Viewing of Self and Nonself Images in a Group of Captive Orangutans (Pongo Pygmaeus Abellii)

1997 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethel Tobach ◽  
Alexander J. Skolnick ◽  
Isobel Klein ◽  
Gary Greenberg

Reports on self-recognition in great apes have been mostly derived from experimental studies of mirror behavior (mark test) requiring anesthetization of the animals. We investigated a relatively noninvasive technique to study this behavior. In two experiments with a group of captive orangutans (1 adult male, 3 adult females, 1 juvenile male, and 1 juvenile female), we presented combinations of blank posters, life-size portraits of each individual in the group, a mirror, and videos. Durations of viewing and patterns of viewing were recorded. The prominent features of the viewing were the differences among the individuals in frequency, duration, and pattern of viewing. Some evidence of mirror-based self-referent behavior (behavior in which the activity of the animal with its body was related to the activity of the image in the mirror) was seen in the juvenile female, but more was seen in one adult female. This adult female spent the most time viewing the mirror and was the only animal to view her own portrait more than the other portraits in one session. In addition, she moved from one portrait to another, and back to the first, and to her own portrait and the mirror in a pattern resembling comparison of the two portraits as well as of her portrait and her mirror image. It is suggested that data based on self-referent behavior of the same animal during self-viewing in a mirror and during viewing of its self-portrait and on behavior observed in the mark test are worth further investigation.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanori Kohda ◽  
Takashi Hotta ◽  
Tomohiro Takeyama ◽  
Satoshi Awata ◽  
Hirokazu Tanaka ◽  
...  

AbstractThe ability to perceive and recognise a reflected mirror image as self (mirror self-recognition, MSR) is considered a hallmark of cognition across species. Although MSR has been reported in mammals and birds, it is not known to occur in any other major taxon. A factor potentially limiting the ability to test for MSR is that the established assay for MSR, the mark test, shows an interpretation bias towards animals with the dexterity (or limbs) required to touch a mark. Here, we show that the cleaner wrasse fish, Labroides dimidiatus, passes through all phases of the mark test: (i) social reactions towards the reflection, (ii) repeated idiosyncratic behaviours towards the mirror (contingency testing), and (iii) frequent observation of their reflection. When subsequently provided with a coloured tag, individuals attempt to remove the mark in the presence of a mirror but show no response towards transparent marks, or to coloured marks in the absence of a mirror. This remarkable finding presents a challenge to our interpretation of the mark test – do we accept that these behavioural responses in the mark test, which are taken as evidence of self-recognition in other species, mean that fish are self-aware? Or do we conclude that these behavioural patterns have a basis in a cognitive process other than self-recognition? If the former, what does this mean for our understanding of animal intelligence? If the latter, what does this mean for our application and interpretation of the mark test as a metric for animal cognitive abilities?


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9685
Author(s):  
Gladez Shorland ◽  
Emilie Genty ◽  
Jean-Pascal Guéry ◽  
Klaus Zuberbühler

The question of whether animals have some sort of self-awareness is a topic of continued debate. A necessary precondition for self-awareness is the ability to visually discriminate the self from others, which has traditionally been investigated through mirror self-recognition experiments. Although great apes generally pass such experiments, interpretations of results have remained controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate how bonobos (Pan paniscus) respond to different types of images of themselves and others, both before and after prolonged mirror exposure. We first presented presumably mirror-naive subjects with representations of themselves in three different ways (mirror image, contingent and non-contingent video footage) as well as representations of others (video footage of known and unknown conspecifics). We found that subjects paid significantly less attention to contingent images of themselves (mirror image, video footage) than to non-contingent images of themselves and unfamiliar individuals, suggesting they perceived the non-contingent self-images as novel. We then provided subjects with three months of access to a large mirror centrally positioned in the enclosure. Following this manipulation, subjects showed significantly reduced interest in the non-contingent self-images, while interest in unknown individuals remained unchanged, suggesting that the mirror experience has led to a fuller understanding of their own self. We discuss implications of this preliminary investigation for the on-going debate on self-awareness in animals.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Guinet ◽  
Jérome Bouvier

This paper describes the trend in the practice of what we interpret to be the "intentional stranding" hunting technique of two juvenile female killer whales (Orcinus orca), A4 and A5, belonging to pod A on the beaches of Possession Island, Crozet Archipelago. Pod A was composed of three adult females, A2, A3, A6, and one adult male, A1. A2 is A4's mother and A3 is A5's mother. The year of birth and thus the probable age of the two juveniles were estimated from their growth curve determined by means of a photogrammetric technique. These observations indicate that at Crozet Archipelago, juvenile killer whales first practiced intentional stranding on their own when they were 4–5 years old. Their first attempt to capture elephant seal pups by means of this technique was observed when they were 5–6 years old. However, 5- to 6-year-old juveniles still needed the assistance of an adult female to return to the water with their prey. This study indicates that learning hunting techniques needs a high degree of skill and requires high parental investment to reduce the associated risk. Furthermore, social transfer, through apprenticeship, is probably one of the mechanisms that enables the high degree of adaptability observed in killer whales.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pontus Hedberg ◽  
Madle Sirel ◽  
Kirsten Moll ◽  
Mpungu Steven Kiwuwa ◽  
Petter Höglund ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The histo-blood group ABO system has been associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19, thromboembolic diseases and Plasmodium falciparum malaria. An integral part of the severe malaria pathogenesis is rosetting, the adherence of parasite infected red blood cells (RBCs) to uninfected RBCs. Rosetting is influenced by the host’s ABO blood group (Bg) and rosettes formed in BgA have previously been shown to be more resilient to disruption by heparin and shield the parasite derived surface antigens from antibodies. However, data on rosetting in weak BgA subgroups is scarce and based on investigations of relatively few donors. Methods An improved high-throughput flow cytometric assay was employed to investigate rosetting characteristics in an extensive panel of RBC donor samples of all four major ABO Bgs, as well as low BgA expressing samples. Results All non-O Bgs shield the parasite surface antigens from strain-specific antibodies towards P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). A positive correlation between A-antigen levels on RBCs and rosette tightness was observed, protecting the rosettes from heparin- and antibody-mediated disruption. Conclusions These results provide new insights into how the ABO Bg system affects the disease outcome and cautions against interpreting the results from the heterogeneous BgA phenotype as a single group in epidemiological and experimental studies. Graphical Abstract


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 849-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona A. Stewart ◽  
Jill D. Pruetz

AbstractMany primates show sex differences in behavior, particularly social behavior, but also tool use for extractive foraging. All great apes learn to build a supportive structure for sleep. Whether sex differences exist in building, as in extractive foraging, is unknown, and little is known about how building skills develop and vary between individuals in the wild. We therefore aimed to describe the nesting behavior of savanna chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Fongoli, Senegal to provide comparative data and to investigate possible sex or age differences in nest building behaviors and nest characteristics. We followed chimpanzee groups to their night nesting sites to record group (55 nights) and individual level data (17 individuals) on nest building initiation and duration (57 nests) during the dry season between October 2007 and March 2008. We returned the following morning to record nest and tree characteristics (71 nests built by 25 individuals). Fongoli chimpanzees nested later than reported for other great apes, but no sex differences in initiating building emerged. Observations were limited but suggest adult females and immature males to nest higher, in larger trees than adult males, and adult females to take longer to build than either adult or immature males. Smaller females and immature males may avoid predation or access thinner, malleable branches, by nesting higher than adult males. These differences suggest that sex differences described for chimpanzee tool use may extend to nest building, with females investing more time and effort in constructing a safe, warm structure for sleep than males do.


2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
Darren G. Quin ◽  
Sue Churchill

A detailed study was conducted over a 12-month period of 10 yellow-bellied glider groups at Nitchaga Creek in north Queensland. Adult gliders were sexually dimorphic in body size and were characterised by yellow ventral fur, which is consistent with southern populations. Gliders lived in groups of 3–6 individuals that occupied exclusive areas of about 50 ha. The structure of glider groups varied enormously: five contained one adult pair, three contained one adult male and 2–3 adult females, and two initially contained 2–3 adult males and one adult female but then persisted as bachelor groups after the death or disappearance of the adult female. Group size changed during the year as offspring matured and as individuals died. One male glider dispersed about 1 km from its natal home-range and became the dominant male in a nearby group. Young were born throughout the year, with a peak in the number of pouch-young in June. This study has confirmed the highly variable social system of the yellow-bellied glider, which appears to be mediated by local resource abundance.


1989 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 877 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Bhatti ◽  
PJ Gullan

Three new genera and 11 new species from New Guinea are described in the tribe Monophlebulini. Erropera, gen, nov., contains four new species: E. ablusa, E. papuensis, E, pilosa and E. sedlaceki; Modicicoccus, gen. nov., contains four new species: M. gagnei, M. kaindiensis, M. monticolus and M. rtewsteadi; and Peengea, gen. nov., contains one new species: P. affinis. Two new species of Mottophlehirlus Cockerell, M. enarotalicus and M. gressitti, are described. The adult females of all 11 new species and the first instar nymphs of E. sedlaceki and P. affinis are described. A marsupium associated with the genital opening of the adult female is reported for the first time in the tribe Monophlebulini.


1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Merchant ◽  
K Newgrain ◽  
B Green

The growth and development, from 10 to 270 days old, of eastern quolls in a captive colony was recorded. Young were able to detach from the teat by 65 days of age and their eyes were open by 80 days. Statistically significant differences in some measurements from males and females were found as early as 85 days of age. The weaning period commenced at 102 days ofage, and coincided with eruption ofthe first molar teeth. Total independence, determined by the cessation of lactation in the mother, was as early as 142 days in litters of one or as late as 200 days in larger litters. There was a high correlation between litter size and age at independence. Lactation was maintained in all previously suckled mammary glands of adult females after the death of young aged 65 days or over if some siblings remained. This was due to the ability of young of this age to detach and reattach to the teats at will. The implication of this observation is that the commonly held view that the numbers of surviving young in marsupial litters corresponds to the number of lactating teats in the adult female may not always be correct.


Author(s):  
Karyl B. Swartz ◽  
Dena Sarauw ◽  
Siân Evans
Keyword(s):  

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