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We're talking about an animal that looks like a fish but thinks like a primate: the dolphin.

Dolphins have big and complicated brains and scientists are learning more about what they do with them.  

Diana Reiss, a cognitive psychologist at Hunter College and expert on the behavior of dolphins and whales, joined The Daily Circuit to talk about the intelligence, self-awareness and extraordinary potential of dolphins.

Her latest book is "The Dolphin in the Mirror."

Reiss and her colleague put a mirror in front of a dolphin several years ago to find out how the animals respond. The dolphins were able to recognize themselves in the mirror, which is considered a rare cognitive ability for most animals.

"We're talking about a particular kind of self-awareness, the sense of you can recognize that you are in that mirror, that that's an external representation of yourself, Reiss 

. "That's pretty sophisticated when you think about it. And most animals don't do it."

Reiss described what the dolphins did while looking in the mirror in an 

VIDEO: Dolphins see themselves in the mirror

Gallery

Dolphins have big, complicated brains. Diana Reiss, an expert on the behavior of dolphins, will talk about the intelligence, self-awareness and extraordinary potential of dolphins.

Inside the brains of dolphins

'The Dolphin in the Mirror' by Diana Reiss

Inside the brains of dolphins

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