Smartest lizard?

[boosh96]

What's your opinion on the smartest group/species of lizard? I'm partially asking because I'm really curious, and partly because I'm in the market for a new lizard and I want something smart and interactive. Now, it seems to me like blue tongued skinks and monitors are some of the smartest lizards. And frankly I'm not sure if I'm ready for a monitor, although I know for a fact that I'm NOT ready for a Savannah. Maybe an Ackie or something. So what do you all think about the intelligence/interactivity of BTS or monitors, OR any other lizard species?

[poison123]

Iguanas seem pretty smart. Not saying to get one just putting it out there.

[red ink]

BTS are pretty lazy and slow in general.

[smy_749]

Iguanas are smart but fall into the same category as monitors with the size of the cage, humidity, blah blah. and they need UVB too...

Bearded dragons and tegus....but again with the tegus on size and humidity and what not.

[infernalis]

Varanids - Reptilian primates.

If there is a smarter lizard on earth, someone share, I'd like to know.

[Donnie]

This ones the smartest, he can play the guitar and everything :p

http://tuckerj.weebly.com/uploads/2/1/9/7/2197697/2308437_orig.jpg

[boosh96]

this ones the smartest, he can play the guitar and everything :p

http://tuckerj.weebly.com/uploads/2/1/9/7/2197697/2308437_orig.jpg

Shut up and take my money.

[franks]

Varanids - Reptilian primates.

If there is a smarter lizard on earth, someone share, I'd like to know.

I was watching the documentary "Lizard Kings" and they referenced that monitors are the smartest reptile in existence to our knowledge. In the studies and tests they ran they tracked how it (bosc monitor) could actually count to (5 or 8 - i forget lol) They are a pleasure to keep.

Edit: The documentary even tracked monitors hunting by tracking their prey, and anticipating their prey's route; jumping off of it to cut off their future meal. Just like a canine or feline would do.

[smy_749]

I was watching the documentary "Lizard Kings" and they referenced that monitors are the smartest reptile in existence to our knowledge. In the studies and tests they ran they tracked how it (bosc monitor) could actually count to (5 or 8 - i forget lol) They are a pleasure to keep.

Edit: The documentary even tracked monitors hunting by tracking their prey, and anticipating their prey's route; jumping off of it to cut off their future meal. Just like a canine or feline would do.

Yes, but monitors can EAT dogs and cats, so therefore monitors are both cooler, and smarter. :D

Just to clarify, my list above was not in any way saying they share the same levels of knowledge. Beardies aren't smart on iguana or monitor level, but still, they will interact with you more than a leopard gecko will...

[MDT]

This guy ALMOST beat Kirk....I'd say smartest :)

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh572/mtucker66/StarTrek-Gorn_zpse1c7b213.jpg (http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/mtucker66/media/StarTrek-Gorn_zpse1c7b213.jpg.html)

[infernalis]

I was watching the documentary "Lizard Kings" and they referenced that monitors are the smartest reptile in existence to our knowledge. In the studies and tests they ran they tracked how it (bosc monitor) could actually count to (5 or 8 - i forget lol) They are a pleasure to keep.

Edit: The documentary even tracked monitors hunting by tracking their prey, and anticipating their prey's route; jumping off of it to cut off their future meal. Just like a canine or feline would do.

Own the dvd ;)

[franks]

Own the dvd ;)

Of course you do wayne. I was not trying to enlighten you, just back up your comment. You probably have more "monitor footage" from little-foot and cera then all the raw footage needed for that documentary lol.

Random question for you btw: What are your monitor's reactions when you put something new into their enclosure?

[infernalis]

Random question for you btw: What are your monitor's reactions when you put something new into their enclosure?

My favourite thing to do is pour in about 10 gallons of fresh dirt, spread it around and slap down a few clumps of grassy sod.

In about 10 minutes after I close the door, they are out, Digging, sniffing, exploring.

I sat an empty night crawler cup in there one night, quite quickly, Cera was shoving it around trying to figure out what it was.

Cera also tore the hygrometer down off the wall and broke it.

Attacks on the camera are still common too.

[Pirarucu]

I would say that monitors are the smartest lizards, with tegus being a close second. If we are broadening the question to reptiles in general, crocodilians are a lot more intelligent than people give them credit for. They are on par with monitors and tegus if you ask me, though it is harder to observe and less research has been done.

[Starbuck]

i agree with pirarucu; i've seen target trained/vocal commanded american alligators, and when you think about their evolutionary path (so close to birds), i think there has to be something there, and us mammals are just too dumb to see it ;)
Crocodilians have parental care, communication, and tons of behaviors that we've barely begun to research....
However, i don't think they make very good pets ;)

[smy_749]

My man here says he disagrees about the pet thing.

http://rense.com/general94/image001%20115.jpg

Sadly his croc died.

[Mark Taylor]

He's got some balls lol.

[smy_749]

Look him up, the croc was critically wounded and he saved him. The footage is nuts....perfectly healthy croc wrestling with him and just chillen in the water...

[StudentoReptile]

I call BS on that story, especially the part about the croc being perfectly healthy. A perfectly healthy croc in the wild would not tolerate that much hands-on contact without repurcussions. I bet the one who "critically injured" it is the guy in the video. Maybe the injury in question included an inadvertent lobotomy that affected the animal mentally.

Because if that croc WAS healthy and operating on all 4 cylinders....that guy would be lunch.

Just another interesting video with a heart-string-tugging fictitious side story attached.

[smy_749]

Yea maybe, didnt think about a lobotomy type thing. Maybe the bullet wound did it to him no?

[boosh96]

It's a shame crocodilians are nowhere close to being pet material.. They're such majestic animals.