Smartest animals. The 10 most intelligent species
In everyday life we underestimate the intelligence of animals, although representatives of some species stand out for their extraordinary cleverness and unparalleled abilities. Here are 10 of the most intelligent representatives of Earth’s fauna.
Animals have relatively small brains. Animal brains are distinguished from human brains primarily by the thickness of the cerebral cortex layer. The cerebral cortex of the human brain is much thicker than in animals. It is also disproportionately large and accounts for more than 80% of the total brain mass. Despite this, many animal species exhibit relatively high intelligence.
Among other things, the smartest animals can communicate with each other, make decisions and even operate a computer.
The smartest animals on Earth
- Chimpanzees
- Bottlenose dolphins
- Rhesus macaques
- Elephants
- Gray parrots/jacos
- Giant octopuses
- Border collie
- Ravens
- Rats
- Portia labiata
Chimpanzees
They perform better on memory tests than educated humans. They can be taught to use computers and sign language. They use tools. They manipulate family members. Chimpanzees are also extremely empathetic.
Bottlenose dolphins
They have very large brains — the cerebral cortex and frontal lobe are 40% larger than in the human brain. They use echolocation for hunting and communicate by whistling. They are known for their concern for other animals, even those belonging to other species.
Rhesus macaques
They have an excellent memory, learn easily and make decisions. They express emotions with their faces. They have suicidal tendencies, can plan attacks, and their way of communicating has a lot in common with that of humans.
Elephants
They are famous for their brilliant memory. They have the largest brain of all land animals. They create “mental maps” so they can remember all the watering holes where they have drunk over the years. They recognize themselves in the mirror, mourn the dead, compose music, and sympathize.
Gray parrots/jacos
Parrots are famous for their ability to mimic human speech, but ¿ako associate words with their meaning and can construct sentences. They communicate with others using songs and body language. An individual named Alex was able to recognize 50 objects, seven colors and five shapes. Some of them have become famous for insulting people.
Giant octopuses
They have an extraordinary sense of observation and problem-solving ability. Only a small part of their elaborate nervous system is located in the brain. The rest is in… arms. Octopuses are also mimicry and camouflage masters. The intelligence of octopuses has been studied by scientists using magnetic resonance imaging.
Border Collie
Dogs of this breed are considered the smartest. They are the fastest learners and are good at taking care of flocks of sheep. They are good trackers, rescuers and guides — they distinguish between people, anticipate the consequences of events and look for ways to solve problems.
Ravens
This is the most intelligent group of birds. Ravens can count, distinguish complex shapes, and some species have also learned to use bait when hunting fish. The bearded crow uses tools on a daily basis.
Rats
Very easy to learn, they do well in mazes. They have a good sense of smell and hearing, so they are trained to find bombs and mines. They are social creatures, showing excitement, a sense of loss, stress and remorse. They have remarkable organizational skills.
Portia labiata
According to scientists, these spiders are the smartest insects in the world. During laboratory tests, they have demonstrated the ability to learn, and they are also famous for their sneaky way of acquiring food. They lure other spiders into their web by pretending to be a trapped insect. They are also characterized by selective attention and can identify certain objects.
Cool that you made it to the end of this article. I will be very pleased if you appreciate the effort of creating it and leave some claps here, or maybe even start following me. It would be nice if you also left a tip! Thank you!