Animals That Can Recognize Themselves in Mirrors
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Animals That Can Recognize Themselves in Mirrors — Daily trivia Wednesday, April 22, 2026: questions and answers
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Q 01Which American psychologist developed the mirror self-recognition test in 1970?
- AB.F. Skinner
- BGordon Gallup Jr.
- CCarl Rogers
- DIvan Pavlov
Show answer
Gordon Gallup Jr.
Gallup's first subjects were four wild preadolescent chimpanzees, who spent 80 hours with a full-length mirror before he dyed their eyebrow ridges under anaesthesia.
Q 02Which marine mammal has shown compelling evidence of mirror self-recognition?
- ASea Otter
- BGrey Seal
- CBottlenose Dolphin
- DManatee
Show answer
Bottlenose Dolphin
The two marked males circled their heads repeatedly and inspected the marked eye or genital region; killer whales may be able to do the same.
Q 03Roughly what share of young adult chimpanzees show clear self-recognition in the mirror test?
- A25%
- B50%
- C75%
- D95%
Show answer
75%
Even in the best-studied species the result is far from universal, and rates fall off sharply in the very young and the very old.
Q 04Which large land mammal showed mirror self-recognition in Bronx Zoo studies?
- ARhinoceros
- BGiraffe
- CHippopotamus
- DAsian Elephant
Show answer
Asian Elephant
Of three females tested in 2006, only Happy touched the painted X; the other two did not, though an earlier failed study was blamed on too small a mirror.
Q 05How do animals such as monkeys typically react when first shown a mirror?
- AIndifference
- BSocial or aggressive displays
- CImmediate self-inspection
- DPlayful interaction
Show answer
Social or aggressive displays
Even Gallup's chimpanzees began with threatening gestures at their images before switching to grooming, nose-picking and blowing bubbles at themselves.
Q 06At approximately what age do human children typically begin to pass the mirror self-recognition test?
- A18-24 months
- B12-15 months
- C6-9 months
- D3-4 years
Show answer
18-24 months
In a 1972 study, self-recognition reached 65% by 20 to 24 months, though a 2010 cross-cultural study found only 3% of rural Kenyan children touched the mark.
Q 07Which marine creature with the largest brain of any fish has shown signs of self-awareness in mirror tests?
- AManta Ray
- BWhale Shark
- CGiant Squid
- DBluefin Tuna
Show answer
Manta Ray
Two captive rays at the Atlantis Aquarium in the Bahamas showed frequent, repetitive movements in front of the mirror and never tried to socialise with the reflection, though a classic mark test has yet to be done.
Q 08Which tiny reef fish, tested in 2019 with a parasite-like gel mark, was the first fish reported to pass the mirror test?
- AClownfish
- BGreat White Shark
- CCleaner Wrasse
- DPufferfish
Show answer
Cleaner Wrasse
Gordon Gallup himself remains unconvinced, arguing the fish may simply have seen a parasite on what it took to be another fish.
Q 09Which factor has been suggested to explain the few gorillas that pass the mirror test?
- AExtensive human contact
- BDominant social status
- CGeographic origin
- DDiet
Show answer
Extensive human contact
Prolonged eye contact is an aggressive gesture among wild gorillas, so they may simply avoid examining their reflection; Koko, habituated to mirrors and never anaesthetised for marking, passed.
Q 10Which brain region was wrongly thought a prerequisite for mirror self-recognition until magpies passed the test?
- ANeocortex
- BBrainstem
- CCerebellum
- DHippocampus
Show answer
Neocortex
Five Eurasian magpies with stickers on their throats upended that idea in 2008, though a larger 2020 replication attempt failed to confirm the result.
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