Most intelligent snake...

since boas and pythons are tecnically the most " unevolved" per say i would say most coulbrids are able to act and react more due to past experiences along with instinct while boas and pythons are more pure instinct.

I have no idea which snake is the most intelligent. Keep in mind it would depend on how you define intelligence. Also consider we have trouble quantifying and operationalizing intelligence for humans.

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Originally Posted by ReptileFan

since boas and pythons are tecnically the most " unevolved" per say i would say most coulbrids are able to act and react more due to past experiences along with instinct while boas and pythons are more pure instinct.

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The only organisms that are "unevolved" are those that are extinct. That's not a word you'll ever hear in scientific circles. Maybe "primitive", but keep in mind that "primitive" doesn't mean lack of evolutionary adaptations. "Primitive" just means that it split or branched off earlier. A lot of scientists use "primitive"--I guess for lack of a better term?

Dr. Bryan Fry, a venom researcher, explains:

"One thing to keep in mind is that the constricting snakes are not the most 'primitive'. They are actually quite derived in their own right. The powerful constriction is a secondary form of prey capture and the heat-seeking pits have been independently acquired twice within this clade (one time in the pythons, one time in the boas). Venom is therefore a secondary loss within this group."

Without a doubt the smartest snake is the Gaboon Viper. Any snake smart enough to wait for it's food to come to it, and not go out like a chump looking for food gets my vote.

I wish I was like a Gaboon Viper, just sitting on my couch all day and having food brought to me. :cool: ;)

I agree with the idea that intelligence is highly subjective.

However, according to Encyclopedia Britannica Online the King Snake and King Cobra are both considered the top on scales of intelligence. The King Cobra regularly practices monogamy... and even humans only recently discovered the benefits of that ;).

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Originally Posted by jhall1468

I agree with the idea that intelligence is highly subjective.

However, according to Encyclopedia Britannica Online the King Snake and King Cobra are both considered the top on scales of intelligence. The King Cobra regularly practices monogamy... and even humans only recently discovered the benefits of that ;).

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You must not be Canadian. Canadian Geese practice monogamy and judging by the behaviour of your average goose, monogamy's really gone downhill lately ;)

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Originally Posted by jhall1468

I agree with the idea that intelligence is highly subjective.

However, according to Encyclopedia Britannica Online the King Snake and King Cobra are both considered the top on scales of intelligence. The King Cobra regularly practices monogamy... and even humans only recently discovered the benefits of that ;).

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Cool....One thing about monogamy is that it requires animals to remember each other.

hey people,,talking about intelligent snakes,,my royal pythoin Carmen is amazing.i posted a thread on her lastnight i think it was here is the link http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=42811

please check it out,it might seem a little far fetched for a royal python,but she actually does this stuff.i couldnt beleive it myself.

From what I have seen and read a King Cobra is a snake a case could be made for so long as you are clear about what you mean by "intellegence" as has been said that deffinition is highly subjective especially as it pertains to snakes.

Now no matter what the Britanica guild says I can't say I have ever seen a Kingsnake do anything "intellegent" at least more so then a corn, black rat, etc. I don't get that claim at all!

The cobras as a whole seem to have an awareness higher then most snakes but a kingsnake? I have to say again, HUH?

Heck I have a Plains Redsided eGarter Snake and I would say he appears more aware and thinking then any kingsnake. Jsut the way he watches you move outside his cage, follows your movements and seems to evaluate his surroundings shows some level of "thought".

To those that think their snakes have true affection and bonding with them though I just think we are tying to apply human concepts to snakes and that just does not work.

Snakes have a sort intellegence and awarness but honestly compared to even a lizard they are pretty low on the intellect scale, :snake:

I always thought it was Indigos and cobras.

I would have to say King Cobras and Indigos