Self-awareness

Dolphin intelligence is evident in a variety of ways. They demonstrate problem-solving abilities, self-awareness, and complex social interactions. Studies have shown that dolphins can recognise themselves in mirrors, which so far has only been achieved by the most intelligent of animals. Furthermore, they can understand symbolic language and have been observed using tools. For example, they use marine sponges to protect their rostrums while foraging on the ocean floor.

A new study demonstrates how animals recognise self-images.

Some animals have the remarkable capacity for mirror self-recognition (MSR), yet any implications for self-awareness remain uncertain.

In a test of MSR ability in cleaner fish, mirror-naive fish initially attacked photograph models of both themselves and unfamiliar strangers. In contrast, after all fish had passed the mirror mark test, they did not attack their own (motionless) images, but still frequently attacked those of unfamiliar individuals.

Mirror self-recognition test

The standard method for testing whether an animal is self-aware is placing a mark on its body that cannot be viewed directly and then letting it have a look in a mirror. If the animal responds to its reflection and attempts to remove the mark it is considered evidence that the animal is self-aware.

 

Excerpts from Current Biology, Volume 22, Issue 20, R860-R861, 23 October 2012

The whale lived among a group of dolphins and socialized with two female white whales. The whale was exposed to speech not only from humans at the surface -- it was present at times when divers used surface-to-diver communication equipment.