Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Who Is That Other Gibbon?

Gibbons (lesser apes) have no use for mirrors, studies had shown (Suddendorf and Collier-Baker, 2008). They are not able to recognize themselves in front of a mirror. Typical human children starts to recognize themselves in front of the mirror around two-years-old. Mirror self recognition or visual self recognition is not unique to humans, it was only documented in great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas). Humans and great apes are different than other primates because they can recognize themselves in front of a mirror. Self recognition in front of a mirror enable them to see areas of the body where they cannot see directly. Self recognition probably evolved in the common ancestors of great apes around 18 million years ago.

Primate phylogeny. The ability of mirror self awareness probably evolved around 18 million years ago with great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas) common ancestors Image from www. mun.ca

A gibbon seems to be interested in itself, but none tried to get at icing on their own faces (Image: Emma Collier-Baker) Photo from www.newscientist.com

The gibbons sometimes tried to reach around the mirror to get at the ape on the other side (Image: Emma Collier-Baker) Photo from www.newscientist.com

Read more about "The evolution of primate visual self-recognition: evidence of absence in lesser apes" by Suddendorf and Collier-Baker, 2008 (full article) (abstract).

"King of the swingers has no use for mirrors" by Ewen Callaway on Newscientist.com

Citation:
Suddendorf T. Collier-Baker E. 2008. The evolution of primate visual self-recognition: evidence of absence in lesser apes. Proceedings of the Royal Society B (doi: 10.1098/rspb.2008.1754 ) http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2009/02/21/rspb.2008.1754.full