SELF-RECOGNITION IN PRIMATES - FURTHER REFLECTIONS CREATE A HALL OF MIRRORS

Gallup et al.'s (1995, Anim. Behav., 50, 1525-1532) defence of the vie w that Gallup's mark test has provided evidence of self-recognition in apes is countered point by point. The plausibility of the defence is criticized because of poorly designed experiments, unreliable experime ntal effects, illegitimate cross-experimental comparisons, false infer ences and anecdotal observations. A recent attempt to fortify the case using developmental data (Povinelli et al. 1993, J. comp. Psychol., 1 07, 347-372) was unsuccessful because it failed to find a reliable rel ationship between age and mark test performance. Consequently, there i s still no convincing evidence of self-recognition or mirror-guided bo dy inspection in animals. An alternative research strategy is recommen ded in which the self-recognition hypothesis is tested directly throug h complete, carefully designed experiments. (C) 1995 The Association f or the Study of Animal Behaviour