Evidence of Problem-Solving in Lizards Using a Citizen Science Approach

Problem-solving has been widely documented in mammals and birds, but comparatively few studies have investigated it in reptiles. Positive findings have been reported in some species, but the abilities of many others remain unexplored. Citizen science approaches may be particularly useful for the study of reptile problem-solving (and cognition more broadly) as they could allow access to a range of previously untested species without straining resources. Here, we investigated the problem-solving capabilities of 18 pet lizards of five previously untested species via video calls with their owners in their home environment. Six of the lizards (3 bearded dragons, 2 starred agamas and 1 leopard gecko) progressed from training to a problem-solving test wherein they needed to remove a lid from a dish to obtain a food reward. One starred agama and one bearded dragon successfully removed the lid at test, although it was unclear whether the bearded dragon did so to obtain the food reward. The other subjects were unsuccessful: they either did not pass the training or did not make any attempts to solve the test. The clear success of the starred agama calls for further research into this species’ cognitive capabilities. The advantages and limitations of using this novel approach to testing are discussed with the aim of guiding future citizen science-based studies with reptiles.