Re: [Phys-l] reflections

["John Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>]

They did a study where the Dolphins were shown an underwater paint gun.
They also put a mirror in the pool.  They deactivated the paint, but not the
pressure of the gun, then fake marked the back side of the dolphin with an
X.  The dolphin would swim over and look at himself in the mirror.  This is
considered evidence that they recognize themselves.

There may be some birds in the parrot family that pass the mirror test for
intelligence.  They have recently found that the brains of birds are equally
as complex as those of mammals.  They have analogous structures to the
complex structures in mammals.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX

> Forum for Physics Educators <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu> on
> Tuesday, May 02, 2006 at 9:53 PM -0500 wrote:
> > After reading the NY Times article, I recalled reading somewhere (years
> > ago) that no animal recognizes its reflection in a mirror. This is
> > certainly true with my two cats! But I am wondering if it's true with
> > other species (e.g., domesticated birds), and if so, why? An
> > "intelligence"thing?
>
> I read a story around 2 years ago about dolphins recognizing their
> reflections...
>
> Josh Gates