So the take-home message I'm trying to say is that intelligence really isn't comparable across dissimilar species such as lizards and birds. It is probably more realistic to compare leachies to ciliatus, for example, if we were going to have a debate about relative intelligences. Otherwise, it's typically useful to look at how well an animal adapts and survives and to consider that a sign of the intelligence the species has evolved.
Well said Rick! My MA psychology training led me down the same road. A note from my personal experiences with geckos and people: on many occasions folks unfamiliar with geckos assume they don't have any any differing characteristics in individual behavior of the same species, and surely are not capable of complex behaviors. It is fascinating to them when they find out my geckos react differently towards me vs. them (strangers). I find it a trueism that we make generalizations about other forms of life we are not familiar with and further that these generalizations tend to be myopic and not giving much credit for intelligence. Ironically it is the ignorant observer in these situations that tends to be "stupid!" ;) Reminds me of folks who say "Isn't it sad that cats can't talk!" My pat reply: "They talk, we don't listen!" ;)
Julie Bergman http://www.geckoranch.com GGA lifetime member
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