When The Manta Ray Identifies As A Teletubbies Character

When The Manta Ray Identifies As A Teletubbies Character
mirror-test-memes, self-awareness-memes, animal-intelligence-memes, neuroscience-memes, cognition-memes | ScienceHumor.io

The mirror test is neuroscience's gold standard for self-awareness in animals—put a mark on an animal and see if they recognize it's on them when looking in a mirror. Killer whales, dolphins, chimps, and even some birds have passed this test, showing they understand the concept of "self."

Then there's the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, which apparently decided to skip the mirror and just show up as a Teletubby-esque purple triangle creature. The absolute confidence of this ray is sending me! Evolution really said "here's cognitive ability AND a built-in antenna" and called it a day.

What's next? Finding out jellyfish can solve differential equations? Starfish doing calculus? The bar for marine intelligence keeps getting weirder and I'm totally here for it.

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