Voice recognition?

[MovieActor]

Have a small 6" Leo that I've had for 6 years. In the past 6 months she gets super excited whenever I walk in the room talking and especially singing (I'm a professional so it sounds good I promise lol).
Does anybody else have tortoises that recognize voices?

 

[wellington]

I think mine do. However, it's probably more me then my voice. After all I am the food giant.

 

[Yvonne G]

There are two schools of thought about tortoises' hearing. I'm of the school that believes they don't hear well, mostly lower end of the scale accompanied by vibrations.

 

[kimber_lee_314]

Mine all come out when I go out in the yard. The hear something - I don't know what though. Usually they don't come out unless I start talking. They know I usually have food for them so they come out ASAP!

 

[mainey34]

I always talk to mine before I walk up on her so I don't startle her. Now she knows my voice.

 

[Madkins007]

There are two schools of thought about tortoise hearing (to borrow from Yvonne)-

- Those who think their tortoises hear and recognize their voice, and

- The hard and well-tested research that clearly proves that they only hear certain wavelengths- sounds related to mating, combat, and hatching.

I am not at all surprised that they 'seem' to respond to a voice, but I am pretty sure they are REALLY responding to other cues, like-
- vibrations, like footfalls or low frequency speech that creates vibration
- visual cues
- scent cues
- routine cues ("My feeder person usually comes by this time of day- look! There they are!")

Tortoises are not necessarily geniuses, but they are definitely smart enough to add cues together to figure out which person brings food, etc. Even a goldfish can piece cues together and figure out that it may get fed.

 

[GBtortoises]

Without going into alot of the details (they were posted a couple of years ago somewhere in another thread on the forum). Some of my tortoises and I were involved in a study done by a animal sciences student at a local university about a decade ago. The study was a comparison of various animals of different "intelligent levels" such as horses, dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, (my) tortoises, frogs and fish. The comparisons were their capability of recognition to objects, colors and their owners by sight and hearing.

The bottom line is that the tortoises and the other "lower" animals failed miserably at any type of sound recognition to their owners. As well as failing at site recognition of their owners. My tortoises went to wherever and whoever was holding the food or bright colors, whether it was me or someone they had never seen before. They did not respond to my vocalization when they could not directly see me. When they did see me and could have also heard me, they still went to the person next to me that was holding the food!

 

[turtletrucker]

Without going into alot of the details (they were posted a couple of years ago somewhere in another thread on the forum). Some of my tortoises and I were involved in a study done by a animal sciences student at a local university about a decade ago. The study was a comparison of various animals of different "intelligent levels" such as horses, dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, (my) tortoises, frogs and fish. The comparisons were their capability of recognition to objects, colors and their owners by sight and hearing.

The bottom line is that the tortoises and the other "lower" animals failed miserably at any type of sound recognition to their owners. As well as failing at site recognition of their owners. My tortoises went to wherever and whoever was holding the food or bright colors, whether it was me or someone they had never seen before. They did not respond to my vocalization when they could not directly see me. When they did see me and could have also heard me, they still went to the person next to me that was holding the food!

As true as I am sure that is, I find it a little sad, lol.

While I am CERTAIN that my tortoises' affection is based soley on my recognized role of (to steal an awesome phrase from wellington) 'food giant' I have noticed them recognizing me over other people in the abscence of food. Taiki, my Indian Star, will always come out to greet me when I come into the room and she lets me scratch her neck and is generally very frisky while if someone new comes in she is skittish and shy. Again, I have no illusions that this is not directly correlated to my being her food source but still there is recognition there.

I have noticed this with my sulcata, Franklin, as well. When I had to move to Indiana he was left in Florida with some friends who had sulcatas but when I go visit him, even if there has been a year or two span between visits, he still comes right out first wagging his tail (so to speak).

In that study they assumed that the recognition factor would outweigh the delicious food factor. I do not think that their strong food drive discounts that they recognize us. Did they run any tests without someone holding food? I would imagine that even 'higher' animals like dogs would choose food over owner in many cases.

 

[GBtortoises]

Without going into alot of the details (they were posted a couple of years ago somewhere in another thread on the forum). Some of my tortoises and I were involved in a study done by a animal sciences student at a local university about a decade ago. The study was a comparison of various animals of different "intelligent levels" such as horses, dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, (my) tortoises, frogs and fish. The comparisons were their capability of recognition to objects, colors and their owners by sight and hearing.

The bottom line is that the tortoises and the other "lower" animals failed miserably at any type of sound recognition to their owners. As well as failing at site recognition of their owners. My tortoises went to wherever and whoever was holding the food or bright colors, whether it was me or someone they had never seen before. They did not respond to my vocalization when they could not directly see me. When they did see me and could have also heard me, they still went to the person next to me that was holding the food!

As true as I am sure that is, I find it a little sad, lol.

While I am CERTAIN that my tortoises' affection is based soley on my recognized role of (to steal an awesome phrase from wellington) 'food giant' I have noticed them recognizing me over other people in the abscence of food. Taiki, my Indian Star, will always come out to greet me when I come into the room and she lets me scratch her neck and is generally very frisky while if someone new comes in she is skittish and shy. Again, I have no illusions that this is not directly correlated to my being her food source but still there is recognition there.

I have noticed this with my sulcata, Franklin, as well. When I had to move to Indiana he was left in Florida with some friends who had sulcatas but when I go visit him, even if there has been a year or two span between visits, he still comes right out first wagging his tail (so to speak).

In that study they assumed that the recognition factor would outweigh the delicious food factor. I do not think that their strong food drive discounts that they recognize us. Did they run any tests without someone holding food? I would imagine that even 'higher' animals like dogs would choose food over owner in many cases.

Affection is a mammalian bonding emotion. What some may perceive as it from a tortoise is simply a recognition of a food source.

I don't want to spell out the entire study done here because as I said in the earlier post, it is on this forum somewhere and it's lengthy. But you cannot assume what the study entailed by what I wrote above. So to imply that the study "assumed" anything would be to so without knowing the facts of the actual study. One fact that I will share is that it was done completely without bias, assumption or preconcieved expectations of any results. It was done on a clean slate with zero influencial input by myself or anyone else. But lets assume for a moment that tortoises show affection and mine would have done so in the study that I participated in. If they had an overwhelming loyalty and affection to me why would they go to someone else randomly when that person was holding food yet they supposedly recognized me and my voice? That's precisely what any of my dogs would do. Food or no food, they come to me first when they hear my voice. Why wouldn't a tortoise, if it has the same level of emotional reasoning do the same?
Part of the same study involved multiple people holding the same foods in front of them, including myself. More often that not, the tortoises went to anyone randomly for the food, generally whoever was closer to them in most cases, but not always to me. Again, if they recognized me by sight and sound why did they randomly just go wherever the food was and not specificially to me each time?
The answer is simple, they instinctually survival driven, not emotionally driven. Where their food (and other resources) come from is not a concern to them.

 

[Laurie]

Without going into alot of the details (they were posted a couple of years ago somewhere in another thread on the forum). Some of my tortoises and I were involved in a study done by a animal sciences student at a local university about a decade ago. The study was a comparison of various animals of different "intelligent levels" such as horses, dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, (my) tortoises, frogs and fish. The comparisons were their capability of recognition to objects, colors and their owners by sight and hearing.

The bottom line is that the tortoises and the other "lower" animals failed miserably at any type of sound recognition to their owners. As well as failing at site recognition of their owners. My tortoises went to wherever and whoever was holding the food or bright colors, whether it was me or someone they had never seen before. They did not respond to my vocalization when they could not directly see me. When they did see me and could have also heard me, they still went to the person next to me that was holding the food!

Maybe they just don't like you . I told you mine love me....

 

[Tortus]

Just to add a little something to the "lower" animals not recognizing people...

I've owned marine fish for over 20 years (since I was about 15 or so). And I have to believe that some of them do recognize people. When I walk up to the tank, all my clowns will gather at the glass to be fed. When a guest comes over and looks in the tank, they'll often scatter and hide in the rocks and anemones.

So I think they know who brings home the plankton in this house.

 

[diaboliqueturtle]

Without going into alot of the details (they were posted a couple of years ago somewhere in another thread on the forum). Some of my tortoises and I were involved in a study done by a animal sciences student at a local university about a decade ago. The study was a comparison of various animals of different "intelligent levels" such as horses, dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, (my) tortoises, frogs and fish. The comparisons were their capability of recognition to objects, colors and their owners by sight and hearing.

The bottom line is that the tortoises and the other "lower" animals failed miserably at any type of sound recognition to their owners. As well as failing at site recognition of their owners. My tortoises went to wherever and whoever was holding the food or bright colors, whether it was me or someone they had never seen before. They did not respond to my vocalization when they could not directly see me. When they did see me and could have also heard me, they still went to the person next to me that was holding the food!

Now I'm heartbroken

 

[turtletrucker]

As true as I am sure that is, I find it a little sad, lol.

While I am CERTAIN that my tortoises' affection is based soley on my recognized role of (to steal an awesome phrase from wellington) 'food giant' I have noticed them recognizing me over other people in the abscence of food. Taiki, my Indian Star, will always come out to greet me when I come into the room and she lets me scratch her neck and is generally very frisky while if someone new comes in she is skittish and shy. Again, I have no illusions that this is not directly correlated to my being her food source but still there is recognition there.

I have noticed this with my sulcata, Franklin, as well. When I had to move to Indiana he was left in Florida with some friends who had sulcatas but when I go visit him, even if there has been a year or two span between visits, he still comes right out first wagging his tail (so to speak).

In that study they assumed that the recognition factor would outweigh the delicious food factor. I do not think that their strong food drive discounts that they recognize us. Did they run any tests without someone holding food? I would imagine that even 'higher' animals like dogs would choose food over owner in many cases.

Affection is a mammalian bonding emotion. What some may perceive as it from a tortoise is simply a recognition of a food source.

I don't want to spell out the entire study done here because as I said in the earlier post, it is on this forum somewhere and it's lengthy. But you cannot assume what the study entailed by what I wrote above. So to imply that the study "assumed" anything would be to so without knowing the facts of the actual study. One fact that I will share is that it was done completely without bias, assumption or preconcieved expectations of any results. It was done on a clean slate with zero influencial input by myself or anyone else. But lets assume for a moment that tortoises show affection and mine would have done so in the study that I participated in. If they had an overwhelming loyalty and affection to me why would they go to someone else randomly when that person was holding food yet they supposedly recognized me and my voice? That's precisely what any of my dogs would do. Food or no food, they come to me first when they hear my voice. Why wouldn't a tortoise, if it has the same level of emotional reasoning do the same?
Part of the same study involved multiple people holding the same foods in front of them, including myself. More often that not, the tortoises went to anyone randomly for the food, generally whoever was closer to them in most cases, but not always to me. Again, if they recognized me by sight and sound why did they randomly just go wherever the food was and not specificially to me each time?
The answer is simple, they instinctually survival driven, not emotionally driven. Where their food (and other resources) come from is not a concern to them.

I apologize... I used the word 'affection' once to describe her familiar behavior towards me and you seem to have skimmed over the rest of my post. Don't worry I have highlighted the portions that seem to have been missed.

The argument is about recognition though, not affection. Obviously their whole interest in us is because they have been conditioned to view us as their food source, I do not think anyone would dispute this fact. They are instinctual animals whose main concerns are food and warmth. The core of this though is recognition. Every handler on here can probably recount a story where their tortoise has shown them 'affection' and ignored others. Is this tied to emotion? No, likely not. But it is recognition.

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Just got home, and as usual, went over to the inside tortoise enclosure, and noticed that Ptolemy was missing...turns out my daughter was showing him to a friend and got distracted by her cellphone, so set him down on the floor, 3 hours earlier.

She panicked, looking everywhere, and was afraid that I'd get home before she found him (and I did)...

When she explained what she'd done, I sat down in the living room and started calling to him...and in a few minutes, here he comes out of the bottom shelf of our bookcase!

I'm convinced that tortoises and turtles hear well enough.

---

Without going into alot of the details (they were posted a couple of years ago somewhere in another thread on the forum). Some of my tortoises and I were involved in a study done by a animal sciences student at a local university about a decade ago. The study was a comparison of various animals of different "intelligent levels" such as horses, dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, (my) tortoises, frogs and fish. The comparisons were their capability of recognition to objects, colors and their owners by sight and hearing.

The bottom line is that the tortoises and the other "lower" animals failed miserably at any type of sound recognition to their owners. As well as failing at site recognition of their owners. My tortoises went to wherever and whoever was holding the food or bright colors, whether it was me or someone they had never seen before. They did not respond to my vocalization when they could not directly see me. When they did see me and could have also heard me, they still went to the person next to me that was holding the food!

I'm sure it was nothing personal, GB...tortoises are just naturally going to suck up to whoever has the food.

Empty-handed, I'm sure they still love you best...

 

[Tortus]

The more I think about this, the more I think that "lesser" animals not recognizing you as the food source is insulting.

If something as simple as an ocean fish can accomplish this, as I know for a fact, take it or leave it, why not a tortoise? They can live for over 100 years. I would like to think that their brains can develop enough during this time to recognize their daily keepers....

 

[Jeansie1988]

Very interesting topic

 

[Sally Franklin Christie]

I know Cally-Berry was not a tort, she was a box turtle, but...

One day, we had her out in the east yard and looked away. We looked and looked and went into the high grasses and dark places under the big trees.

No Cally.

After literally beating the bushes we gave up and decided to go inside.

Cally was at the top of the ramp, facing our front door.

Sally

 

[Laurie]

I like to tease GB a lot over this . The first time I met him he told me about this experiment he was involved in, and the tortoises, well, they weren't the brightest bulbs in the pack. I LIKE to believe my tortoises not only recognize me but also enjoy my company However, deep down, I really know they are looking for food and are a "survival driven" species as Gary likes to say.

I think they hear/sense vibrations like your footsteps. I think they can probably smell you and get into somewhat of a routine time wise, but I think they probably don't feel any sort of connection with you.

I don't think there's anything insulting about that, I'm sure the idea of it upsets us much more than them.

 

[MovieActor]

Well! I am pleased to have opened up the debate on this topic!
I can say after reading several stories about recognition on this thread, elsewhere, and my own experience with my leopard tortoise (named Harriet), I believe in tortoise/owner recognition/affection. Allow me to add my own story:
My fiance and I live in an 800 sq. foot apartment with a galley kitchen. We like to let our leo wander around and she likes to wander. One evening my fiance went to get something from the fridge, not noticing our leo whom was startled a little into her shell. Samantha, my fiance, said the following in a sweet, high pitch voice, "Hey there. C'mon. You can come out. Here we go!." and in 20 second followed her around the corner into the living room. Food giant? maybe. Recognition? YES!

 

[Tortus]

Well I will agree with MA on this. I do think lesser animals (non-mammalian) recognize their owners.

Even though they're not as social as some species, they're not stupid. They know what's up. As a long-time reptile and fish keeper, I feel sure of this. People can come up with their own conclusions all they like.