Salamanders smart?

[mandygurl]

I never realized how smart salamanders really are. I've only had my salamander for about 3 weeks, he was wild to begin with. He has already figured out that when i open his cage that the food is coming. He will watch and wait for me to look or come over, then he will lift his head in the air or paw to let me know hes hungry. Hes getting a little fat cause he suckers me in to feeding him. Are these just his instincts (reacting to movement) or is he really figuring things out?

 

[John]

I never realized how smart salamanders really are. I've only had my salamander for about 3 weeks, he was wild to begin with. He has already figured out that when i open his cage that the food is coming. He will watch and wait for me to look or come over, then he will lift his head in the air or paw to let me know hes hungry. Hes getting a little fat cause he suckers me in to feeding him. Are these just his instincts (reacting to movement) or is he really figuring things out?

That's fairly typical tiger salamander behaviour. They overcome their instinctual fear and associate you with food. Eventually you can hold one in one hand and offer food with the other and they'll eat. They're the puppies of the salamander world, just don't try to take them for a walk.

 

[Azhael]

All my caudates show the very same behaviour. As John says it´s a very simple association with where food comes from.
I´ve learned that the asociation becomes so strong after a while that wether you are offering real food or just the bare tweezers they´ll try to bite anything(because there has to be food somewhere!!!!).

 

[paris]

yes they are (and much smarter than frogs , btw)..they can count!

check out this video of a Pseudotriton ruber

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVoWrvjwPhc






.....j/k ...actually there HAS been research on them counting, the info and article links are here
http://www.freelantzsolutions.com/plethodon/blog/2008/06/can-salamanders-perceive-numbers.html