Researchers (Plotnik, et al, reporting in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Science ) working with Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at the Bronx zoo, conducted an MSR test. They applied "real" and "sham" marks to the rights sides of the pachyderms' heads and waited to see how the elephants would respond to these when a large mirror was placed in their presence. Sure enough, the elephants demonstrated that they understood they were looking at themselves (and not another elephant) and begin touching the marks with their trunks. In all, their behavior during the MSR tests matched those of apes and dolphins. According to the paper's authors: "These parallels suggest convergent cognitive evolution most likely related to complex sociality and cooperation. "
Elephants Are Self-Aware
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Seeded on Thu Aug 6, 2009 7:44 AM
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