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Cold-blooded cognition: Tortoises quick on the uptake
26 December 2011 by Jeff Hech
issue 2844.
___________________________
To abstract this article, a PhD student decided to study cognition in tortoises as are done in rats. Some interesting findings, different from earlier ones, resulted because experiments were done at 29degrees C to have awake and alert tortoises.
Torts can follow another individual's.gaze, and can successfully navigate 8armed mazes. They can create cognitive maps of areas they cannot see and create new landmarks when prior ones are blocked (essentially updated their own GPS).
Torts are able to find hidden food after seeing another individual return from a hidden area with food.
Because they receive no care after hatching and must learn in their own, there is a high natural selection process for intelligence. While turtles and tortoises (all reptiles) have no empathy, and might not be the fastest travelers, they adapt well whenever it comes to finding food--one of three things they are programmed for. ( the other two are seeking optimal external temperature/humidity and reproducing).
Take away? Keep your tort warm, happy and occasionally challenge them with food dinding games!
12 kids
8 grandkids
2 wolves
2 dogs
1 sulcata
26 December 2011 by Jeff Hech
issue 2844.
___________________________
To abstract this article, a PhD student decided to study cognition in tortoises as are done in rats. Some interesting findings, different from earlier ones, resulted because experiments were done at 29degrees C to have awake and alert tortoises.
Torts can follow another individual's.gaze, and can successfully navigate 8armed mazes. They can create cognitive maps of areas they cannot see and create new landmarks when prior ones are blocked (essentially updated their own GPS).
Torts are able to find hidden food after seeing another individual return from a hidden area with food.
Because they receive no care after hatching and must learn in their own, there is a high natural selection process for intelligence. While turtles and tortoises (all reptiles) have no empathy, and might not be the fastest travelers, they adapt well whenever it comes to finding food--one of three things they are programmed for. ( the other two are seeking optimal external temperature/humidity and reproducing).
Take away? Keep your tort warm, happy and occasionally challenge them with food dinding games!
12 kids
8 grandkids
2 wolves
2 dogs
1 sulcata