Mirror responses in a Japanese macaque troop (Arashiyama West) |
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Authors: | Meredith M Platt Robert L Thompson |
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Institution: | (1) Biopsychology Program, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, 10021 New York, New York, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | Behavior toward two mirrors in the field was observed in the Arashiyama West troop ofMacaca fuscata. Counts of visits to the mirrors, plus scan and focal animal sampling were used. Some animals were marked with fluorescent
paint to test informally for self-recognition. A relatively high mean frequency of visits to the reflecting side of both mirrors
by all age classes, ranks, and sexes was recorded. There was no age difference in frequency of mirror visits per sample but
adults spent more time per visit than subadults who in turn spent more time than juveniles. There was no indication of self-recognition
by paint-marked animals. Mirrors appeared to be used to monitor the reflected scene and to look at the self-image. Social
behavior in the mirror zone that was not directed toward the mirror was common to all age classes. Species-typical behavior
directed toward the mirror was seen in younger animals but very seldom in adults. No threat displays by any animal were observed.
We suggest that for adults the mirror image was not seen simply as another monkey. |
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Keywords: | Japanese macaque Macaca fuscata Self-recognition Mirrors Field studies |
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