Re: here's an answer for ya Lexi.................

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Posted by IGUANA JOE on September 28, 2000 at 15:39:37:

In Reply to: iguana intelligence posted by Lexi on September 28, 2000 at 10:55:29:

-As a rule of thumb, reptiles are dumb, and mammals are smart.

-Dogs can walk the blind, save lives, protect you.
Iguanas will rub their nose on the glass for a hobby.

!!!BUT!!!

Iguanas have been proven to be quiet smart in some fields.

-Record memory was a couple of months i believe. An iguana was conditioned to behave in a certain way with a certain stimulus. When the ig "learned", they stopped creating the stimulus needed for that behavior. Couple o' months later, the ig still remembered the behavior.

-Iguanas (and other repties) differentiate b/w colors, lines (wavy, straight, etc.), and can tell people apart visually, and by scent and hearing. They also remember people or animals they dislike, and act accordingly.

-Iguanas can be POTTY trained!!! This is a blessing for all keepers. Some do it in the toilet, others use litters, etc.

-Iguanas learn other animal behaviors. A water dragon (or bearded???) "taught" an ig to wave to signal territoriality. This behavior happens in agamids, not iguanids, yet the iguana mimicked the other lizard.

-Iguanas learn feeding schedules etc.

Now, cram all these capabilities into a lizard's brain (monitor, iguana, tegu...) and you got yourself an interesting animal!

Reptiles were never designed to be 'pets', nor to be 'smarter' than mammals. They have their own place in nature, and their assigned IQ level to sufficiently survive.
BUT!
This does not make them simple animals, for they can quiet well adapt to a domestic life, and be great pets for passionate hobbyst and breeders.

You cannot compare two worlds that are so different and never meant to meet in order to be contrasted. People who compare dogs to igs make no sense, since both animals are opposites of each other in every possible way:
domestic/exotic
mammal/reptilian
warmblooded/coldblooded
"smart"/"dumb"
man's best friend for centuries/new-pet-in-town

I hope this answers your q'.
Read The Ultimate Iguana Manual. It goes through a lot on intelligence of igs.

Ciao!

: Does anyone know of any reports about iguana intelligence? I remember reading somewhere about a test that showed iguanas had a higher intelligence level than dogs and other mammals.... I'm talking to a person who is saying that iguanas are not worth taking care of because they are not smart enough to feel pain. This same person would be willing to spend thousands on a dog though.

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just because an iguana cannot lead the blind like a dog can... Katherine 09/30/00 (0)
better hide ~ lots o' igs are gonna tail whip the snalt outta you!!!! ...nm iZ's mom 09/28/00 (0)

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: -As a rule of thumb, reptiles are dumb, and mammals are smart. : -Dogs can walk the blind, save lives, protect you. : Iguanas will rub their nose on the glass for a hobby. : !!!BUT!!! : Iguanas have been proven to be quiet smart in some fields. : -Record memory was a couple of months i believe. An iguana was conditioned to behave in a certain way with a certain stimulus. When the ig "learned", they stopped creating the stimulus needed for that behavior. Couple o' months later, the ig still remembered the behavior. : -Iguanas (and other repties) differentiate b/w colors, lines (wavy, straight, etc.), and can tell people apart visually, and by scent and hearing. They also remember people or animals they dislike, and act accordingly. : -Iguanas can be POTTY trained!!! This is a blessing for all keepers. Some do it in the toilet, others use litters, etc. : -Iguanas learn other animal behaviors. A water dragon (or bearded???) "taught" an ig to wave to signal territoriality. This behavior happens in agamids, not iguanids, yet the iguana mimicked the other lizard. : -Iguanas learn feeding schedules etc. : Now, cram all these capabilities into a lizard's brain (monitor, iguana, tegu...) and you got yourself an interesting animal! : Reptiles were never designed to be 'pets', nor to be 'smarter' than mammals. They have their own place in nature, and their assigned IQ level to sufficiently survive. : BUT! : This does not make them simple animals, for they can quiet well adapt to a domestic life, and be great pets for passionate hobbyst and breeders. : You cannot compare two worlds that are so different and never meant to meet in order to be contrasted. People who compare dogs to igs make no sense, since both animals are opposites of each other in every possible way: : domestic/exotic : mammal/reptilian : warmblooded/coldblooded : "smart"/"dumb" : man's best friend for centuries/new-pet-in-town : I hope this answers your q'. : Read The Ultimate Iguana Manual. It goes through a lot on intelligence of igs. : Ciao! : : : Does anyone know of any reports about iguana intelligence? I remember reading somewhere about a test that showed iguanas had a higher intelligence level than dogs and other mammals.... I'm talking to a person who is saying that iguanas are not worth taking care of because they are not smart enough to feel pain. This same person would be willing to spend thousands on a dog though.

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