tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292020656593857715.post1848331706754501181..comments2022-08-06T00:30:22.544-07:00Comments on LIT 80E : Animals in Literature, sections E & F: ReflectionsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04957051821317129987noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5292020656593857715.post-53969607369111099132015-06-02T00:16:51.152-07:002015-06-02T00:16:51.152-07:00I'd say it depends on the animal. It seems tha...I'd say it depends on the animal. It seems that some are capable of learning to recognize the mirrored reflection as self and others not. Even juvenile humans don't figure it out - despite endless head-butting into it - until around two years of age. On a related note, my pet Meyer's parrot likes to attack his reflection viciously. He has done this for years and, despite repeatedly hitting glass, seems to be unable to comprehend that he's seeing his own reflection. I wouldn't be surprised if other species of parrot are able to recognize themselves, however - the Eurasian magpie, a corvid, does pass the test. It should also be considered that the mirror test is biased toward visual animals - what of creatures that primarily rely on smell, for example? It wouldn't be very telling of their ability in self-recognition.Kate Vylethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03035790737341980183noreply@blogger.com