Beluga Whales May Recognize Themselves in Mirrors — and One Even Returned with a Hoop
A study has shown that beluga whales, specifically a juvenile named Maris and her mother Natasha, can recognize themselves in mirrors. This behavior indicates a level of self-awareness previously thought to be unique to humans and a few other species. The findings may lead to increased empathy and conservation efforts for these marine mammals.
- ▪Maris and Natasha displayed self-directed behaviors while interacting with a mirror, suggesting self-recognition.
- ▪The study involved a mark test, where Natasha successfully identified a mark on her body using the mirror.
- ▪Belugas are known for their complex social structures and vocal mimicry, which adds to their remarkable nature.
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| Original publisher | Discover Magazine |
| Canonical URL | https://www.discovermagazine.com/beluga-whales-may-recognize-themselves-in-mirrors-and-one-even-returned-with-a-hoop-49151 |
| Publication time | Tue, 26 May 2026 16:15:00 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-26T16:27:49.920Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-26T16:27:49.920Z |
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In their second session with a mirror, a juvenile beluga named Maris pulled up close to the glass and started blowing bubbles from her blowhole, then biting them as they floated upward. Bubble biting is a common beluga play behavior, but this time, she appeared to be doing it while watching herself. When she eventually swam off, her mother, Natasha moved in and did the same thing.The two were among four beluga whales at the New York Aquarium given access to a large underwater mirror as part of a study now published in PLOS ONE. Their behavior suggests that belugas can recognize themselves in a mirror, joining chimpanzees, bottlenose dolphins, elephants, and magpies in a club once thought to belong exclusively to humans.
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