Colubrids vs Boids - Intelligence

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Eh. Snakes are all pretty stupid. As Neal stated, many colubrids are very inquisitive and visual....which makes them seem more intelligent. Again, being a colubrid doesn't qualify for special status - colubridae is nothing but a taxonomic dumping ground for snakes that haven't been properly classified.

If we are discussing qualities that mimic perceived intelligence; well then there are several species that combine inquisitiveness, general activity and an alert demeanor which make them seem like the mensas of the snake world when compared to lumps like ball pythons and boas.

Psammophilines (psammophis, psammophylax, rhamphiophis) are all very curious and active snakes - as well as visually stimulated. Same goes for the dispholidines (thrasops, rhamnophis, dispholidus, thelatornis).

Drymarchon are often claimed to be intelligent, but I have a few that are pretty dumb and ball-pythony. I also have a few that have acclimated well, are fairly interactive and seem interested in what's going it.

Hydrodynastes are also a species I would put in that class. Clelia are endearingly goofy, and most philodryas species are indiscriminate biting machines.

If you are interested in an intelligent reptile buy a tortoise of a heloderma. Our russian tortoise is like a dog and our heloderma each have individual personalities and are extremely interactive.

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While this information you provided was very insightful, the person you quoted was initially talking about a turtle, just in case there's any confusion. (We were going off-topic.)

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Originally Posted by cecilbturtle

Very interesting! Thank you! So are you saying that a turtle actually CAN recognize people or that they appear to be able to?

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That's, by far, what I've heard. (Link and link. I don't work with turtles so I can't provide that much insight beyond hearsay and educated guesses, but it's definitely something you should look into if you're interested.)

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Originally Posted by Neal

Now in all honesty I think we link inquisitive with smartness. While I do believe and I'm sure studies somewhere along the line have showed that some snakes are smarter than others, most of us are all going to be biased, like I am towards my Rufous Beaked.

I did this just out of a test. If you're going to watch, then please watch the videos in the order that they're posted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfnTqJkqE8Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5vURYRncDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGOTD-LltFI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skwQygQ15LQ

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thanks for these videos, pretty interesting to watch your rufous beaks

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Originally Posted by mikoh4792

thanks for these videos, pretty interesting to watch your rufous beaks

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Anytim. They're awesome, and honestly they're my favorite snake.

[QUOTE=Skiploder;2207375

"Drymarchon are often claimed to be intelligent"

If you are interested in an intelligent reptile buy a tortoise of a heloderma. Our russian tortoise is like a dog and our heloderma each have individual personalities and are extremely interactive.[/QUOTE]

Agreed lol
I only have a pair of drym's and although alert and active they both seem kinda like idiot drunks a lot of the time.
Our redfoot torts on the other hand have distinct personalities and definatly seem to have an intelligence to them. They for instance beg for food all the time. :)

Edit.
I think that of all reptiles crocodilians would probably have to qualify as the most intelligent.

I don't understand why people say cobras are more intelligent.

I have 3 friends with King Cobras, and they've all said, there is nothing that they do that is different to any other defensive snakes they keep.

I think just because a cobra hoods, people attribute that to a higher intelligence.

I have snakes that watch me far more intensely than my cobras, for example my Bothrops asper's.

I've been keeping cobras for a few years now, and there is nothing I've noted that would make me think they're more intelligent than any other snake.

Not to mention it took my monocled cobra about 30 minutes, to work out she can't eat food sideways...

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Originally Posted by Crotalids

I don't understand why people say cobras are more intelligent.

I have 3 friends with King Cobras, and they've all said, there is nothing that they do that is different to any other defensive snakes they keep.

I think just because a cobra hoods, people attribute that to a higher intelligence.

I have snakes that watch me far more intensely than my cobras, for example my Bothrops asper's.

I've been keeping cobras for a few years now, and there is nothing I've noted that would make me think they're more intelligent than any other snake.

Not to mention it took my monocled cobra about 30 minutes, to work out she can't eat food sideways...

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Someone, somewhere on the internet said it.

And then it spread like wildfire - through people who have never kept cobras.

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

If you are interested in an intelligent reptile buy a tortoise of a heloderma. Our russian tortoise is like a dog and our heloderma each have individual personalities and are extremely interactive.

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I would LOVE to get a heloderma, I've lived in the right region most of my life but never seen one in the wild (and doubt I ever will), but hubby says real hots in the house are a no go. :(

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Originally Posted by Crotalids

Not to mention it took my monocled cobra about 30 minutes, to work out she can't eat food sideways...

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It took one of my BPs 5 months to work that out, and the hoggie still hasn't... :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Badgemash

It took one of my BPs 5 months to work that out, and the hoggie still hasn't... :rolleyes:

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Haha! Oh no, my monocled still does it, but I meant on one particular occasion she took 30 minutes to figure it out.

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Someone, somewhere on the internet said it.

And then it spread like wildfire - through people who have never kept cobras.

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Indeed. Although, many keepers also seem to say it. But they're usually the ones whose favourite snake, is a cobra.

A quote from one of my friends who keeps 5 Kings is this: "Let’s compare the behaviour of my King to my Malayan pit Viper.

Both are wild-caught snakes. When I open their vivs, both will quickly become defensive and often rush out the vivarium at me.

The Malayan Pit Viper would feed on amphibs in the wild; the King would feed on snakes. Both have been 'tricked' into eating rodents.

Neither will take off the tongs, and prefer to have the food left in over night. They both hide away when in their vivariums, and both are highly aggressive when out of the vivariums.

I cant really think of any particular behaviour that really stands out with kings that shows a sign of intelligence."

Lacking hands, brushes and paints my pits are able to create amazing poo portraits. If this isn't a sign of higher intelligence..

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Originally Posted by Crotalids

I don't understand why people say cobras are more intelligent.

I have 3 friends with King Cobras, and they've all said, there is nothing that they do that is different to any other defensive snakes they keep.

I think just because a cobra hoods, people attribute that to a higher intelligence.

I have snakes that watch me far more intensely than my cobras, for example my Bothrops asper's.

I've been keeping cobras for a few years now, and there is nothing I've noted that would make me think they're more intelligent than any other snake.

Not to mention it took my monocled cobra about 30 minutes, to work out she can't eat food sideways...

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I said if I would have to assume if you're referring to what I said. Also a monocoled cobra isn't the same as a king cobra. King Cobra's aren't Naja's but are Ophiophagus'. I've personally never dealt with them, but I know a guy who has one and I do spend some time admiring it every once in awhile and just it being more alert than other snakes which is why I said what I did. It's nothing to do with it being able to hood, which all it's doing in reality is flattening out that part of the body. In fact hooding I wouldn't even call a sign of intelligence, that's more or less it trying to appear bigger as to intimidate whatever they've encountered. A hooded cobra can only strike down as well, so if you were to go above it's head you could pat it on the head. I know this because I've done it before.