Reptiles that are the smartest include Alligators, Black Mambas, Crocodiles, Emerald Anole, and Frill-Neck Lizard.
They’re slimy and scaly and just…creepy. But what you may not know is that some of these creatures are actually quite smart.
Reptiles have a high level of intelligence. In fact, the intelligence of some reptile species approaches that of birds or even mammals. And research indicates that these cold-blooded organisms are becoming increasingly intelligent.
According to a Wired magazine story, global warming is altering reptile ecosystems around the world, and a warmer nest produces more intelligent residents.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the intelligence of some of the smartest reptiles on earth.
Examples of the Smartest Reptiles
1. Alligators
| Scientific Name | Alligator |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | the United States and China |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Alligators are smart because they can learn to hunt. They live in the water and eat fish turtles or small mammals such as rabbits mice squirrels frogs opossums raccoons nutria rats muskrats moles birds and even other alligators if they catch them by surprise.
Alligators are actually more intelligent than some animals. They have a brain-to-body ratio similar to dogs and can be trained in the same way using positive reinforcement. Young alligators learn from their parents how to hunt by watching them kill prey while older ones figure things out on their own through trial-and-error experiments with varying degrees of success.
One study showed that alligators can even be taught to open a latch to get food rewards. This suggests they have some level of understanding about how their environment works and what they need to do in order to achieve their goals.
So the next time you’re near an alligator, remember that it’s not just a mindless beast – it’s a cunning and intelligent creature that you should respect.
2. Black Mambas
| Scientific Name | Dendroaspis polylepis |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | southern Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Black mambas are a species of snake that lives in Africa. They are one of the most feared snakes on Earth and have been known to kill people with their venomous bites. The black mamba is very fast, agile, and it can strike up to 12 times per second.
Their bite contains enough neurotoxin (the same kind used in some medical drugs) to kill 20 humans within 15 minutes.
Despite their deadly venom, black mambas are not aggressive snakes and will only attack if they feel threatened.
They live in a variety of habitats, including savannas, forests, and rocky outcrops. Black mambas are also known to eat other snakes, as well as small mammals, birds, lizards, and eggs.
3. Crocodiles
| Scientific Name | Crocodylidae |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Crocodiles are smart because they can hide in water for hours waiting for their prey to come close then jump out and snatch it up. They live in tropical and subtropical areas near rivers lakes swamps marshes estuaries and brackish water. They eat mostly fish but also turtles birds small mammals such as rats opossums and even other crocodiles.
A species of crocodile called the Australian freshwater crocodile (also known as a “freshie”) can do something that few other animals on Earth can. This particular reptile has the ability to climb trees.
Scientists are still not sure how these reptiles evolved this skill, but they believe it may be because they often live in areas where there are few places to hide from predators or bask in the sun. Freshwater crocodiles can climb up to six meters (almost 20 feet) high and often perch on tree branches to stalk their prey.
4. Emerald Anole
| Scientific Name | Anolis evermanni |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | native to the southeastern United States and introduced to islands in the Pacific and Caribbean |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Native to the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico, the Emerald Anole is one clever little reptile! A group of behavioral ecologists at Duke University in the United States performed a study about evolution and cognitive abilities using Emerald Anole lizards and an experiment that required the creatures to find insect larva hidden under plastic discs.
The result was that the Emerald Anole performed with the higher-level cognitive intelligence usually reserved for birds and mammals.
5. Frilled-Neck Lizard
| Scientific Name | Chlamydosaurus kingii |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | northern Australia |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The Frilled-neck Lizard, which is also known as the Chlamydosaurus kingii, lives in Australia and New Guinea. It is a very large lizard that can grow to be over one meter (almost three feet) long.
What makes this reptile so smart is its ability to camouflage itself. The frilled-neck lizard has a frill of skin around its neck that is usually kept folded down, but when it gets scared or angry the lizard will expand this flap to make itself look bigger and fiercer.
6. Giant Tortoises
| Scientific Name | Chelonoidis niger |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | Aldabra Atoll and Fregate Island in Seychelles and the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Giant tortoises can weigh up to 400 pounds and are the largest living turtles on Earth. They live on many different islands in the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. Some of these tortoises can swim long distances and have even been known to cross entire oceans.
Their diet consists mainly of grasses, but they will also eat leaves, flowers, and fruit. Tortoises are considered to be one of the smartest reptile species because they can remember where they have hidden their food and can recognize individual humans and other animals.
7. Iguana
| Scientific Name | Iguana |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | Central America, the tropical parts of South America, and some eastern Caribbean islands |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Iguanas are a species of lizard that can be found in the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean. They are one of the most popular reptile pets in the world because they are easy to care for and have a friendly personality. Iguanas are smart enough to understand basic commands and can learn how to open doors or retrieve objects.
Despite their popularity, iguanas are not without risks. They can be aggressive and territorial, especially when they reach sexual maturity. Adult male iguanas have been known to attack people and other animals, sometimes resulting in serious injuries. Iguanas also require a lot of space; an adult male needs at least a ten-foot-long by six-foot-high enclosure.
Related Article: What Eats Iguanas?
8. King Cobra
| Scientific Name | Ophiophagus hannah |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | northern India, east to southern China |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The King Cobra is a snake that lives in tropical areas of the world, like Africa and Southern Asia. Although it has no hands or feet, in addition to slithering on the ground this agile reptile can climb trees and swim through streams and ponds.
Unlike other snakes that strikeout as a reaction to something else, like the presence of a human that startles them, King Cobra will take a moment to determine the best way to strike in order to take down their prey.
9. Monitors
| Scientific Name | Varanus |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Monitor lizards are one of the largest lizard species on Earth. They can grow up to six feet long and weigh almost 100 pounds! The Komodo dragon is a type of monitor that lives in Indonesia, but there are many other kinds living all over Asia and Africa.
Monitors eat just about anything they can find: birds’ eggs, insects, small mammals like mice or rats, even human garbage.
10. Snapping Turtle
| Scientific Name | Chelydra serpentina |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | southeastern Canada |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The snapping turtle is a large, aquatic reptile that lives in North America. They can weigh up to 40 pounds and have a shell that can measure up to 18 inches long.
These turtles are well-known for their aggressive behavior and their ability to quickly snap their powerful jaws shut on anything that comes close – including people’s fingers.
Snapping turtles are also known as “alligator snappers” because they look like small alligators with their dark coloration and large heads.
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Conclusion
Reptiles tend to be very good at specific and specialist tasks. However, most are not intelligent enough to be domesticated (unlike many mammals). Even snakes, which are kept as pets, have not been domesticated over time because they’re stubborn and highly tuned to being afraid of humans. Nevertheless, as this list shows, there are some reptiles that have some intelligence about them.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.