80,000 Hours Podcast #205 – Sébastien Moro on the most insane things fish can do
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Oct 23, 2024 Sébastien Moro, a science writer and video blogger known for his work on animal cognition, dives into the extraordinary intelligence of fish. He discusses surprising fish abilities, such as memory, problem-solving, and even self-recognition. Moro reveals that some fish outperform primates in cognitive tests and have complex social structures, including pair bonding and cooperation. He also explores the emotional lives of fish, emphasizing their capacity for pain and social learning, challenging our perceptions of underwater minds.
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Cleaner Wrasse Intelligence
- Cleaner wrasse outperform primates on a task involving choosing between fixed and temporary food sources.
- This is likely because their natural behavior involves remembering client fish and their cheating tendencies.
Mirror Test Success
- Cleaner wrasse excel at the mirror test, outperforming primates.
- They demonstrate self-recognition by attempting to remove marks on their bodies seen in a mirror.
Mirror Test Limitations
- The mirror test is anthropocentric, as it relies on vision, a less important sense for many animals.
- A failure doesn't mean lack of self-awareness, just that the test isn't appropriate.