Board Thread:Suggestions/@comment-28111504-20160402075043/@comment-6040659-20160414184951

ASDFGirl wrote: PCAwesomeness wrote: OK, then. Ask anyone else (outside this community) about the matter. I did 15 minutes of research. Results:

The way they estimate dinosaur intelligence is by looking at whether it is closer to a reptile or avian brain. Closer to reptile = less smart. So, comparing troodon to a mammal doesn't work.

Evaluating intelligence outside of mammals (so birds, reptiles, fish, etc.) isn't easy because of how different they are from us. We tend to think of non-mammals as dumber than mammals because of our bias.

Also, there are different kinds of intelligence. There is tool use, empathy, spacial, body-kinesthetic, etc. The list can be expanded on and on.

As a psychology student with a professor who specializes in animal psychology, I have learned about most of this before and can confirm that specialists outside of our little community can agree.

Also. Looks like I found your source.

Quoting Holtz ( http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Complete-Up—Date-Encyclopedia/dp/0375824197/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312331084&sr=1-1 ): “Even the brainiest of theropods during the Mesozoic Era were probably only as smart as some of the dumbest modern mammals and birds, like opossums and emus. I know that this isn’t particularly flattering, and as a dinosaur fan myself, I wish that weren’t the case. But that seems to be what the evidence comparing brain to body size shows.”

However.

Quoting Krause & Krause ( http://web.missouri.edu/~krausew/Histology/Home_files/opossum.pdf ): “Despite its small brain size relative to body mass, the opossum when tested scientifically performs as well as rats and other species on various tests that measure intelligence. Its shy, non-aggressive demeanor and ease of handling when captured have been interpreted by many as this species having a diminished mental capacity. Nothing could be further from the truth as recent testing with regard to the opossum’s intelligence has proven.” I actually got that from a conversation with a knowledgeable paleo-fan, although that might be his source.

Also, see my answer in the toy idea page.