Elephants are among the few nonhuman species that pass the mirror self‑recognition test, displaying behaviours consistent with recognising their own reflection, a result that has reshaped thinking about elephant cognition and self‑awareness.
The mirror test explained
The mirror test assesses whether an animal uses a mirror to investigate a mark placed on its body that cannot be seen without the mirror; elephants have shown mark‑directed touching and self‑inspection in controlled experiments, behaviours taken as evidence they understand the image represents themselves rather than another individual.
Comparative cognition
Passing the mirror test places elephants in a small group of highly intelligent animals that also includes great apes and certain cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins, suggesting convergent evolution of complex social cognition and self‑representation across very different brains and lifestyles.
Implications and ongoing research
These findings inform welfare, conservation and ethical debates by demonstrating capacities for self‑directed behaviour and problem solving in elephants; researchers continue to refine methods and explore related abilities such as body awareness and mirror‑mediated problem solving to map the contours of elephant intelligence more precisely.
Quick related facts
- Test: mirror self‑recognition.
- Evidence: mark‑directed touching; self‑inspection.
- Other species that pass: great apes; dolphins.
- Research focus: self‑awareness; body awareness; social cognition.