Humans have a propensity to feel overconfident about their place atop the food chain. We take it for granted that we are the most intelligent animals on the earth without really contemplating what makes us unique. Is it the permanency of objects, the ability to plan, the utilization of tools, or the fact that humans develop intricate social relationships? Other animal species display some or all of these characteristics.
Orangutans
Orangutans are attracted to this area for an intriguing reason. Orangutans, like chimpanzees, are capable of using tools, learning sign language, and having sophisticated social systems involving rituals. What truly differentiates them is their cognitive capacity to comprehend the “why,” or the reasoning behind a particular behavior.
In captivity, an orangutan has learned how to use tools and construct a rudimentary structure. When researchers released him into the wild, they witnessed the same orangutan creating tools from what he could find and then building a similar house to avoid the rain.
It is not surprising that the orangutan is so intelligent given that it shares almost 97% of its DNA with humans. Their usage of tools is superior to that of all other animal species. Orangutans have learned to use a hose to syphon liquids and can be taught to use a hammer and nails. They are regrettably extremely endangered because of habitat destruction in their native Indonesia.
Bottlenose Dolphins
On this list, the bottlenose dolphin is rated second, despite widespread belief to the contrary. How clever are dolphins? There are over eight species of dolphins, but only the bottlenose dolphin cut this article. They have the highest brain capacity of all their cousins and are the only dolphins without fused cervical vertebrae, allowing them to make human-like head-nodding movements.
In addition to being easily trainable, dolphins are capable of recognizing themselves in mirrors, detecting foreign marks on their bodies in a reflection, recognizing television images, and possessing an outstanding memory. Dolphins have recalled a mate’s calls after more than 20 years of separation. The two factors that place the bottlenose dolphin so high on this list are simply mind-boggling.
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They have a species-specific language that they switch to a “common language” when interacting with other dolphin species, and they have been observed cooperating with other species such as humans and fake killer whales to hunt more efficiently.
Chimpanzees
On this list of the most intelligent animals, our closest genetic relate comes in third place. Chimpanzees and humans share 98 percent of their DNA, and they are indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. Chimps have been observed improvising tools from readily available materials in order to accomplish their goals. Within their own families, these great apes use psychological strategies to persuade others into completing specific duties.
Scientists have discovered that adult chimpanzees teach their offspring sign language, which is a remarkable truth about these primates. The most intriguing aspect of this discovery is that it occurred without any human contact or urging; the chimpanzees taught the youngster sign language and used it to communicate among the group.
Elephants
Elephants are typically cited for their exceptional memory, but they are also among the most intelligent creatures. These animals have a complex social structure and have been observed partaking in burial rites and lamenting the loss of deceased family members. Elephants utilize tools and self-medicate, consuming the leaves of certain plants to treat disease and even induce delivery!
They are also one of the few creatures capable of altruistic behavior. Most animals are incapable of the abstract thought required for such activities. Elephants will be self-sacrifice if they believe it will enable the remainder of the herd or their young to escape in safety.
African Grey Parrots
The African grey parrot tops this list of the most intelligent animals among birds. These parrots, who are estimated to be as intelligent as a five-year-old human, not only acquire human speech but also possess an extremely broad vocabulary (up to hundreds of words).
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In addition, African greys are capable of spatial reasoning, recognizing and identifying shapes and colors, and can be taught the links between bigger and smaller, different and similar, and over and under. Popular as a pet, domesticated African grey parrots can be found all over the world, but they are indigenous to the rainforests of central Africa.
Octopus
The octopus is the only invertebrate to make our list of the most intelligent animals in the world. As the only member of its species listed here, you may be wondering how intelligent an octopus is. To escape imprisonment, captive octopuses have been observed using high-order planning with multiple steps, while others are able to destroy objects outside of their tank by continuously splashing water on them. They have even been observed throwing rocks at glass and opening jars with screw-on lids.
These cephalopods are quite intelligent! To sneak around in the wild, they disguise themselves as rocks. Octopuses imitate rocks by moving very slowly, matching the pace of the water to create the appearance that they are stationary. This permits them to move around in the vicinity of predators without being discovered.
Using both long-term and short-term memory, octopuses are able to solve mazes and problem-solving experiments. This enables them to navigate back to their dens, even after extended excursions, in their natural environment.
Pigs
Pigs almost surpassed dogs on our list of the ten brightest animals. While canines have intelligence equivalent to that of a toddler, pigs have a significantly higher IQ. They can comprehend the concept of reflection at only six weeks of age, but it takes human toddlers many months to grasp this concept.
Additionally, pigs utilize roughly 20 distinct noises to communicate, and sows sing to their young while feeding them. Pigs respond to emotions and exhibit empathy when appropriate, a feature that is extremely rare among animals.
Crows
Crows are another clever animal species that, like the pigeon, have served as messengers. They are able to employ complex group tactics, such as flanking movements, in fights with other species. Crows can also acquire language and have exceptional memory. Researchers have observed corvids adjusting their migration patterns to avoid harmful locations. Also, birds have been observed learning garbage routes and schedules in order to more successfully steal food from garbage trucks!
Crows have the greatest brain of all bird species and have demonstrated the ability to identify human faces. Despite their obvious absence of hands and arms, they are also able to use tools; in fact, the New Caledonian crow builds a knife to more readily remove leaves and grass. This species utilizes a hook and line to access inaccessible food sources.
Pigeons
Ironically, pigeons are second on our list and are commonly known as “flying rats.” However, the grounds for their placement here are vastly distinct. Pigeons have demonstrated the ability to detect their own reflection, demonstrating sophisticated self-awareness.
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They have the ability to recognize specific individuals and locations even after months or even years have passed. This memory is precisely why pigeons worked for millennia as long-distance messengers. Pigeons are able to recognize every letter of the English alphabet and can distinguish between images of two individuals.
Rats
Rats are intelligent animals. They are natural students that excel at learning and conceptual comprehension. It’s no accident that scientists have employed rats as experimental animals for decades. Despite having small, somewhat underdeveloped brains, their mental processes and brain structures are strikingly similar to those of humans. They are capable of navigating mazes, memorizing routes, and doing complex multistep activities.
Rats are also sociable creatures. They begin to exhibit symptoms of despair and loneliness when left alone. Due to these psychological and social distinctions, rats are among the most intelligent of all creatures.
Conclusion
Researchers are continually amazed by the intellect of nonhuman animals. Our increasing comprehension of the intelligence and capabilities of nonhuman species poses a challenge to our daily interactions with them. These findings naturally raise the question of whether an intelligent animal should spend its entire life as a caged pet.