Means
 

"...you have discovered a means for instructing animals..."

I understand that "means" means (valga la redundancia :thinking: ) "medio, manera", but I'd like to know if it takes a plural form as if it were singular when it has this meaning, since in this sentence "a" is before "means".

I'm not sure if I'm able to explain what I mean :thinking: . Thanks. :)

In this sense, it is always a plural used in the singular sense. I think it comes from Fr. moyens.

A means of doing something.

It also means :D resources. money etc, so you can say I have the means to live a life of luxury.

Yes, plural form, representing singular concept "method" in this context.

Yes, I knew your example (although I thought it was plural: los medios, since you don't distinguish between el/los), but I had never seen that plural word in a singular construction (or I had never realised that "the" was singular). Thanks :)