Can reptiles recognize their owners V1.0

[TKR Reptiles]

This is version 1 of the debate " can reptiles recognize their owners.". What this thread is not is a place to come and insult, mock, degrade or put down members for their views. Engage the debate in the spirit in which it is meant to be debated.
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[morti]

This Debate is Morti Approved.

[toker]

With my critters, I would say no, but I think Louise has proved this one out many a times over.

Anything that has the capacity to learn would be able to tell the difference between one person or another, or rather one smell from another.

Does anyone think reptiles learning is limited only to food?

[TKR Reptiles]

Originally Posted by toker

With my critters, I would say no, but I think Louise has proved this one out many a times over.
Anything that has the capacity to learn would be able to tell the difference between one person or another, or rather one smell from another.
Does anyone thing reptiles learning is limited only to food?

there is a study on red tegus where a owner put 6 4 foot tagus in a pin with a large dish of meat in one corner. the tagus were eating put any time he got in the pin they left the food and crawled all over him. i dont know if this shows they recognized him or if the just wanted human attention.

[TKR Reptiles]

heres another example i posted in another thread earlier.

i read a study involving a retic. whenever the owner would come to its cage it would be calm,not hiss or get defensive. the onwer could get it out with no problems, but if ANYONE other than the owner came up to or near the cage it would strike and hiss. it was coincidence b/c the owner would walk up the snake would be ok, and then owner would walk out and a new person would walk in and the retic would go crazy. if that person left and the owner came back in all was ok.

[boaterr]

Originally Posted by BoaFanatic17

there is a study on red tegus where a owner put 6 4 foot tagus in a pin with a large dish of meat in one corner. the tagus were eating put any time he got in the pin they left the food and crawled all over him. i dont know if this shows they recognized him or if the just wanted human attention.

That person was not the owner, just a friend of the owner but still the point of repiles seeking out human interaction is well noted.

It is well known that Reticulated Pythons can differentiate between humans. What is more interesting is that Retics learn cage routines rather quickly and they can instantly notice any strangers that do not belong in the routine. My wc retic is very docile when I am around and he will often seek out my scent when strangers are present. All of my retics prefer me to hold them than anyone else, and they will crawl over tables, chairs, and people to get to me. I hope my retics keep being so attached to me, having 15 foot giants following me around the house would be heaven on earth.

[TKR Reptiles]

Originally Posted by boaterr

That person was not the owner, just a friend of the owner but still the point of repiles seeking out human interaction is well noted.
It is well known that Reticulated Pythons can differentiate between humans. What is more interesting is that Retics learn cage routines rather quickly and they can instantly notice any strangers that do not belong in the routine. My wc retic is very docile when I am around and he will often seek out my scent when strangers are present. All of my retics prefer me to hold them than anyone else, and they will crawl over tables, chairs, and people to get to me. I hope my retics keep being so attached to me, having 15 foot giants following me around the house would be heaven on earth.

that would be sweet. see a big retic going across the floor. and think hey wheres he going?

[TammyJamaica]

If I may dare to once more venture into the heady Realms of the Masters of Knowledge and Wisdom.....

I believe that indeed, some reptiles know their owners, probably by smell rather than anything else.

When my iguana Clover sees me come out on the patio in the morning, he immediately begins to raise up his head and close his eyes in anticipation of my stroking him, before I even go near the cage. He will not do that with anyone else. Iggy is learning not to move away from me, but he is very nervous of anyone else.

Neither of my iguanas will tolerate the sight of me in hair curlers, though. Makes both of them really upset, so I never do it again.

[mrcota]

Not only do many captive reptiles have the ability to recognise or differentiate between people, but I have seen this in wild reptiles that become habituated to my presence and other people's presence that do not present a threat to them. I have seen this most often with Varanus salvator, but most recently with Leiolepis reevesii. In this latest case, a species that has been constantly hunted for its meat over centuries (millennia?), up to just a couple months ago and usually darts underground to its burrow at the first sight of people has come to recognise that my family and I are not a threat and comes within feet of us to feed; whereas it will dart underground if other people are about.
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Is this true of all reptiles? No, some will never trust or show recognition, but it cannot be said that all cannot recognise or differentiate between people.
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Michael