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People say snakes are dumb. But how dumb?
Snakes are clever enough to survive tens of millions of years.
Do you have smart behavior with your snakes?
I have.
My carpet python lives on branches. There is a heating pad, placed into a cardboard box, on branches too. Cardboard has a notch.
https://i.imgur.com/P6jnCjs.jpg
I have was a witness at least 3 times when my snake was sleeping in the cardboard box then she's hanging her tail through the notch and urinating.
That kinda behavior, I suppose, is a smart action to prevent her place from being wet.
What do you say?
Do you have a similar experience to call snake smart?
ClockwerkBonnet
02-24-19, 07:24 PM
There were gaps just under the doors of Lincoln's 20-gallon cage before he died (without access to the outside area). On occasion, he would use the branches to climb up there and squeeze his whole body in so he was as close to the screen as possible. I wish I had a picture of him up there as an example.
There were gaps
I don't know what Lincoln's cage is. But it definitely mustn't have gaps to let a snake stuck there or escape that way.
And sorry but I don't think escaping can be a sign of "smart" behavior. I think it's more instinct thing.
And too bad your pet has died :sorry:
eminart
02-25-19, 01:34 PM
People say snakes are dumb. But how dumb?
Snakes are clever enough to survive tens of millions of years.
Do you have smart behavior with your snakes?
I have.
My carpet python lives on branches. There is a heating pad, placed into a cardboard box, on branches too. Cardboard has a notch.
https://i.imgur.com/P6jnCjs.jpg
I have was a witness at least 3 times when my snake was sleeping in the cardboard box then she's hanging her tail through the notch and urinating.
That kinda behavior, I suppose, is a smart action to prevent her place from being wet.
What do you say?
Do you have a similar experience to call snake smart?
No, I say they're not smart at all. At least, not in the way that humans typically think of intelligence. I think sometimes we see behavior, and attribute the behavior to human-like thoughts.
But, usually, there are other explanations. For example, what if your snake was in the warm box, digesting food on her warm spot, then began to climb out of the notch in the box, up onto the branches? The vertical orientation of her body helps get the feces moving rearward, and she defecates while her tail is still in the box. Not a particularly surprising event, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen multiple times.
Also, what is "smart" about defecating in your warm hide?
Also, what is "smart" about defecating in your warm hide?
Hmmm... I took Kaz's statement to mean the snake hung her tail through the notch to the outside of the box to defecate, as if to intentionally avoid pooping in her hide. Though, it is still not what I would consider a sign of intelligence or being smart.
Both of my snakes leave their hides before defecating. Am guessing that is just an instinct. Though the kingsnake has the odd habit of defecating in random places in his enclosure, including near the entrance to his hide or on top of his hide such that it sometimes drops down by the entrance. That means he has to go through the poop to use his hide entrance.
hat if your snake was in the warm box, digesting food on her warm spot, then began to climb out of the notch in the box, up onto the branches? ?
The vivarium of my snake is next to my table. So I watched what she did and how. She laid and sleep or having rest digesting her meal then she uncoils, hung her tail and urinated. I saw it 3 times at least.
I have to say at the beginning, right after I placed her heat pad on branches, she urinated on the heat pad. But later she started hanging her tail while urinating.
Besides, take a look at the picture. Her heat pad is on the upper branch.
The vertical orientation of her body helps get the feces moving rearward
Not really. My python girl can very easy, being on the flat ground, just up her tail and defecate or urinate.
and she defecates while her tail is still in the box.
what is "smart" about defecating in your warm hide?
No. She hung her tail out of the notch for 7-10 cm. So her cardboard box and heat pad stay dry.
Am guessing that is just an instinct.
My snake didn't leave her warm hide to urinate before.
Though the kingsnake has the odd habit of defecating in random places in his enclosure, including near the entrance to his hide or on top of his hide such that it sometimes drops down by the entrance. That means he has to go through the poop to use his hide entrance.
Perhaps smartness depends on species and personality.
herp nerd
02-26-19, 07:11 AM
Never listen to people who have never had or don't like snakes because they don't know anything about them. Snakes are intelligent species not as intelligent as us but they are modestly intelligent.
eminart
02-26-19, 07:45 AM
Never listen to people who have never had or don't like snakes because they don't know anything about them. Snakes are intelligent species not as intelligent as us but they are modestly intelligent.
I guess to really discuss this, we'd have to define what we mean when we say "intelligent." I've watched my eastern indigo, which is a species often considered one of the most intelligent snakes, struggle to find his way out of an opaque tub with no lid on it multiple times. :D I'm just saying, they aren't geniuses.
Can they learn certain simple things? Sure. Do they have in-depth thought processes? I don't think so. A lot of anecdotal "evidence" gets cited to prove that snakes are "intelligent." But like I said in my original post, I think, oftentimes, it's just people attributing human emotions or motives to instinctive or random actions by snakes.
eminart
02-26-19, 08:29 AM
The vivarium of my snake is next to my table. So I watched what she did and how. She laid and sleep or having rest digesting her meal then she uncoils, hung her tail and urinated. I saw it 3 times at least.
I have to say at the beginning, right after I placed her heat pad on branches, she urinated on the heat pad. But later she started hanging her tail while urinating.
Besides, take a look at the picture. Her heat pad is on the upper branch.
Not really. My python girl can very easy, being on the flat ground, just up her tail and defecate or urinate.
No. She hung her tail out of the notch for 7-10 cm. So her cardboard box and heat pad stay dry.
I misunderstood your first post. But, I think it's a common instinct among most animals not to defecate/urinate in their hiding spot. Some snakes still do it, especially if the hide is large. But, I don't think the snakes actively think, "Hey, I'm going to go outside to poop, so I don't soil my hide." I think it's instinct. The snakes that had that instinct were more likely to survive because they weren't laying in fecal matter and therefore having skin problems or diseases. The smell of feces/urine can also attract predators, so doing it outside the hide also benefited snakes in that way, and helped their survival rate.
Though the kingsnake has the odd habit of defecating in random places in his enclosure, including near the entrance to his hide or on top of his hide such that it sometimes drops down by the entrance. That means he has to go through the poop to use his hide entrance.My king poops with no rhyme or reason. Anywhere in her enclosure seems to be fair game. The milk snake tends to poop on the right 1/3 of the enclosure. The gopher snake is another story...I've had that snake since August 2015 and he's been in three separate enclosures and has pooped in his water bowl EVERY TIME with one exception, when it was right next to the bowl. Not saying this has anything to do with intelligence, just things I've noticed.
Now as for escaping, some of you will remember that my king snake escaped a while back. She has since been moved to a new enclosure, but still is always trying to force her way out of the same corner that she broke out of in her old enclosure. I rarely see her trying at other corners, it's almost like she remembers that it was that front right corner where she could get out. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it's odd nonetheless.
Like Eminart said, I don't think snakes are intelligent in any comparable way to humans. I do think that they are smarter than most people give them credit for (and by "most people" I mean those that haven't owned/worked with/observed snakes for some time).
The snakes that had that instinct were more likely to survive because they weren't laying in fecal matter and therefore having skin problems or diseases. The smell of feces/urine can also attract predators, so doing it outside the hide also benefited snakes in that way, and helped their survival rate.
perhaps you are right, but maybe you are not )
I've had that snake since August 2015 and he's been in three separate enclosures and has pooped in his water bowl EVERY TIME with one exception
That's awesome. Your chore of cleaning snake's viv is so simple :yes:
She has since been moved to a new enclosure, but still is always trying to force her way out of the same corner that she broke out of in her old enclosure. I rarely see her trying at other corners, it's almost like she remembers that it was that front right corner where she could get out. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but it's odd nonetheless.
I think that is a sign of intelligence.
Guys. Nobody studies a snake's brain. Only two years ago humans found out a parrot's brain has as many neurons as a human's brain has.
This question is an interesting one and it depends greatly upon what one would quantify as "intelligence" and where the line were to be drawn between "intelligence" and "instinct/biological function".
perhaps you are right, but maybe you are not )
Reptiles tend to avoid their own waste. That is a fact, no maybe about it. I don't personally quantify that as being a sign of intellect.
Guys. Nobody studies a snake's brain. Only two years ago humans found out a parrot's brain has as many neurons as a human's brain has.
While I've known some people who could be "out-thought" by a parrot, neurons do not equal calculus or music composition. Snakes do what snakes do. It's worked for them for a million + years. Acclimation, reward, instinct will all play a part, but, no... snakes are not complex "thinkers".
MDT, very recently scientists had supposed dinosaurs was stupid because of brain size. After studying parrot's brain scientists have to rethink about dinosaurs brain.
eminart
02-28-19, 08:39 AM
Check out this little genius.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BubZjQPA1dQ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1d3l01aqoak0y
Check out this little genius.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BubZjQPA1dQ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1d3l01aqoak0y
How do you know that snake don't have some brain underdevelopment or another illness?
Reptiles are commonly overlooked as primitive, detached, and at times...not very smart. Although many reptiles (like the ball python (Python regius) and American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)) have small brain to body size ratios, this does not mean they are dumb. With a certain anthropomorphizing perspective, there is a range of reptile intelligence. Some species rival birds and mammals for cognition, like the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) who hunts with strategies like a hungry land mammal. Recent studies have expanded the research on this topic, with more questions arising and evidence suggesting reptiles have a more complex brain and thinking process than previously thought. Here we showcase published reptile research on their abilities, which could be considered as reptile intelligence. These abilities can be described as physical, behavioral, and/or physiological (chemically controlled.)
SHUTTERSTOCK/MARIADRYFHOUT
Crotalus rattlesnakes were observed problem solving in a 2002 study.
Rattlesnakes And Habitat Manipulation
A study from 2002 published in the United States on Crotalus rattlesnake species showed that over a course of 2,000 hours recording ambush prey behavior, some of the snakes altered their habitat to help them hunt. The rattlesnakes were able to observe obstacles in their paths (like branches) and made the choice to do something about it. Although similar behaviors have been documented in other rattlesnake (Sistrurus) species, this was the first time it was documented in Crotalus spp. Foraging is a way to hunt, which commonly requires problem solving skills because it uses a lot of energy in many species, including mammals. To forage, you have to find, think, and hopefully discover. In this study, through videography, Crotalus rattlesnakes were observed using their bodies to physically move foliage and plant debris from their strike paths by jerking movements. This study suggested that Crotalus rattlesnake species who are hunting may be able to “anticipate future events and use past experiences to solve problems.” This study helps contribute to the growing literature on reptile intelligence. You can read the Journal here.
SHUTTERSTOCK/CHARTCHARNPHODHIPHAD
Varanus lizards sometimes tear their food to eat it, something rarely seen in carnivorous reptiles.
Mammal-like Hunting In Varanus Lizards
Monitor lizards, part of the family Varanidae, are some of the most popular (advanced) reptile pets and are some of the most elusive predators in the wild. Studies that have been done on these large carnivores include their unique strategies of hunting. While these reptiles do have a feeding method of swallowing whole meals, these large lizards can use other methods as well. For example, tearing and shredding their food to consume it, dragging it away and coming back just like a leopard would. In one captive study in Thailand, a Varanus lizqrd was observed both tearing apart and swallowing large fish whole over the course of 70 minutes. While they share the common characteristics of reptiles, their feeding strategies are unique and maybe show a certain form of intelligence. You can read the study here.
SHUTTERSTOCK/KJERSTI JOERGENSEN
Sea turtles in one study were able to learn by classic conditioning.
Sea Turtles Can Learn
Limited research on sea turtle intelligence has been done, but they have been said to be limited in learning, like other reptiles. More research will help understand these prehistoric, almost unchanged, mysterious creatures. In one study, green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) were tested in a captive setting with classic learning experiments. This means that they were set up with a simple task that gave a positive reward and tested to see if they learned how to do it! It was discovered that 18 four to five-month-old green sea turtles were able to rapidly learn in both ways of classical conditional learning and proved that they are more aware of their behaviors. This research showed that turtle intelligence needs to be further studied because the turtle brain may be more complex and aware than previously thought.
SHUTTERSTOCK/DAVID_EVISON
Sea turtles have massive migrations and ranges!
Turtle And Tortoise Senses
For creatures that are labeled “slow,” these animals made a quick decision when they decided to mimic rocks. Many studies have shown that turtles and tortoises are able to understand their environments based on their unique sensory abilities of the ground. Sensory mechanisms are physical senses of the body, like touch, sight, and smell. Because Chelonians (turtles and tortoises) have very sensitive senses, female sea turtles are able to migrate back to the beach they were born at, some 30 years later to lay eggs of their own. They are able to find their way back home, which is a remarkable example of memory or senses which are still poorly understood. Another example I’ve witnessed is that tortoises are able to find a perfect spot in the dirt, free of debris and rock, so they can lay their eggs in a nest they never even look at. It has been documented that turtles and tortoises are extremely sensitive to smells, touch, and even magnetic vibrations in the ground. The ability to use many senses proves that more research is needed on their intelligence and brain, which is being used in a unique way to help their species survive. Read more here.
SHUTTERSTOCK/VARIOUS_IMAGES
In one study, lizards were able to associate feeding time and get through a maze.
Lizards In A Maze
In this recent study, the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) was tested for "spatial memory in a classic memory maze experiment." Spatial is a sciency word for time. The scientists were trying to observe proof of memory in these reptiles over time. Behaviors that relate to memory have been connected to many animal groups, but very rarely ever reptiles. This study proved that lizards are capable of “spatial memory,” when they were set up in a maze and had to find their way to food. The lizards were able to memorize where their food would be without the cues of direction, helping support the existence of reptilian spatial memory. Read the study here.
Geckos Walk Their Walk and Talk Their Talk
The first interesting and potentially intelligent adaptation of these reptiles is that geckos are the only lizards that make noise. This can possibly enhance their communication skills but little research has been done on this topic. Along with being a very loud pet, they are also famously known for their walking abilities. In a 2005 study that looked at the climbing abilities of geckos, it was found that it also involved geckos using water. The remarkable and gravity defying ability of these reptiles has intrigued scientists and enthusiasts alike, making it an interesting study topic for reptile intelligence. Geckos have hundreds of thousands of “setae” in their feet, making their adhesion abilities a phenomena in relation to their weight. They have such a special force, that it is actually a term of chemistry called “Van der waals.” It basically means that they are chemically bonded to almost any surface (that is some serious stickiness)! In this research, scientists examined the gecko setae and the influence of water and found that the gecko body is able to perfectly utilize its resources for climbing. Read the whole paper here!
SHUTTERSTOCK/MR.B-KING
Geckos are able to chemically bond to almost any surface.
Although evolutionarily reptiles are a primitive group, this alone proves they are in no way stupid! How else would they have survived throughout the eras? Reptile adaptations including physical, chemical, and physiological are all potentials for further understanding the reptilian brain and capacity for "intelligence."
Six Studies On Reptile "Intelligence" (http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Six-Studies-On-Reptile-Intelligence/)
eminart
02-28-19, 01:55 PM
Looks like you are a big genius, at least Einstein.
How do you know that snake don't have some brain underdevelopment or another illness? Read about parrot's brain above at least 10 times, little genius.
Why the personal attack? I was calling the snake swallowing itself a "genius." I haven't (yet) attacked you or your views.
You keep posting about parrots for some reason. Are we discussing parrots (social animals), or are we discussing snakes?
And, like I said originally, if you REALLY want to have a discussion about this, we need to define what it it we're talking about when we say "intelligence." Otherwise, we can go around in circles for eternity and never get anywhere.
Why the personal attack?
Sorry. It was my fault and misunderstanding.
eminart, did you read about rattlesnake above?
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