Intelligence between different types of snakes - Page 4

Mikoh4792 · 07-25-13, 07:37 AM

This thread has gone so off topic lo. It was supposed to be about which snakes are "smarter" than other snakes, no matter how stupid snakes are. It wasn't supposed to be about how smart snakes are in general.

**Pareeeee** · 07-25-13, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

This thread has gone so off topic lo. It was supposed to be about which snakes are "smarter" than other snakes, no matter how stupid snakes are. It wasn't supposed to be about how smart snakes are in general.

Indeed.

I would probably say cobras and certain colubrids, but this is a very uneducated guess. Pythons and boas, I believe, are more primitive, especially pythons.

Mikoh4792 · 07-25-13, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pareeeee

Indeed.

I would probably say Cobras and certain colubrids, but this is a very uneducated guess.

Better than nothing!

**Pareeeee** · 07-25-13, 07:55 AM

Found something interesting about intelligence, this study was done on boas.
Snakes Methodically Kill Prey : Discovery News : Discovery News

StudentoReptile · 07-25-13, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pareeeee

Found something interesting about intelligence, this study was done on boas.
Snakes Methodically Kill Prey : Discovery News : Discovery News

I don't view that as intelligence. That is instinctual behavior the snakes are born with, not a learned behavior.

I concur that elapids are probably the smarties over all the rest, and the primitive boas and pythons are the ones on the other end of the spectrum.

I can't remember where I read it, but I remember an experiment once where a king cobra was offered a water snake (Nerodia sp), a species it never encounters in the wild. It of course dispatched and ate it with ease. Then it was offered a water moccasin. It killed and ate this one as well, but it was initially cautious, like it was aware that the moccasin was venomous. Then it was offered a moccasin and a Nerodia at the same time. It ignored the water snake and dealt with the moccasin first, presumably because it presented a greater danger. Maybe the whole thing is bogus, because I cant find the source, but I wouldn't put it past a king cobra to figure that stuff out.

poison123 · 07-25-13, 12:28 PM

The fact that a spitting cobra aims for the eyes seems Intelligent to me. Or is that info false?

StudentoReptile · 07-25-13, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

The fact that a spitting cobra aims for the eyes seems Intelligent to me. Or is that info false?

Again, just pre-programmed instinct to aim for the most effective target to deter said threat.

Over thousands/millions of years of evolution eliminated all the spitting cobras that were spitting at other parts of the body, and left the ones that were spitting at the eyes. But it is not a conscious decision on the cobra's part to aim there.

poison123 · 07-25-13, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Again, just pre-programmed instinct to aim for the most effective target to deter said threat.

Over thousands/millions of years of evolution eliminated all the spitting cobras that were spitting at other parts of the body, and left the ones that were spitting at the eyes. But it is not a conscious decision on the cobra's part to aim there.

Mind sharing where this info came from?

smy_749 · 07-25-13, 07:40 PM

charles darwin

Mikoh4792 · 07-25-13, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

charles darwin

strictaz · 07-25-13, 07:56 PM

From my experience..

Retics and condas hands down very intelligent snakes. Display behaviors such as following your movement even from far, and in a nonfeeding matter. They will look around the room up down left right , especially in a new environment almost as if they were curious. Had a retic once that would come out within a couple minutes of opening his enclosure. Also male retics are territorial and do participate in combat.

Burms do sometimes display these traits depending on the individual although usually this is not the case.

Boas and balls are not all there .. They show very little signs of intelligence and from what I've experienced and based solely in instinct.

Just thought I'd share

Mikoh4792 · 07-25-13, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strictaz

From my experience..

Retics and condas hands down very intelligent snakes. Display behaviors such as following your movement even from far, and in a nonfeeding matter. They will look around the room up down left right , especially in a new environment almost as if they were curious. Had a retic once that would come out within a couple minutes of opening his enclosure. Also male retics are territorial and do participate in combat.

Burms do sometimes display these traits depending on the individual although usually this is not the case.

Boas and balls are not all there .. They show very little signs of intelligence and from what I've experienced and based solely in instinct.

Just thought I'd share

Thanks for the input.

My speckled kingsnake shows a similar behavior pattern. She is very observant and analyzing even of far away objects. Much different from my Cali King which seems "special" at times.

StudentoReptile · 07-26-13, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

Mind sharing where this info came from?

Umm...Theory of evolution; i.e. natural selection, Survival of the fittest...they've been teaching this stuff in high school textbooks for years. Skip too many classes, perhaps?

guidofatherof5 · 07-26-13, 07:22 AM

Thamnophis. Curious and interactive. Calm and relaxed.

poison123 · 07-26-13, 08:19 AM

I'm pretty sure they don't teach you about cobras in high school. But then again you are right I did skip a lot of classes. lol