Some penguin species may be self-aware. article about it published at bioRxiv service.
The mirror test is a common way of assessing an animal’s intelligence. The most psychically advanced can relate the reflection to themselves and draw some conclusions about a point on their body that they cannot see. Few species can pass this test, including monkeys, parrots, and some fish.
The researchers conducted four experiments. In the first, they placed several mirrors next to the penguins and watched how the birds reacted to them. The second was to build a cardboard corral around some of the penguins to guide them to the mirrors inside. The third was to put small stickers on the mirrors to make it look like the penguin had something on its body. During the latter, the authors put a view on the chest of random penguins placed in front of a mirror.
The first experiment did not give anything, but almost no one passes – the animals believe that they saw a relative. In the second experiment, the penguins acted as if they were working on their own. Penguins also got scared by looking at sticker mirrors and actively tried to remove them. But when they saw themselves in uniform, they did not react at all.
The authors conclude that the results are not entirely clear, but support the existence of self-awareness in penguins in general.