Organism
Clark's Nutcracker
TL;DR
Clark's nutcrackers demonstrate the cost of superior storage efficiency.
Clark's nutcrackers demonstrate the cost of superior storage efficiency. They cache 30,000-100,000 pine seeds annually across 200+ square miles with 90-95% retrieval rates - far exceeding squirrels. This requires an enlarged hippocampus 2-3× larger than non-caching birds, consuming 20-25% of resting metabolic rate versus 15-18% in similar birds.
Notable Traits of Clark's Nutcracker
- Caches 30,000-100,000 seeds annually
- 90-95% retrieval rate
- Hippocampus 2-3× larger than non-caching birds
- Memory precision within 1-2 centimeters