Frog/Toad Intelligence - what do you think?

[SkeletalFrog]

In all fairness, classical conditioning (associating an external stimulus with either a reward or pain) is pretty basic - the model system for studying it is a sea slug. Operant conditoning (associating one's own behavior with reward/pain) is slightly more complex, but is still present even in invertebrates.

That said, testing higher-order intelligence in different species is often difficult, especially for species very different from us, so just because we haven't observed it doesn't mean it isn't there. Conversely, however, complex behaviors that seem outwardly intelligent can be produced from little more than a combination of conditioning, memory, instinct, and our own anthropomorphic biases.

[mpmistr]

While I love amphibians I doubt their intellect. They are quite frankly mindless eating machines. =)

[WTF97]

My whites tree frogs are pretty smart.They have learned how to escape their tank at night..and also go back to their aquarium in the morning no problems

[mpmistr]

My whites tree frogs are pretty smart.They have learned how to escape their tank at night..and also go back to their aquarium in the morning no problems

Tree frogs appear to possess bit more intelligent than other amphibians, I would assume because they need higher brain function to operate in a 3D environment unlike other frogs whose world is more flat.

I am partial to african clawed frogs since those are the only amphibians I keep at the moment, while they are not intellectual power houses they DO know me and they do clamor up to the front of their aquarium when they see me.. obviously for food not to say 'hi' though. : )

[findiviglio]

Hi Folks, Thank you. they can seem like eating machines at times - I recall White's Treefrogs that shared an exhibit with Diamond Pythons latching onto dead rats that were being tong fed to the snakes!..but unnatural situation, of course. They surely wouldn't approach a rat-sized mammal in the wild.

Re-entering the terrarium is interesting....some species seem to return to the same hiding spot over time, Ive seen this with a group of Cuban Treefrogs I kept in a huge greenhouse.

African clawed Frogs are very responsive indeed; one of my lifelong favorites. One of mine lived for 20 or so years, and that is not a record! Very interesting to breed as well; perhaps you'll enjoy this article.

Best, Frank

[tgampper]

Vision in Xenopus seems to be of little use. The eye is used mainly for protective arousal - that is, when a large object moves rapidly above the water, frogs that have been hanging at the water surface dive to the bottom to hide. This reaction helps protect them from birds, which are their primary predator. It is interesting that this reaction is restricted to objects above the frog. There is little or no reaction if an object passes along side the frog. Clawed frogs can identify objects in the air when it is underwater. It appears that fully grown frogs have some method (yet to be determined) to compensate for refraction.

Concerning some other unusual frog behavior. When I worked at the zoo, I found that many species of frogs preferred a "hot spot" to bask. It seems to be more common with toads. Among the clawed frogs, Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis, for example, will often leave the water to bask.

According to Elephandt, Xenopus is able to learn various tasks. They also demonstrate long-term memory and several forms of complex learning - they are capable of learning rules in its environment.

Yes, Michael, Xenopus are smart

[findiviglio]

Vision in Xenopus seems to be of little use. The eye is used mainly for protective arousal - that is, when a large object moves rapidly above the water, frogs that have been hanging at the water surface dive to the bottom to hide. This reaction helps protect them from birds, which are their primary predator. It is interesting that this reaction is restricted to objects above the frog. There is little or no reaction if an object passes along side the frog. Clawed frogs can identify objects in the air when it is underwater. It appears that fully grown frogs have some method (yet to be determined) to compensate for refraction.

Concerning some other unusual frog behavior. When I worked at the zoo, I found that many species of frogs preferred a "hot spot" to bask. It seems to be more common with toads. Among the clawed frogs, Xenopus (Silurana) tropicalis, for example, will often leave the water to bask.

According to Elephandt, Xenopus is able to learn various tasks. They also demonstrate long-term memory and several forms of complex learning - they are capable of learning rules in its environment.

Yes, Michael, Xenopus are smart

Thanks very much...you are only the second person I've run across, over many years, to have obs basking in a relative! Re refraction correction, I've worked with archer fish and was always amazed at their abilities in this regard. They even aimed at keeper's eyes, and never missed! Best, Frank

[tgampper]

Thanks very much...you are only the second person I've run across, over many years, to have obs basking in a relative! Re refraction correction, I've worked with archer fish and was always amazed at their abilities in this regard. They even aimed at keeper's eyes, and never missed! Best, Frank

It really surprised me about the basking. I wouldn't have believed it, if I didn't see it with my own eyes

[Cronopio]

My whites tree frogs are pretty smart.They have learned how to escape their tank at night..and also go back to their aquarium in the morning no problems

Ugh, I wish mine had! He learned how to escape, and has done so twice -- we had to track him down in the morning and put him up. So now his cage lid is firmly locked, but he is heartbroken -- he pushes, and pushes, and pushes, and then calls us bad names in Frogspeak. Poor Fred!

[UncleChester]

Interesting. I had wondered about bees, and if it takes a learned bad experience to know to avoid them or if there's something instinctive about the warning patter that they know to stay away.

That said, testing higher-order intelligence in different species is often difficult, especially for species very different from us, so just because we haven't observed it doesn't mean it isn't there. Conversely, however, complex behaviors that seem outwardly intelligent can be produced from little more than a combination of conditioning, memory, instinct, and our own anthropomorphic biases.

So very true, especially when you're emotionally attached to the critter.


I'm always impressed at tree frogs navigational abilities. Specifically how they manage to return to their favoured spots no matter how often I move them away, as I often do for the wild ones around here that like to hang out on door frames or window sills and risk an accidental squishing by an inattentive human. I'm not sure a homing ability qualifies as a higher intelligence, but it's still pretty cool.

[Sasha]

Interesting. I had wondered about bees, and if it takes a learned bad experience to know to avoid them or if there's something instinctive about the warning patter that they know to stay away.

I think it's a learned bad experience. I tried to feed one of my white's tree frogs a whole red wiggler. She struggled to get the worm out of her bowl and then gave up. A week later I tried again with half a worm on a tong and instead of trying to eat it, she just put her head down. It was as if she remembered what happened the last time.

[findiviglio]

Thanks, Patsy..I've not had a chance to observe any size-related incidents; it would be interesting to see if the frog continues to reject worms over time, please let me know if you have a chance, Best, Frank

[Sasha]

Frank, I have an update. My frog that rejected the worms at first now ate half a worm from the tongs. She acted like a child that was just tricked in to eating brussell sprouts and jumped around the tank with her mouth wide open! She did however manage to swallow the worm and keep it down. So there goes my whole theory, LOL!

[findiviglio]

Frank, I have an update. My frog that rejected the worms at first now ate half a worm from the tongs. She acted like a child that was just tricked in to eating brussell sprouts and jumped around the tank with her mouth wide open! She did however manage to swallow the worm and keep it down. So there goes my whole theory, LOL!

Ha! very good, thanks. Thinking back, I've that most treefrogs (and arboreal lizards) reject earthworms; perhaps just too far away from what typical prey looks like; White's are very adaptable, however, and eworms are a good food item. Easy to gut load, and usually have a decent CA" phosphorus ratio, altho this varies with diet. Let me know if you need info on breeding or anything, Enjoy, Pl keep me posted, Frank

[deranged chipmunk]

i always felt that intelligence was a rather abstract concept. at least, in the way that we, as humans, evaluate it. i think Fin said something very poignant here "White's are very adaptable". so are we mistaking adaptation to one's environment as intelligence? look at it this way, a person loses their home and adapts to living on the streets. does that make them any more or less intelligent? i wouldn't think so. (i know, extreme exaggeration...LOL) i like to think that all living things, whether they have a developed brain or not, are intelligent in one way or another. we also like to use the term intelligent incorrectly sometimes. ever hear someone talk about a K-9 officer and say that that dog is so smart, he can find drugs/bombs/people, but in actuality, it is what the dog was trained to do, he didn't figure it out on his own (which would kind of be what we would call intelligence). sorry, got a little long winded there, a behavior my wife has been trying to reverse for a LONG time....LOL

[tgampper]

Thanks, Frank. I always enjoy your posts. I was an amphibian keeper at the Henry Doorly Zoo and saw many unusual amphibian behaviors. Speaking of frog's basking, I am reminded of the southern foam nest frog (Africa), Chiromantis xerampelina, who is able to bask in direct sunlight with ambient temperatures exceeding 105 degrees (F). It has a remarkable ability to adjust its internal body fluids to withstand the high heat.

[findiviglio]

Thanks, Frank. I always enjoy your posts. I was an amphibian keeper at the Henry Doorly Zoo and saw many unusual amphibian behaviors. Speaking of frog's basking, I am reminded of the southern foam nest frog (Africa), Chiromantis xerampelina, who is able to bask in direct sunlight with ambient temperatures exceeding 105 degrees (F). It has a remarkable ability to adjust its internal body fluids to withstand the high heat.

Nice to hear from you, Terry, and thanks for the kind words. Chiromantis are amazing indeed, thanks for bringing them up. I recall some people from your zoo visiting the BX Zoo in the mid-80's, checking JungleWorld in prep for a similar building. I seem to remember hearing that koi and other creatures in an outdoor lake at H Doorley were used to prepare skeletons for museums, etc...always stuck in my mind...am I imagining that? Best, Frank

[tgampper]

While on the subject of Xenopus: I am really impressed with the vocal repertoire of these frogs. Six different calls have been identified. The male produces 4 calls: advertisement, amplectant, chirping and growling. The female has 2 calls, ticking (unreceptive) and rapping (receptive). If the male is calling and the female responds by ticking, the male will stop both his calling and advances. So the female seems to be firmly in control