Many people say that animals are just sort of biological robots who merely run on their instincts, and that they do not have consciousness like humans do. By consciousness here I mean self awareness and the knowledge of being who you are.
I beg to differ with those people. The most concrete proof that animals (at least some of them) have consciousness is the Mirror test [1]. Until now the following animals have been confirmed to pass the mirror test.
- Apes
- Asiatic Elephants
- Dolphins
- Killer whales
- Eurasian Magpies
- Mantra rays [2]
So, basically, its not only the mammals who have passed the mirror test, but also a bird and a fish specie. Now, if you are wondering how a mirror test is performed, here is one video showing a mirror test done on an Orangutan.
I would love to know your opinions about this. So, if you have them, let them be known through your comments.
References
[1].https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_test
[2].https://www.newscientist.com/article/2081640-manta-rays-are-first-fish-to-recognise-themselves-in-a-mirror/