Intelligence between different types of snakes

[Will0W783]

I've heard that the Elapids (cobras and mambas especially) are the most intelligent of snakes, with the king cobra and mabas being at the top.

However, I think it really depends on how we define "intelligence." Humans are social creatures; we've evolved to operate in groups and therefore have a large capacity for adaptive learning and cooperation. Most snakes are solitary creatures; they do not need to work in groups, and many are simply ambush hunters. They have highly evolved sensory cortex (areas of the brain that process sensory information), well-developed cerebellum (motor control) but little to no frontal cortex (executive control, judgement, behavioral inhibition, working memory). They simply don't need that aspect; therefore, evolution resulted in development of the brain areas they do need.

Some snakes are more social in nature- for example, garter snakes hibernate in huge dens, mambas tend to do better when kept in groups, so they would need more adaptations in frontal areas to allow them to exist in the groups successfully.

Furthermore, booid snakes (boas/pythons) are evolutionarily the oldest group - these animals have existed basically unchanged since the age of dinosaurs and even retain remnants of a pelvic girdle and legs (spurs). Colubrids, elapids and vipers all evolved more recently, and lack these characteristics. They have evolved to fit different niches in the environments; thus, each class is unique, yet they are all newer than boids. Colubrids are thought to have evolved after boids, with elapids and vipers developing from the colubrids as more efficient venom-delivery apparati were evolved. Thus, it would make sense that these animals are more "Intelligent" than boids- they have had more evolutionary pressure.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by Will0W783

I've heard that the Elapids (cobras and mambas especially) are the most intelligent of snakes, with the king cobra and mabas being at the top.

However, I think it really depends on how we define "intelligence." Humans are social creatures; we've evolved to operate in groups and therefore have a large capacity for adaptive learning and cooperation. Most snakes are solitary creatures; they do not need to work in groups, and many are simply ambush hunters. They have highly evolved sensory cortex (areas of the brain that process sensory information), well-developed cerebellum (motor control) but little to no frontal cortex (executive control, judgement, behavioral inhibition, working memory). They simply don't need that aspect; therefore, evolution resulted in development of the brain areas they do need.

Some snakes are more social in nature- for example, garter snakes hibernate in huge dens, mambas tend to do better when kept in groups, so they would need more adaptations in frontal areas to allow them to exist in the groups successfully.

Furthermore, booid snakes (boas/pythons) are evolutionarily the oldest group - these animals have existed basically unchanged since the age of dinosaurs and even retain remnants of a pelvic girdle and legs (spurs). Colubrids, elapids and vipers all evolved more recently, and lack these characteristics. They have evolved to fit different niches in the environments; thus, each class is unique, yet they are all newer than boids. Colubrids are thought to have evolved after boids, with elapids and vipers developing from the colubrids as more efficient venom-delivery apparati were evolved. Thus, it would make sense that these animals are more "Intelligent" than boids- they have had more evolutionary pressure.

Mind=blown

Thus, it would make sense that these animals are more "Intelligent" than boids- they have had more evolutionary pressure.

So would you consider ratsnakes, king snakes...etc to be more intelligent than boids in general?

[Kettennatter]

Originally Posted by Will0W783

[...] Colubrids are thought to have evolved after boids, with elapids and vipers developing from the colubrids as more efficient venom-delivery apparati were evolved. Thus, it would make sense that these animals are more "Intelligent" than boids- they have had more evolutionary pressure.

The fact that colubrids have evolved after boids makes perfect sense in that regard. However, it still leaves us with the question of how we define intelligence for the sake of this discussion. Since I don't think that snakes are truly social, and intelligence cannot be inferred through social interaction, I would consider it largely the ability to adapt to a changing environment.

[ra94131]

My JCP appears to watch TV from his perch. I'm not sure what about it intrigues him so much, but it is amusing to see. He extends himself out from the branch and just stares straight at it.

I don't know how much intelligence snakes really have, but there are times that their innate instincts impress me 100x more than the best trained dogs.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by ra94131

My JCP appears to watch TV from his perch. I'm not sure what about it intrigues him so much, but it is amusing to see. He extends himself out from the branch and just stares straight at it.

I don't know how much intelligence snakes really have, but there are times that their innate instincts impress me 100x more than the best trained dogs.

sometimes my corn will peek out of his hide and just stare at me using my laptop. Such a creeper.

[pdomensis]

Originally Posted by ra94131

My JCP appears to watch TV from his perch. I'm not sure what about it intrigues him so much, but it is amusing to see. He extends himself out from the branch and just stares straight at it.

I don't know how much intelligence snakes really have, but there are times that their innate instincts impress me 100x more than the best trained dogs.

What shows does he like? If he watches Dr. Who or Firefly I think we can infer more intelligence than if he watches The View.

[Terranaut]

Originally Posted by pdomensis

What shows does he like? If he watches Dr. Who or Firefly I think we can infer more intelligence than if he watches The View.

I so agree. Many of my snakes watch me when I am in the snake room. Some even go so far as to come out of the their hides. My Jag comes up to the glass and peeks out almost every day.

[Corey209]

Originally Posted by Will0W783

Furthermore, booid snakes (boas/pythons) are evolutionarily the oldest group.

Would this be the reason both of these seem to have so many more base morphs compared to a lot of other species?

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Corey209

Would this be the reason both of these seem to have so many more base morphs compared to a lot of other species?

Corn snakes wave hello.