Reptiles: Smarter than we think?


What do we know about reptile cognition? Sure, we have studied extensively the cognitive abilities of rats and even the avian species, but the topic of reptile cognition has been relatively untouched. However, new studies are starting to emerge that are shedding light as to how intelligent reptilian species are. 

 Take for example the red footed tortoise pictured below. They are a terrestrial species that spend most of their time in solidarity except for mating season of course. One study done in 2010 took 8 young red footed tortoises and had 4 of them observe a specially trained tortoise navigate a maze for food. The other 4 were not allowed to observe the trained tortoise. The results of the study were this, those who observed performed significantly better on the maze than those who did not observe. In fact, the ones who weren't allowed to observe did not even solve the maze! This tells us that even tortoises are capable of social learning, just like the Harris's Hawks!

Another surprising discovery was made in 2007 in another reptilian species that we're all familiar with, crocodiles. Vladimir Dinets, a behavioral ecologist, took notice that mugger crocodiles were using sticks balanced on their snouts to attract birds who were looking for sticks to build their nests. They used this technique most during the nest-building season of the year in order to try and capture a bird to eat. Sound familiar? Using a simple stick to obtain a food reward is exactly what some species of chimpanzees do! Perhaps reptiles are not as dull as we once imagined.


Other experiments are being done that are looking into the intelligence of tropical lizards. By now you might be thinking, "Okay, I can see tortoises and crocodiles having some level of intelligence, but tiny lizards? No way." Again, surprising evidence has been found suggesting that these tropical lizards are capable of solving unique tasks that are set up not for reptiles, but for birds! In this experiment, the lizards had to figure out how to get to their favorite food, insect larvae. Experimenters placed the larvae in a small cup and placed a lid on the cup so that the lizards had to figure out how to get to their tasty treat. What researchers found was that these lizards were completely capable of solving this task! They used their own jaws as a sort of lever and pried the lids off the cups to get at those larvae. However, this finding wasn't all that surprising to researchers since lizards are basically just birds without feathers, but it does come as a shock to many others!


Despite what we may have thought about reptiles and their cognitive capabilities in the past, those thoughts are changing as new studies are being done. As we've seen, reptiles are not just simple creatures who do not use reasoning or cognitive strategies when solving a task. These animals have adapted social learning based on observations as we saw in the red footed tortoises. They use tools as in the case of the mugger crocodiles. They can solver tasks designed for birds like with the tropical lizards. Reptiles are among the oldest living families in the animal kingdom, so it is really that surprising that they have adapted cognitive strategies that enable them to solve problems in their daily lives? New studies are uncovering more and more about the mental capabilities of reptiles and it is exciting to speculate what they will learn next!

References

Social Learning in Tortoises. Animal Wise. Retrieved from            https://animalwise.org/2012/02/08/social-learning-in-tortoises/

ScienceShot: First Example of Tool use in Reptiles. Science. Retrieved from
           http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2013/12/scienceshot-first-example-tool-use-                        reptiles 
Enviompertinente. Anolis evermanni - Behavioural flexibility and problem-solving in a                        tropical lizard. Retrieved from
           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZM2aVGIrvU

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 8, 2017 at 8:12 PM

    I find it so interesting how social learning can influence another animal's actions. The crocodiles were very sneaky in getting their prey (birds) by using sticks as a form of bribe.

    ReplyDelete

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