Summary
Great apes, dolphins, elephants and magpies pass mirror tests, hinting at self-awareness.
In depth
Gordon Gallup's mark test: an animal touches a mark on its body seen only in a mirror. Passed by great apes, dolphins, elephants, magpies and cleaner wrasse. Failure doesn't prove lack of self-awareness.
Passing the mark test is thought to indicate some degree of self-awareness, though it depends on vision and motivation to touch marks. Species that rely on smell may fail even if self-aware.
Example: cleaner wrasse scratched at marks on their throats in a 2019 study, debated by researchers.
Frequently asked questions
What is Mirror Self-Recognition?
Great apes, dolphins, elephants and magpies pass mirror tests, hinting at self-awareness.
Which area of biology covers Mirror Self-Recognition, and how advanced is it?
Mirror Self-Recognition is one of the 53 topics in Animal Behaviour. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include Animal Cognition Experiments, Social Groups, Courtship.
Can you give an example of Mirror Self-Recognition?
Young children pass at about 18 to 24 months.
What should I learn before Mirror Self-Recognition?
Work through the Beginner topics in Animal Behaviour first, such as Animal Behaviour, Innate Behaviour, Learned Behaviour, then return to Mirror Self-Recognition. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
What topics are related to Mirror Self-Recognition?
The closest topics to Mirror Self-Recognition are Animal Cognition Experiments, Social Groups, Courtship, Animal Personality. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Mirror Self-Recognition?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Mirror Self-Recognition. To practise the whole of Animal Behaviour, use the Animal Behaviour quiz.
How is Mirror Self-Recognition different from Animal Cognition Experiments?
Mirror Self-Recognition: Great apes, dolphins, elephants and magpies pass mirror tests, hinting at self-awareness. Animal Cognition Experiments: Tests of memory, tool use and self-recognition reveal complex thinking in many species. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Mirror Self-Recognition step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Animal Cognition Experiments and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Animal Behaviour quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.