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Related Experiment Videos

Self-recognition in an Asian elephant.

Joshua M Plotnik1, Frans B M de Waal, Diana Reiss

  • 1Living Links, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, and Department of Psychology, Emory University, 532 North Kligo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|November 1, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Elephants demonstrate mirror self-recognition (MSR), a key indicator of self-awareness, previously observed only in humans, apes, and dolphins. This finding suggests convergent cognitive evolution in complex social species.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Ethology
  • Comparative Psychology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Mirror self-recognition (MSR) is a measure of self-awareness, traditionally observed in humans and great apes.
  • MSR is linked to advanced cognitive abilities such as empathy and altruism.
  • Recent studies identified MSR in dolphins, prompting investigation into other large-brained, social mammals.

Observation:

  • Three Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) were exposed to a large mirror.
  • Elephants exhibited behavioral stages consistent with MSR: social responses, physical inspection, and self-directed behaviors.
  • The elephants passed the 'mark test,' using the mirror to investigate unseen marks on their bodies.

Findings:

  • Asian elephants demonstrate mirror self-recognition (MSR).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Elephants' responses to mirrors paralleled those of apes and dolphins.
  • The study provides evidence for MSR in elephants, expanding the known repertoire of self-aware species.

    • Implications:

    • The findings suggest convergent evolution of self-awareness in highly social species.
    • This challenges the notion that MSR is exclusive to primates and cetaceans.
    • Elephants' MSR capacity offers new avenues for studying the evolution of cognition and sociality.