Reptiles as social creatures
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I think it's tolerance rather than socialisation. It's the same thing that annoys me when people buy 2+ turtles so that each one has a "friend". At best, the turtles tolerate each other, but also end up getting territorial or aggressive, even if only during feeding time.
Reptiles seem more "back to basic instincts". Socialisation is more a mammal or bird thing, reptiles seem to group together for survival, not pleasure. They might be seen in groups for hunting, sheltering, or defence, but I don't believe they're "social".
Paul
Reptiles seem more "back to basic instincts". Socialisation is more a mammal or bird thing, reptiles seem to group together for survival, not pleasure. They might be seen in groups for hunting, sheltering, or defence, but I don't believe they're "social".
Paul
I agree. I just keep my turtles together so I only need the one tank. Other than a few dominance issues the first few months, they rarely appear to recognize the other one is there. The only "interaction" they have is when they run into each other while swimming, or the slightly smaller slider basks on the cooter's back to get closer to the heat lamppaul112;2425240; said:
Another interspecies mingling; Galapagos Lava Lizards sunning themselves on Marine Iguanas. Being that the Galapagos Islands are a young addition to the earths land surface, these guys must have developed an almost symbiotic relationship quite quickly at an evolutionary rate. I guess the Lava Lizards know that the iguanas are harmless and present a possible food source (ticks and flies) as well as a lookout perch and a sanctuary from some predators. The iguanas gain a look out and parasite removal service.
as far as being social, I do beleive that certain reptiles can and and will be social with each other.
one example: going back to the marine iguanas. these are almost always seen in quite large groups on land sunning them selves. some of the time lying on each other or is real close distances. which shows some sort of social interactions between each reptile. they have also eat in the same areas.
There are also several other reptiles that have been observed to be in large groups in the wild. these could be rare sightings but i still beleive that they will be social.
even in captivity some reptiles seem to really enjoy interactions and socialization with people. which is another reason that they could be in the wild.
Mike
one example: going back to the marine iguanas. these are almost always seen in quite large groups on land sunning them selves. some of the time lying on each other or is real close distances. which shows some sort of social interactions between each reptile. they have also eat in the same areas.
There are also several other reptiles that have been observed to be in large groups in the wild. these could be rare sightings but i still beleive that they will be social.
even in captivity some reptiles seem to really enjoy interactions and socialization with people. which is another reason that they could be in the wild.
Mike
The key thing about whether or not these reptiles are "social" is: outside of breeding, are they voluntarily seeking social interactions?
In this thread, we've seen numerous examples of large numbers (and occasionally different species) together, but is that really being "social"?
Look at it this way: I stand in line to see the next James Bond movie with hundreds of other people on the opening night. Do I really want to be crowded near all these strangers? Not really. It just happens that all of us want the same thing and it requires us all to be in the same general location to get it.
I know that analogy is comparing me (a hominid) to a reptile, btu I honestly don't think its that much of a stretch, given the issue. All those marine iguanas are piled upon each other on that rock face because it happens to be a prime basking spot. That turtle is resting on that gator's head because it thinks its just another log, and that gator just happens to be not hungry or not irritable.
True, someone brought up the cases of Nile crocs and Komodo dragons working together to bring down large prey. But again, if you really look closely, these are still cases where all the said animals want the same goal and happen to be in the same area at that time. They are not deliberately seeking out the company of conspecifics to organize an attack.
In this thread, we've seen numerous examples of large numbers (and occasionally different species) together, but is that really being "social"?
Look at it this way: I stand in line to see the next James Bond movie with hundreds of other people on the opening night. Do I really want to be crowded near all these strangers? Not really. It just happens that all of us want the same thing and it requires us all to be in the same general location to get it.
I know that analogy is comparing me (a hominid) to a reptile, btu I honestly don't think its that much of a stretch, given the issue. All those marine iguanas are piled upon each other on that rock face because it happens to be a prime basking spot. That turtle is resting on that gator's head because it thinks its just another log, and that gator just happens to be not hungry or not irritable.
True, someone brought up the cases of Nile crocs and Komodo dragons working together to bring down large prey. But again, if you really look closely, these are still cases where all the said animals want the same goal and happen to be in the same area at that time. They are not deliberately seeking out the company of conspecifics to organize an attack.
Ophiuchus;2425938; said:
Exactly, the only real event in which any species of reptile does seek out company from another of its species is during breeding, but even this can be questioned. It can be looked at as an instinctual behavior. Just like a prime basking spot, a group killing that wasnt premeditated, or even protecting younglings for a short period of time. I think that reptilian chance encounters that are deemed to look as "social" are all related to instinctual behaviors, not learned as done so by more intelligent species like birds and mammals.
of course, I have two female juvi crested's unrelated.. they lay together and eat together.. (if I get a video cam ill try and get a vid of this.)
If the reptile has the ability to have a personaility I think they can be sociable.. not even with just each other my pythons seems to act smarter then most dogs I know.. For interaction with reptiles and humans..
If the reptile has the ability to have a personaility I think they can be sociable.. not even with just each other my pythons seems to act smarter then most dogs I know.. For interaction with reptiles and humans..
