I've noticed my monitor do the same thing. He hates getting his face dirty. I've also seen him escape an enclosure that I had thought was escape proof. Needless to say, he is now under lock and key to prevent that from happening. It's almost scary how smart the monitors and tegus seem sometimes.

I wouldn't really call that intelligence, more a natural reaction, like scratching an itch isn't really anything special.  I assume she didn't like the feeling on her face and just went to remove it.  I think snakes are intelligent to an extent, but so far mine haven't really surprised me with anything.  There is a difference between behavior and intelligence, most animals can learn, but does that really make them intelligent?  Not in my personal opinion, intelligence to me is something different.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't think snakes are dumb, but trainability and intelligence once again are different in my personal opinion, same with instinct and intelligence.

Not quite sure how to put what I'm trying to say into words, but I hope what I said made some kind of sense.

What may interest you is this study: http://beyondexpectationsdesign.com/ometepe/omesnakes.htm

I find it interesting that snakes can grow an unlimited number new brain cells, while humans can only produce a limited number.  But once again, does not make them intelligent when compared to many other species.

+1 Tiki. It's a natural reaction. Mine have done the same thing. It doesn't take that many brain cells in an animal to know there is something on it's face.

However, isn't the king cobra "technically" considered the most intelligent snake? I've seen them in action and they soooooo act like they know wtf is going on.

Tegus. Tegus totally suprise me with how smart they seem. I saw one kinda play fetch with it's owner once. Sweetest thing I ever saw as far as herps go.

There is no doubt that snakes are highly intelligent, at least Indigo snakes.  I have proof.

Jack learning the Rubik's cube...

Surfing the web...

Expanding his vocabulary...

Learning to catch a frisbee...

Singing opera, "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's Turandot...

Whoa, sorry about the extra pictures,  they weren't showing up in my editing box, didn't think the cut and past worked.  Anyway, the picture without a caption should have said, "Just relaxing, watching some UFC fights..."

Nats  what are you Crazy ?? Indigo's like Xbox !!!

Hilarious! lol!

I think they have limited intelligence. Sure, they aren't going to solve algebra, but they do seem to retain some things they learn.

In a quick google, I found this article which is along the lines of my thoughts on what they are capable of:   http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=1514

Also, I don't think all the species are equal. It's like with any other group of animals, there are stand outs. Dolphins, killer whales, parrots, elephantes, bettas, etc. I've been very interested in the last several months on finding out about "smart" snakes. What i've found seems to point out retics, indigos, russian rats, & king cobras as "intelligent" species. Not saying there aren't more nor am I saying other species don't exibit intelligence.

On Mondays my chinese beauty snake can be found waiting by her plate. I know it's a learn behavior & scent plays a factor, but I still think it's something. She also starts looking for food if she sees my tongs on my hand. That's two items she's connected to food. Tonight I came home to find my coachwhip had moved shavings to cover up the opening to it's hide & it had made a new burrow in. It had also moved it's plate over quite a bit to be over the opening of the burrow. However, it didn't freak out tonight with me looking it, I seriously doubt it knew it's "plate" is a see through red tubaware lid :)

My water dragon does this every time he eats.   Chomps down dinner, rubs his face on a branch, jumsp in the water, and then wipes the water off his face with his front limbs.  He clearly doesn't want anything remaining on his face after eating.  I don't know if this is just typical water dragon behavior or if it's just a quirk of his, but I can't say whether it's a sign of intelligence or just behavioral instinct.

Intelligence versus instinct has been a long running debate and not just for reptiles. I would have to agree with the opinion of King Cobras being on the top of the intelligence list though. We have one where I work and I swear he looks at me and laughs because he knows I just about shit my pants when he lunges at me. (he is void btw)

As for my own reptiles, my Tegu is pretty clever but I have a couple snakes that I have had to redesign enclosures for because they figured out how to escape pretty easily. For example, my female red tail some how knows that if I leave the key in the lock it is loose enough to turn but if the key isn't there she won't even try.

I have never seen any evidence-not one iota-of intelligence in my snakes. Especially, when I watch it snatch its prey by the head to constrict it but then can't find the head to start eating.

natsamjosh- best proof of snake intelligence ever!

Love those photos--they're hysterical--LOL! One thing I know is that my ball python Nala is definitely not stupid.  She seems to have this insatiable curiosity.  She'll pop her head out from whichever hide she's in when I come into the room.  She would often watch as I unlocked her cage--which has sliding glass doors that lock on one side and open on the other.  Several times at night when she's more active and cruising around I would see go to the side of the cage where the lock is and push against the glass, then go to the other side where it opens and push against the glass on that side!  She did this for several weeks and I guess she gave up, because she doesn't do it anymore.  Cool, but almost a little creepy.

Sarge, I think you need some more snakes ;) Maybe something colubrid.

i have one who after every feeding wipes its face on the shaving when he is done 

my mexican black king, Sin, used to grab his mice, and instead of constricting them, would drag them to his water dish,--and drown the thing!! He'd hold it under till it was limp, and chow down. Not sure if thats intellegence or just creativity, LOL! :) Love the picture story above too, reminds me alot of my Sin

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