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Elephants not fooled by mirrors

New addition to the animal elite that can recognize themselves.

Elephants possess the highly cerebral ability to recognize their own jumbo reflections in mirrors, scientists have found.

Read the story here.

Posted by Nicola Jones on October 30, 2006 10:00 PM |

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It has always puzzled me that scientists regard only visual self-recognition as an indicator of self-awareness. An enormous variety of species are able to recognise themselves using non-visual cues such as chemical signatures. I don't dispute that an animal that seems able to understand its reflection is displaying an interesting behavior. But it's sheer anthropocentrism to privilege the visual mode over all others.

Posted by: Suzanne | October 31, 2006 04:21 AM

Suzanne makes a valid comment. I notice that accounts, both popular and scientific, are conspicuously vague as to how the mirror test relates to self-awareness and consciousness.

Posted by: Dan | November 1, 2006 11:25 PM

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