Animal Intellegence

[Oliverian]

There are no reptile politics ,,no morality..

Ahh, thats what WE think. We don't really know for sure now, do we?

but can they really recognize one human from another?

I don't know if they can actually recognise individuals, but I think they know certain people's 'smells', and can react accordingly. Some of my snakes will crawl all over me, and onto my mom's hands, but when I put them near someone they don't know, they freeze and won't go onto that person's hand. It really is an interesting topic.

Many animals such as mammals do have more complex mental systems....but thats their story..designed that way through evolution..

But how do you know that reptiles don't have a more complex mental system, that we just aren't currently aware of?

once they escape once they will continue to escape until you fix the escape route.

Lol! I agree wholeheartedly. Kind of a problem if the 'smart' human can't locate the escape route, though.

[mk-ultra]

This is the most interesting thread thanks for starting it

There are no reptile politics ,,no morality..

I have to disagree with you on this . Reptiles have their ways with things that we are just starting to see with all the researches done in the field . I know there is one species of monitors ( dont remember if its the komodo dragons or the nile monitors ) that instead of fighting eachothers to death for a female they wrestle exactly like humans do . Its a question of establishing dominace over the challenger . But they dont bite or hurt eachothers they get up on their back legs and wrestle until the other is down on its back . I saw that once on discovery , it was really amazing to see that . It really looked like some kind of respect over the one who lose , something like " you will get another chance " . Its a good example of a superiority in evolution over a lot of mammals that will kill eachothers for a female . Even humans do that . You will probably say that its because they are crazy that they kill another man for a women , but if their was no chance of going in jail for such an action i know a lot more would do it . But those reptiles dont do it even though nothing bad will happen to them if they do it .

[chas*e]

Survival of the fittest, in any group, gives rise to politics of some sort..., true. But on an overall level they are driven by instincts to breed and feed. To ensure self-survival the individual knows not to fight a bigger opponent within reason. Besides I am mostly addressing the Captive reptile who's social options are limited....ps..Most of my reptiles(snakes only) do recognize me and I have also been experimenting with bucket colours...Blue=feeding time...Green=clean-up...so far I have had limited success because my freezer is in the same room and I feel that the responce I got when I bring the Blue bucket out could be as simple as they smell the food...but on the bright side, they(my snakes) show no responce from the Green bucket's arrival.....fun wow...


PS...Reptiles might have a morality of sorts, but it is relative to our understanding of observation.....and what is morality anyways?...but thats another thread..lol

[Oliverian]

But on an overall level they are driven by instincts to breed and feed. To ensure self-survival the individual knows not to fight a bigger opponent within reason.

I agree. But also, this is how most animals are, even ones like dogs and humans.

[eyespy]

I find green iguanas fascinating because they are such a contradiction. They have no cerebral cortex and so don't have the capacity for much memory or problem solving. They are known to try and walk on broken legs every morning because they literally forget that it was painful yesterday. Yet they seem to remember people and hold grudges against them, plot revenge by seeking out beds to poop on, and are terrific at figuring out climbing routes to get to the bananas I put on top of the fridge or the hanging plant by the window. It's amazing what reptiles can do with the brain power they have.

[Oliverian]

Yea, its really interesting. Even looking at the intellegence of other animals, such as rats and birds. It's quite a fascinating topic.