Further evidence for the capacity of mirror self-recognition in cleaner fish and the significance of ecologically relevant marks.

ABSTRACT: An animal that tries to remove a mark from its body that is only visible when looking into a mirror displays the capacity for mirror self-recognition (MSR), which has been interpreted as evidence for self-awareness. Conservative interpretations of existing data conclude that convincing evidence for MSR is currently restricted to great apes. Here, we address proposed shortcomings of a previous study on MSR in the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus, by varying preexposure to mirrors and by marking individuals with different colors. We found that (1) 14/14 new individuals scraped their throat when a brown mark had been provisioned, but only in the presence of a mirror; (2) blue and green color marks did not elicit scraping; (3) intentionally injecting the mark deeper beneath the skin reliabl

SUBMITTER: Kohda M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8853551 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature