Make no mistake about animals: they have an astonishing intelligence – even if the first one on the list is rather controversial…
What are the smartest animals in the world? Nonhuman animals consistently prove capable of thought, empathy, and intelligence in ways we never expected. Scientists are constantly learning more about the inner world of animals, changing our perceptions of which creatures are the smartest animals.
With an eye to this context, the Sentient mediabody that studies animals, the environment and culture, has listed the most intelligent animals in the world.
1. Humans
It is a feature of humans to measure the intelligence of other species. The key indicators of intelligence that we display and test are the ability to learn from experience, use knowledge to manipulate the environment, adapt to new situations, and understand and deal with abstract concepts.
These broad areas represent a diverse range of skills, such as learning, memorization, reasoning, perception, and problem-solving skills. As a species, we excel in all of these areas, and as a result, we expect other species we consider intelligent to excel in them as well.
two. Dolphins
They are known to be one of the smartest species on the planet. They are highly capable of learning and imitation. Dolphins in separate pods have been known to use mud to make traps for fish and to gather sponges to use for protection as they scavenge for food among the corals. These two examples demonstrate the ability of dolphins to manipulate the environment and employ tools to achieve an end.
Further evidence of dolphins’ intelligence is found in their documented ability to adapt to new situations. The researchers found that during a construction project in their waters, a pod of dolphins adapted by changing their hunting grounds and the time they entered the construction zone to avoid construction hours.
3. crows
Often associated with omens due to their grim appearance, crows are extremely intelligent birds. They have demonstrated their ability to handle abstract concepts and plan ahead better than human children.
In one experiment, these birds planned up to seventeen hours in advance, choosing a key from an array of items that could later be used to open a box with a favorite treat inside. Crows picked the key 90% of the time.
4. pigs
Although many people think that pigs are dirty, lazy and dull, the truth is that not only do pigs prefer to be active and clean, they are also highly intelligent.
Four pigs housed at the Animal Welfare Science Center at Purdue University in the United States demonstrated their species’ ability to learn by playing a simple video game. The game was all about using a joystick to manipulate a point to hit a blue wall. After hitting the wall, the pigs were given a treat.
All four pigs showed much greater ability than would be expected by chance. To play the game, the pigs had to figure out that moving the joystick caused movement on the screen.
5. chimpanzee
We share 99% of our DNA with chimpanzees, so it’s no surprise that countless hours of research have gone into understanding the intelligence and behavior of our sister species.
Researchers have long recognized chimps’ ability to think abstractly. Numerous studies have shown that they can recognize themselves in a mirror, further supporting their ability to deal with abstract concepts.
6. elephants
They are an example of animals that we once thought were slow and unintelligent, but are actually extremely intelligent. On several occasions, elephants have been known to manipulate their environment to achieve their goal.
Kandula, an elephant housed at the National Zoo in Washington DC, USA, demonstrated the capabilities of his species in this area. As she wandered through her enclosure, he decided he wanted to reach for a fruit placed by the researchers on a bamboo stalk just out of reach. To get to the fruit, he did something he’d never done before, moving a block under the tree and using it to achieve his goal. In short, he manipulated his environment to achieve his goal.
For years, researchers have failed to recognize elephants’ ability to manipulate their environment and their ability to use tools due to human assumptions about what constitutes intelligence. They failed to consider that elephants rely much more on their senses of smell and touch than humans or apes when interacting with their environment. As a result, they have offered elephants only sticks as tools, which elephants can only hold with their trunks, reducing their ability to touch and feel the world around them.
7. African gray parrots
African gray parrots are considered to be one of the smartest species on the planet, rivaling even primates. Some researchers have suggested that these parrots have a reasoning ability similar to that of a three- or four-year-old human child.
African gray parrots are known to be able to use deductive reasoning to solve problems, particularly to determine which of two boxes contains a food reward. They are also able to work together to achieve a desired reward.
8. Octopuses
Even a quick scan of octopuses reveals several instances of them eluding handlers and causing problems in aquariums around the world. Some have even managed to escape their water prisons and return to the wild without their keepers noticing. Their abilities are less surprising considering that they have a higher brain ratio than any other known invertebrate species.
Octopuses are adept at using tools found in their surroundings. Some species are known to carry the tentacles of deadly Portuguese jellyfish as weapons, while others harvest and transport coconut shells to build shelters.
9. bonobo
With a reputation as the hippies of the animal kingdom thanks to their free-loving nature, bonobos are one of the few species that live in matriarchal societies. They are also a very intelligent species capable of empathizing even with strangers.
Bonobos have demonstrated their empathy with strangers in studies that showed them completing a task that resulted in a reward being given to another bonobo. They chose to do the task more often when there was another bonobo present to receive the reward than when no other apes were present. This result suggests that the bonobos were motivated by a desire to help the other ape.
10. Rats
One reason mice are so commonly used in research in laboratory settings is their ability to learn from their experiences.
This ability has been harnessed to create a series of different experiments that test their cognitive and reasoning abilities.
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Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
