[ExI] genetics

[spike at rainier66.com]

From: William Flynn Wallace <foozler83 at gmail.com> 
Subject: Re: [ExI] genetics

 

from Wikipedia - Very few species have passed the MSR test. Species that have include the  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_ape> great apes, a single  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_elephant> Asiatic elephant,  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_(fish)> Rays,  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphin> dolphins,  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca> orcas, the  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_magpie> Eurasian magpie, and the  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleaner_wrasse> cleaner wrasse. A wide range of species has been reported to fail the test, including several species of  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey> monkeys,  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_panda> giant pandas, and  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_lion> sea lions. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_test#cite_note-3> [3] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_test#cite_note-4> [4

 

>…Spike, I don't know the criterion for passing the mirror test.  Certainly the puppy understands something, but also certainly does not have the brains of the animals above.    bill w

 

 

Ja I am puzzled by it.  We look at beasts by species rather than by other criteria, such as breed and individual generally.  With dogs we have messed with nature so much, they bear very little resemblance to the wolves from which they descend.

 

I have seen other dogs with mirrors, where they don’t seem to notice their reflection or don’t care.  But it isn’t entirely clear that they are failing to do the image processing, or if they know that is their reflection and go on with life.

 

I have seen both dogs and cats watch TV or computer screens, definitely doing image processing.  I have seen dogs on zoom meetings recognize themselves.  I don’t recall seeing a cat do that, but perhaps they do, or some do.

 

I have seen birds attack their own reflection for extended periods, never quite getting it.  In Florida we had sand hill cranes, which can be five feet tall, come up to the house and peck away at the windows.  They never actually broke one, but they make a hell of a racket doing that.  I had half a mind to go out there and teach them to not do that, delivering that short lecture along with my assistant professor, Mister Twelve Gage.

 

spike

 

 

 

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