
Blogs

PNAS DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1818284116. Topics: animals/; animal intelligence. Advertisement. Sign up to our weekly newsletter. Receive a weekly dose ...

Jun 3, 2019 View →
Elephants' quantitative ability may be rooted in olfaction | EurekAlert!
News

10.1073/pnas.1818284116. Keywords. /Social sciences/Psychological science/Cognitive psychology/Cognition/Perception/Perceptual processes ...

Jun 3, 2019 View →