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Responses of gibbons ( Hylobates lar ) to their mirror images
Author(s) -
Hyatt Charles W.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2345(1998)45:3<307::aid-ajp7>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - hylobates , mirror image , audiology , psychology , optics , zoology , physics , biology , medicine
Nine gibbons ( Hylobates lar ) and one gibbon–siamang crossbreed were observed during exposure to their mirror images over two 30 min baseline condition periods (mirror off) and four 30 min treatment condition periods (mirror on). Greater frequencies and durations of gazing at the mirror and mirror‐contingent behaviors were noted during reflective conditions than for nonreflective conditions. Despite two subjects' apparent use of the mirror to view body parts otherwise not visible to them, no subjects passed a modified mark test. One subject exhibited limited aggressive displays toward the mirror, but no subjects exhibited abnormal behaviors in the presence of the mirror. The results expand on and confirm similar findings by Lethmate and Dücker [Zeitschrift fur Tierpsychologie 33:248–269, 1973. Am. J. Primatol. 45:307–311, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.