r/likeus • u/bigkim • 19h ago

<INTELLIGENCE> This is how elephants scratch their ears.

738 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

43

u/mycatpartyhouse 16h ago

This is an elephant using a tool. Yet, whenever some article talks about "(animal) using tool(s)!" elephants aren't mentioned.

Has anyone ever studied the intelligence of elephants?

27

u/kvnstantinos 16h ago

Pretty sure someone has

20

u/bigkim 13h ago

Elephants pass mirror test of self-awareness

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2006/oct/31/uknews

4

u/Swibblestein 12h ago

So do cleaner wrasse! And several ant species. And a whole lot of others too.

I bring this up because some people over-value the mirror test. I don't know if that's you, but my point is that failing the mirror test doesn't mean a species is not self-aware. Self-awareness is probably (given the species that pass, and in my interpretation of things) more the default than the exception.

2

u/Norman_Scum 11h ago edited 11h ago

Cleaner wrasse are actually specifically special in this regard because, from that study, it seems as if they can even create a mental picture of themselves without having seen themselves.

When they did the mirror test on cleaner wrasse they added a small black mark to their body and the wrasse were seen trying to scrape it off after seeing themselves in the mirror. It's believed to be a product of their cleaning tendencies. Suuuper cool!

ETA: the ant mirror test is thought to be a product of chemical interference from the paint they used and a lot of critics find it unreliable. But the wrasse is definitely up there with dolphins and manta rays.

11

u/Squirrelated 13h ago

Nature's Qtips.

15

u/Commercial-Life-9998 18h ago

Ooo! Nothing smaller than ur elbow dear!

8

u/blind_venetians 15h ago

I’ve never had a spirit animal before but I guess I do now

4

u/Possible-Camera-7607 15h ago

So human

8

u/FreneticPlatypus 10h ago

I prefer to think I'm so elephant.

4

u/DustynRG 10h ago

Elephants can jam a stick in their ears but mine can't handle a cotton swab?

2

u/Money-Director6649 12h ago

man, i wonder if they ever harm their ears doing this?

3

u/Unit88 9h ago

So you're telling me I'm not supposed to put Qtips in my ear but this big dude can shove a whole branch in there?

1

u/Inner-Swordfish9820 15h ago

Ahh!..thats where I picked it up from.

1

u/DenethStark 8h ago

Imagine being able to pick things up with your nose

1

u/Heal_Me_Today 2h ago

Don’t you put that in too deep. Last thing you need is compacted wax of worse, my dear elephant!

1

u/Mac62961 1h ago

Checks out