Data from: Wild recognition: Conducting the mark test for mirror self-recognition on wild baboons

The distribution of self-awareness across species is important to
understand, not only as a matter of scientific interest but because of its
implications for the ethical standing of non-human animals. The prevailing
methodology for determining self-awareness is to test for visual
self-recognition using mirror-image stimulation and a ‘mark test’.
However, most studies have involved very small sample sizes, omitted a
control condition, and been conducted on captive animals. Here, we
designed and implemented the first controlled mark test in a wild setting,
conducting the mark test using a laser pointer on a large (N = 51
individuals, 135 mark tests) sample of wild chacma baboons (Papio ursinus)
in situ. Control tests showed that baboons were interested in the mark,
but this interest decreased with age, and was greater in males and towards
green (cf. red) marks. However, as predicted, subjects showed no evidence
of visual self-recognition, which, given the control, cannot be attributed
to lack of motivation in the mark. Our study proposes a novel, controlled
mark test in situ and contributes to the evidence that, without extensive
training, non-hominid primates are not capable of full visual
self-recognition.