Final answer:
Option d) Episodic memory in animals is not well-understood, accurately reflects the challenges in scientifically evaluating non-human animals' recall of specific events since it is difficult to confirm their subjective experiences and differentiate between episodic and other forms of memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether non-human animals have episodic memory is a complex one. Option d) Episodic memory in animals is not well-understood, is the most factually accurate statement, because while there's evidence suggesting some animals may have capacities for episodic memory, it's challenging to assess due to the inability to verbally communicate with them and understand their subjective experiences. Episodic memory involves the recollection of specific events, places, and times, and typically includes the what, where, and when of an event. In non-human animals, this type of memory is difficult to address because it is primarily assessed through behavioral tests that can't ascertain the subjective experience of remembering. This includes understanding the complexity of the event recollected and whether it includes the visual imagery and emotions associated with human episodic memories.
For instance, Alex the Parrot exhibited behavior that indicated a form of episodic-like memory, but proving the subjective experience is still beyond current scientific capabilities. Similarly, problems arise when considering anecdotal evidence of animals predicting natural disasters. These could be based on frequent but normally unremarkable behaviors that only gain significance due to their proximity to significant events such as earthquakes, suggesting that what may appear as episodic memory could also be a form of semantic memory or instinctual behavior.