Are bearded dragons smart, and what intelligence do they have? Join us in exploring the intricate world of reptilian intelligence. Research has shown that intelligence in bearded dragons and other reptiles can even be influenced by incubation temperature.
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Key Points
- Bearded Dragons Are Smart: Bearded dragons can learn by observation and imitation.
- Reptile Cognitive Abilities: Reptiles can remember, make decisions, and interpret social cues.
- Social Learning: Reptiles solve problems by watching others.
- Incubation Temperature: Incubation temperatures affect intelligence.
- For Pet Owners: Use puzzles and tasks to engage your bearded dragon’s intelligence.
Reptiles are Smart!
Reptiles are capable of impressive cognitive feats, such as:
- Distinguishing between colors, odors, shapes, and even quantities.
- Memory retention.
- Decision-making skills.
- Ability to interpret social cues.
For instance, Pellitteri-Rosa et al. (2010) found that tortoises prefer yellow over blue or white, showing their ability to distinguish between colors. The reptiles ability to distinguish colors is likely due to an evolutionary advantage in selecting carotenoid-rich foods. Color discrimination has also been studied in herbivorous reptiles like iguanas (Blazquez & Rodriguez-Estrella, 2007), showing that their smart learning abilities could have ecological benefits.
Additionally, reptiles are capable of spatial cognition, which helps them remember the locations of food sources or shelter. Lizards have even observed birds locate fig trees rich in insects (Whiting & Greeff, 1999), demonstrating how smart reptiles are with their ability to use social cues to enhance survival.
Social Learning in Reptiles
Social learning is an important way animals, including reptiles, transfer knowledge and skills across generations and individuals. It involves more than simple imitation; it’s about watching, processing, and replicating what one observes, showing just how smart reptiles are. Even though reptiles are typically solitary, studies have shown that they can still learn from one another.
Social Learning in Action
In the wild or your home, you might notice your bearded dragon learning from its environment in subtle ways. For instance, it may watch you place food in its enclosure and learn where to expect its meals. This kind of behavior is similar to stimulus enhancement, where the bearded dragon’s attention is drawn to a specific object (like a food dish) through observation. It is a more straightforward form of social learning, but it still shows how bearded dragons are smart, using their brains to navigate their surroundings.
Another form of learning, local enhancement, might occur when a bearded dragon observes the activity in a particular part of its enclosure and becomes interested in that spot. This could be as simple as seeing you rearrange decorations or place a new hide, prompting your bearded dragon to explore that area more closely.
In addition, bearded dragons have shown the ability to solve problems using true imitation. True imitation is a complex form of social learning involving replicating specific actions seen in others.
Reptile intelligence can solve real-world issues. One significant example comes from conservation efforts in Australia. Species like goannas and blue-tongued skinks are at risk when they consume toxic cane toads, which secrete harmful chemicals. Price-Rees and Shine (2012) found that feeding these reptiles small cane toad sausages treated with chemicals that induce nausea could teach them to avoid eating cane toads altogether. This aversion learning allowed the trained reptiles to survive longer once released back into the wild.
Wilkinson et al. (2010) demonstrated an example of social learning in solitary tortoises that learned to navigate around barriers by observing others. Tortoises that were allowed to watch another tortoise navigate the detour could solve the task, while those that weren’t could not.
The tortoises in this study went beyond mere observation; they were smart and demonstrated complex learning. The tortoises applied the demonstrated strategy, navigating around the barrier, and were able to repeat the success multiple times. Some tortoises chose a different direction (left or right) to complete the task despite observing the demonstrator always going right. This further supports the idea that they were not just following but processing and applying what they had learned.
Bearded Dragons & Social Learning: Smarter through Observation
Research also shows that bearded dragons can learn through observation. In a study by Kis et al. (2014), researchers trained a demonstrator bearded dragon to open a sliding door to access food. Then, they showed a group of other bearded dragons a video of the demonstrator performing the task. The bearded dragons that watched the video were able to replicate the exact action to open the door and reach the reward!
Their behavior was not just random or a lucky guess—these bearded dragons learned by observing and imitating the behavior they saw, something that takes considerable brainpower. That is a smart bearded dragon!
The group that did not see how the demonstrator opened the door failed to open the door. This clear difference shows that bearded dragons are capable of learning through observation and not just trial and error. They are able to pick up new skills by watching others—a form of learning that, until recently, was thought to be too advanced for reptiles.
Reserach by van Giezen’s (2017) demonstrated similar results showing that bearded dragons can engage in true imitation. In this case, the bearded dragons learned how to open a sliding door to access a mealworm reward after watching a demonstration. The ability to observe and then perform the same action shows that bearded dragons can be quite smart in learning and adapting behaviors.
This finding is significant because imitation, particularly in reptiles, has been considered a complex cognitive behavior, requiring the individual to observe, process, and replicate a demonstrated action. Herndon (2021) discovered further research that provides compelling evidence that reptiles are capable of this level of learning.
These fascinating studies challenge long-held beliefs about reptile intelligence. Their ability to imitate and learn from others shows that bearded dragons can solve problems in clever ways, making them even more fascinating companions. So, “Are bearded dragons smart?” The answer is a resounding yes, especially when it comes to learning by watching.
How Do Bearded Dragons Learn?
Van Giezen’s (2017) study described bearded dragons’ learning through a process called stimulus enhancement or local enhancement. These simpler forms of social learning involve the observer’s attention being drawn to an object or location by the actions of another animal. In this case, the demonstrator opening the sliding door. While this form of learning does not require direct imitation, it still demonstrates that bearded dragons are smart enough to process and apply what they observe to solve problems in their environment.
Van Giezen’s (2017) study also suggests that bearded dragons use a mix of trial and error and learning by observation to complete tasks. They do not always exactly match the actions of the demonstrator but instead can modify the action after seeing it.
Even though some bearded dragons did not immediately replicate the demonstrated behavior perfectly, they still managed to solve the task after several trials. This shows a level of adaptability and problem-solving that speaks to their intelligence.
Incubation Temperature Affects How Smart-Bearded Dragons Are
Van Giezen’s (2017) research explored the relationship between incubation temperature and social learning abilities in bearded dragons. The researchers tested 2 groups of bearded dragons:
- one incubated at “hot” temperatures (~30°C), and
- another at “cold” temperatures (~27°C).
The goal was to see if the temperature affected how smart the bearded dragon offspring were. As discussed previously, the bearded dragons were tasked with opening a sliding door to access a mealworm reward after watching a demonstrator perform the task. The results of the study highlight how incubation temperature can shape how smart bearded dragons can become.
Van Giezen (2017) found that bearded dragons incubated in colder temperatures consistently completed social learning tasks faster. On average, the cold group completed the task in a shorter time than the hot-incubated group, showing a clear cognitive advantage in solving the problem.
This was not a simple difference in motivation but an actual cognitive difference linked to their early development.
- Faster Learning in Cold-Incubated Bearded Dragons: The bearded dragons incubated in colder conditions opened the door faster and showed a trend toward more successful openings throughout the testing period. This suggests they may have been more efficient learners and quicker to grasp the connection between watching the demonstrator and solving the task, proving them to be smart learners.
- Slower Learning in Hot-Incubated Bearded Dragons: While the hot-incubated bearded dragons were not as fast, they still demonstrated the ability to learn and complete the task. However, their slower performance hints at how different environmental factors during incubation can influence various aspects of cognition and how smart they are.
Incubation Temperature Affects Reptile Species Differently
Amiel et al. (2017) studied the effect of incubation temperatures on the brain and behavior of three-lined skinks.
In the study, lizards that were incubated at cooler temperatures (around 18°C) developed larger brains, specifically in the part of the brain that controls learning and memory. In fact, the part of their brain responsible for problem-solving and memory was about 50% larger than in those incubated at warmer temperatures (around 24°C).
However, even though these cooler-incubated lizards had bigger brains, it did not necessarily mean they were better at learning. On the contrary, the lizards incubated in warmer temperatures had more densely packed brain cells and performed better in tasks like avoiding predators and navigating mazes.
This research suggests that while cold-incubated lizards might grow bigger brains, hot-incubated lizards are more agile thinkers and more innovative in some situations.
What Does This Mean for Pet Owners?
As a pet owner, knowing that your bearded dragon can learn through observation opens up new possibilities for enrichment. Explore how smart your bearded dragon is through training and improve its wellbeing by creating enrichment opportunities such as:
- Introducing puzzles.
- Giving them tasks.
- Teaching them to associate certain actions with feeding times.
- Teaching them to associate a puppy pad with potty training.
You can actively engage your bearded dragon’s cognitive abilities through these activities. You might find that your bearded dragon is quicker to catch onto routines or tasks than you previously thought.
It also suggests that individual differences in your bearded dragon’s cognitive abilities could be shaped by early environmental factors, like temperature. If you have a bearded dragon that seems particularly quick to learn or explore, it may be reflecting the conditions they experienced during incubation.
Conclusion: Smart Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons are smart. These reptiles have the ability to absorb information from their surroundings and apply it to solve problems.
This means that as a pet owner, you are not just caring for a pet that passively exists in its enclosure. Your bearded dragon can learn, adapt, and even solve problems that make them more interactive and engaged than you might expect. Whether they’re learning how to get to their favorite basking spot or figuring out where their food will be placed, your bearded dragon is constantly absorbing information from the world around them.
In summary, the notion that bearded dragons are smart is supported by both scientific research and pet owners’ experiences. These reptiles are capable of complex social learning behaviors, proving that their intelligence is more developed than once believed. Researchers will likely continue exploring how environmental factors, like incubation temperature, affect their cognitive development. Through research and our own experience we will likely learn more about how these fascinating creatures think and learn.
So, next time your dragon seems to be paying extra attention to what you are doing, remember—they might just be learning from you!
References
References
Amiel, J. J., Bao, S., & Shine, R. (2016). The effects of incubation temperature on the development of the cortical forebrain in a lizard. Animal Cognition, 20(1), 117–125.
Blázquez, M. C., & Rodríguez-Estrella, R. (2007). Microhabitat Selection in Diet and Trophic Ecology of a Spiny-Tailed Iguana Ctenosaura hemilopha. Biotropica, 39(4), 496–501.
Herndon, S. (2021). Intelligence of Bearded Dragons [PDF].
Kis, A., Huber, L., & Wilkinson, A. (2014). Social learning by imitation in a reptile (Pogona vitticeps). Animal Cognition, 18(1), 325–331.
Pellitteri-Rosa, D., Sacchi, R., Galeotti, P., Marchesi, M., & Fasola, M. (2010). Do Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni) discriminate colours? An experiment with natural and artificial stimuli. Italian Journal of Zoology, 77(4), 481–491.
Price-Rees, S. J., Webb, J. K., & Shine, R. (2012). Reducing the impact of a toxic invader by inducing taste aversion in an imperilled native reptile predator. Animal Conservation, 16(4), 386–394.
van Giezen, M. F. T. (2017). The Cold-Blooded Truth About Social Learning [PDF].
Whiting, M. J., & Greeff, J. M. (1999). Use of heterospecific cues by the lizard Platysaurus broadleyi for food location. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 45(6), 420–423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002650050579 Wilkinson, A., Kuenstner, K., Mueller, J., & Huber, L. (2010). Social learning in a non-social reptile ( Geochelone carbonaria ). Biology Letters, 6(5), 614–616.
