Colubrids vs Boids - Intelligence

[Neal]

It was inspired by what you said, but I was talking in general terms, as everyone seems to assume Cobras are more intelligent.

I'm well aware of the fact Kings aren't true cobras, thanks for the taxonomic lesson.

I think you misunderstood my point about hooding, completely. The fact they hood up, is one reason why people think they're more intelligent. As if they're looking deep into your eyes, trying to find some deeper meaning with regards to the situation they're faced with...

I hear it time and time again, for example "The way they look at you, you just know there is something going on behind those eyes".

Also you talk absolute rubbish. A hooded cobra can strike upwards, if you had any real experience you'd know this. I have on countless occasions witnessed my Cobras, jump upwards and strike from a hooded position.

You can see it here in a friends video: http://youtu.be/ZCjFEmc-HpU

Clearly you misunderstand what I said. I said they can only strike downwards, I never said anything about not being able to jump upwards. Any snake can lunge which is what that snake did. I also never said there's anything more behind those eyes. I said they're more alert. They will spend quite a more significant time watching you than other snakes, or at least this has been my experience. This is the case with my Rufous beaked and my ball pythons. My rufous beaked will sit with it's head on the ledge of the glass and watch me. If I move it'll reposition itself so it can see me. It doesn't do this all the time but it does it frequently enough.

But back to the hooded comment. I don't keep cobras but like I said I've pat one on the head once before, so if you had any real experience you'd understand how often they actually lunge. They didn't lunge on the first attempt in that video, only after irritating it did it lunge. That's the difference. It won't just jump randomly on the first time. I'd probably guess that a lot of the time those first bites are dry just to scare something off.

The reason I said about mambas is because if I'm not mistaken they're the only snake that doesn't do dry bites. When they bite they inject venom, every time.

EDIT:
Also if you pay attention to the body in that slow motion replay you can see he unhoods while striking. Maybe not all the way but clearly he does. Don't pay so much attention to the strike as to his body. This is not to mention that it's chasing food and not defending itself.

EDIT #2:


Another instance of one lunging, or technically it sped up the log but yea all the same.