MadSci Network: Zoology |
The short answer to your question is yes. This type of learning behavior you describe is traditionally called "classical conditioning". In classical conditioning, an organism associates particular stimulus (like food) with an intrinsically unrelated stimulus, like tank-tapping. Many types of animals are capable of this behavior, such as mammals, bony fish (like goldfish), and maybe even some insects.
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Zoology.