The crucial point is off course as Julie more or less stated, what is intelligence? Acting the most like a human would is what we observe as intelligent. For humans there is the IQ test made by Binet and adapted by Spearmann (not spears, sorry) which gives you a number that should tell something about your intelligence. In my case that is something in the region of 145 which makes me very intelligent (and arrogant) but I personally believe that means that I am good in making these tests and does not tell anything about the use I make of my brain. Intelligence should say something about the ability to adapt to very new things in the environment, to making use of the things in the environment, about planning and so on.. Lizards (my obervations focus on lizards)seem to have the capacity to make full use of the little brain they have. Planning is not their strongest point. They seem not to be able to think ahead. But bird do, not always with much succes. (I know too much storeis about birds choosing very awkward places for their nests..) The ability to cope with new items is rather well devellopped in most lizards. Off course some are still running their nose against the glass walls in panic after several weeks which shows they do not learn much.. But so do birds.. On the other hand, everyone who once had an escaped lizard will have been amazed (or has taken it for granted too easy) on how they found their way around in a totally new environment. They seem to know thier way around almost as If they lived around for ages even when they are there for the first time.. I specifically remember a house gecko which excaped me and ran for the bookshelf and hid in the back of a bound book. It might have been desperation as well. I once tried to catch Draco's in thailand. They live on coconuttres near the shore and I was convinced I could swwep them to the ground when I used a long midrib of a coconut leaf. But after the first time i treid that, the draco would run a little up in the tree and remained seated just a few inces above the highest point i could reach..and so did veery other Draco on that same beach.. I would swear I saw them smile.... Birds would just panic and not take any risk..
Peter Mudde Uitgeverij Palmblad www.palmblad.com -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] obeligz Verzonden: woensdag 29 oktober 2003 17:37 Aan: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Onderwerp: SV: [gecko]Intelligence question. Interesting thoughts. :o) Why do you think that lizards can outsmart birds anytime? Any specific incidents/observations you'd care to share? Also, what is a Binet/Spears IQ test? Sorry for all the questions but I'm the curious type. :o) Regards obeligz _______________________________________________ Global Gecko Association http://www.gekkota.com Classifieds http://www.gekkota.com/cgi-gekkota/classifieds.cgi gecko mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.gekkota.com/mailman/listinfo/gecko
