The Mirror Test Is Complicated

The Mirror Test is kind of like Hitler. In any discussion of animal cognition, somebody is going to bring it up. The conversation usually goes like this: A: So, most animals can’t recognize themselves in the mirror B: Which animals specifically? A: Oh, dogs, cats, betta fish, monkeys, that sort of thing. Anyway as I was saying, those animals can’t. But some smart animals can recognize themselves in the mirror. B: Such as? A: Well, chimpanzees and orangutans for a start. B: Makes sense A: Not gorillas though, at least not always.