I’ve always wondered how many animals can pass the self-recognition test, but either A) they don’t do it immediately so they don’t get counted as passing, or B) they just don’t give a fuck.
Edit: or C) they get excited by their own reflection despite knowing it’s themselves. Or D) they think you’re doing some kinda crazy magic by showing them an image of themselves which is why they act like the mirror is showing a different animal (fear and/or aggression).
I’m pretty sure most adult dogs and cats understand mirrors, they just get creeped out by their own reflection. Take an adult cat, hold it up to a mirror. Watch as it actively avoids looking at itself. My dog stares at me for long periods through a full-length bedroom mirror and even barks and runs to the window when she sees dogs outside through it. Doesn’t really care much about her own reflection.
My cat kept meowing at cabinets and mirrors randomly when I was standing near them. After a few days I noticed he was meowing at me, he just was looking straight at me in the reflection, instead of turning around.
I think that was what felisneurologists call “not his moment with the brain cell”.
I read recently that chickens pass the mirror test but don’t really give a damn about their own reflection so the researchers had to use an alternative method to prove it. They found that lone cockerals don’t crow because there are no other chickens to alert, they will crow in the presence of even one other chicken but will not crow when left with just their own reflection, implying they know its not another chicken.
Do they crow in the presence of a photo of a different chicken?
It would work better if it were a video of a different chicken
No idea, that would be an interesting followup study.
Right, but how many of those reactions were because the animal thought they were looking at another animal, as opposed to reactions because they’re seeing themselves in an unexpected place?
I mean, I bet many animals can see their own reflection when they go to get water; if you only ever saw your reflection in puddles or lakes, it’d be potentially terrifying to suddenly see yourself materialize in the middle of the jungle.
Lol at the pigeon comment. Animal who inhales the smoke of cigarettes insulting an animal who merely uses non burning substance as a bedding.
They sure “owned” that pigeon
And even ten using some cigarettes in nests makes some sort of sense. Nicotine is s natural pesticide, thus fending of mites and other creepy crawlies.
The butts are also soft and fibrous
That’s what she said.
Also, ants.
