Reptiles are known for their cognitive abilities, such as a solution to problems and training, but it was not expected for a long time, for example, birds or mammals. Nevertheless, a new study conducted by experts in the field of cognition and behavior of animals of the University of Lincoln (Great Britain) showed that Red turtles (Carbonoadis carbonate) They also experience feelings similar to ourField
Researchers believe that this discovery is a significant progress in Understanding the subjective experience of reptilesThe ability to improve the method they care about. In addition, they argue that this answer challenges all assumptions that are rooted today and that they underestimated them.
The team studied 15 red legs, using Cognitive displacement testThe approach used with “reliability” to determine the main mood, observing whether they answered optimistic or pessimistic in their judgment of ambiguity, depending on their mood. In addition, they were alarmed to see their answer.
Researchers found that turtles taken in an adequate environment more likely to judge ambiguous situations with optimismWhat implies a positive mood. This discovery was also reflected in associations between the effectiveness of cognitive bias and behavior in alarm tests. Here, the most optimistic participants showed “less anxious behavior in response to the novelty.”
Challenging the rooted conviction
Not only challenges the rooted Found the standards of wellsThe field “This is a significant change in our understanding that reptiles can experience, with important consequences for how we care about these animals in captivity and interact with them in nature,” explains the professor of animal behavior and participate well at the University of Lincoln, Oliver Berman.
Anna Wilkinson, a professor of the same university, goes further: “Fear of the well -being of animals are based on evidence that a certain species has the ability to experience affective conditions. Since reptiles are increasingly common as pets, it is important that we study their mood and emotions to understand how captivity can affect them. ”
These results were seen in red turtles, but the authors do not exclude that they are expanding to Other members of the animal kingdomThe field is first, they were mammals and birds. Now affective conditions were observed in reptiles, but they may not be the last, although additional studies are needed to confirm this.
