Chameleon emotions

[SamanthaWilkinson]

Hello,

Do you think your chameleon experiences emotions? Can you tell when she/he is sad, angry, happy, wishing to be left alone, grumpy, moody, relaxed , fearful etc … if so, how can you tell?
Also, does your chameleon ever make you feel a certain way e.g. when watching him/her does it make you relaxed? When she/he is angry, are you worried etc.
If you do not think your chameleon experiences emotions, or if he/she does not have an emotional impact on you, please say why.

I am doings a my University thesis about a veiled chameleon called Camilla who resides at a Theme Park I work at Part time,
There’s a dispute in the literature as to whether or not reptiles experience emotions, as such, I really am very interested in your responses.

Thank you so so much for your time,
Samantha

 

[Meow Kitty]

i figure they must since they can hate or like you, be hissy and what not

 

[Lathelia]

I would say yes, I think most people here would think similar.
Aren't these basic emotions most animals feel? Scared when they see a predator, excited when they notice a nice pray, angry when there is a new chameleon on their teeritory? I'm not sure about being happy or sad, I think that would involve comparing present to the past and I doubt they can do it. It's just my opinin though

 

[mirrinias]

I was thinking about this the other day. I would say that my chameleon experiences only the most basic of emotions -- happiness (that is, the feeling when nothing is wrong in his little world), fear, anger, and stress. These are the very most basic emotions needed to survive and evolve as a species. Oh, I guess there should be pleasure as well. Does that count? By that I mean whatever feeling he has when he's enjoying a misting, enjoying a cricket or his little chin spines stroked.

Anyway, compared to the dogs I train, I think he has very, very limited emotions. This is my opinion, of course, because nothing's really been proven. Also, you asked about our emotions, yes, I'm worried if he's acting stressed or fearful, it makes me laugh when he acts angry (provided he's not too stressed) because he acts like opening his mouth is so tough and scary! I do love him even if he doesn't/isn't capable of doing the same for me. It makes me happy to look at him healthy, eating well and exploring his cage.

 

[Kmw]

I want to believe they do. But i do not know. Scared isnt an emotion with them.. being afraid for your life isnt a feeling, its survival instinct. Being afraid for someone ELSE's life is an emotion.

 

[SamanthaWilkinson]

Thank you for your opinion

 

[SamanthaWilkinson]

Sorry posted too soon, not very familiar with this forum, thank you so much for your insights though, it's really interesting for me, and if anyone else has any I would also be very interested to here xx

 

[squeekz1992]

I think they do. My Veiled experienced a lot of emotions at least. I'm pretty sure he loved me, based on his reactions to me vs. his reactions to others. I know he was happy b/c when he was doing/eating something he liked his colors would be bright orange and yellow.

I could tell when he was scared b/c his colors would get dark and he would try to hide in my shirt, or curl up in my hand. Example: I took him out with me to get feeders, and this red necky hadn't showered in days dude came up and started asking questions about him, and then grabbed him I yelled at the dude to let go, and Pascal climbed into my shirt and curled up by my bra. I yelled at the guy and said "Dude, what the hell, you can't just come up to a chameleon and grab him, or even touch him without my permission." and after that Pascal looked up at me and I could see it in his eyes that he was 1.) Angry about being grabbed and 2.) terrified that someone other than me touched him. After that I only took him out to get some sun or go to the vet, never to see anyone or help get food.

I could tell when he was stressed out too because he would turn black/green, same as when mad but his attitude was different. He would pace.

Also, I could tell when he was dying, because he became very clingy, and walked right up to the vet. And he kept trying to get right up on my chest. He was weak, but I could tell he wanted to be around me. He was peaceful, and was using his last few minutes to tell me that he loved me by stumbling to lay on my hand.

I know a lot of people say chameleons don't have emotions, or don't have a full spectrum of emotions, but I swear Pascal did. Maybe this will help with your paper, and maybe not, but I hope it does.

 

[pssh]

I think people anthropomorphise too much. I think they impose human emotions on their chameleons.

 

[KarmaChameleon1337]

I think people anthropomorphise too much. I think they impose human emotions on their chameleons.

I agree with Pssh. I don't believe they actually have the brainfunctions to have legit emotions the same we do.

 

[Jay Sick]

Every single one of my chams has a differently personality. Lord Gabrial Mc Doom my blue bar ambilobe is the James Dean of Chameleons he has a very smooth operator persona and is very relaxed about life. All of my jacksons and my quad are very eager to spend time with people highly social they honestly stare at me when im doing comp work looking for me to take them out and put them in their window perches.

Pandora on the other hand Female Ambilobe is an Emo roller coaster go to take her out and she flips her ship hold a worm in your hand and you would think she was hissing and about to bite you but then she just chomps it out of your hand instead of shooting her tongue at you which she is very good at doing when it comes to catching crickets she is like a archer with that thing.

Now im not trying to be racist but my Male translucent veil is a nasty bastard I think because he is from yah know that country we don't get along with wink wink he may have some animosity towards me due to my american pride lol jke either way he is a rage filled little bastard and does not like woman. My GF had him out and he was gaping at her she stuck her tongue out to him and he blasted her in the eye with his tongue. I almost pissed my self when I saw that.

Then of course there is Gimp named because she was a MBD rescue from a pet store she is the lap dog of chams she is also a trans veil but she is the best she will sit were ever with you for hours eats fruit out of my hand along with drinking water from a monoject out of my hands she is amazing.


As far as feelings go yes im 100% sure they have all sorts of them as science would argue that im sure most of then never owned a cham.

 

[deadhd5]

Put me in the basic emotions camp. Basically they either feel content or stressed. Where they fall on that spectrum at any given moment is specific to and greatly varies among individual chameleons with species/gender specs playing a role. Over time what once made a cham stressed (ie handling) they may become content with, but I don't think it is much more complicated than that.

Although I don't believe chameleons have the capacity for love per se, both of mine quickly worked their way into my heart within hours. Its an unconditional love and one that doesn't require me to believe they love me too. As long as they are content and live a longer, more comfortable life that they would have in the wild, I am pleased.

 

[Carlton]

Of course they have emotions. If you consider that emotions exist because they offer some sort of survival advantage to the creature then yes, chams have some or they wouldn't react to other living beings appropriately (so they wouldn't be aware or able to communicate that they can breed, that they are fit, that they are on the defensive, angry, etc). Emotional actions could simply be manifestations of their hormonal state. What they probably DON'T possess is the same range of emotions a human has. And why should they? Our needs are very different. Humans and other social beings rely a lot more on subtle emotional messages than a solitary reptile living in a clump of rainforest trees would need to. It doesn't mean a cham is unable to show emotion, it just means that their emotions are DIFFERENT than ours and harder to appreciate. We can't help but apply our primate judgements to their behavior because that's our only frame of reference.

 

[deadhd5]

Of course they have emotions. If you consider that emotions exist because they offer some sort of survival advantage to the creature then yes, chams have some or they wouldn't react to other living beings appropriately (so they wouldn't be aware or able to communicate that they can breed, that they are fit, that they are on the defensive, angry, etc). Emotional actions could simply be manifestations of their hormonal state. What they probably DON'T possess is the same range of emotions a human has. And why should they? Our needs are very different. Humans and other social beings rely a lot more on subtle emotional messages than a solitary reptile living in a clump of rainforest trees would need to. It doesn't mean a cham is unable to show emotion, it just means that their emotions are DIFFERENT than ours and harder to appreciate. We can't help but apply our primate judgements to their behavior because that's our only frame of reference.

I think much of what you attribute to emotions are really the result of instinct.