Intelligence is a very difficult term to define. Simply put, it can be described as the ability to solve problems and adapt to life
No one would doubt that, within the animal kingdom, human beings have stood out above other species for a greater development of their cognitive and social abilities. This fact sometimes causes people to think that other animals are inferior in intelligence, a belief that is erroneous.
In the diversity of the animal kingdom there are species whose cognitive abilities are superior to those of others. In this article we analyze the most intelligent animal species that exist.
Psychic ability in animals is also a difficult value to measure, which is why making a list of the most intelligent animals in the world is somewhat complicated.
A multitude of criteria can be used, such as the ability to learning in captivity, understanding and using language or the ability to plan an action or abstract concepts. These ideas go far beyond the simple problem-solving skills mentioned at the beginning of the text.
Therefore, more than the typical “top ten”, in this list I present a series of species, trying to cover different classes of animals whose cognitive abilities are superior to what many might think, as research shows. Go for it.
10. The ant
It is the insect with the largest brain mass that exists. The ant is an intelligent, methodical and strategic invertebrate. Its social organization is very complex, with hierarchies and diversification of work; For example, they have scouts for terrain reconnaissance.
Ants are capable of grow mushrooms or raise other invertebrates as food, in addition to fighting in a coordinated manner to defend their territory.
9. The dog
“Man’s best friend” is a species that has evolved in favor of the interests of human beings, but that does not mean that they are intelligent beings. In addition to being faithful friends, dogs are able to understand human language either feel empathy towards other beings and apply logic to achieve your goals.
8. The gray parrot
The gray parrot is a bird that is not only capable of imitating the sounds of human language, but also of applying it in a context, that is, of understanding its meaning.
Among the case studies the one about the parrot Axel stands out, who lived thirty years (from 1977 to 2007), and was trained by the comparative psychologist Irene Pepperberg. As she herself noted, she was able to communicate with the animal.
7. The rat
Despite being an animal that many find unpleasant, for scientists it is very similar to humans, and proof of this is its great use in experiments. These rodents are highly sociable and work together for the good of the group.
The rats are able to plan and apply logic for problem solving. Some studies reveal that they are also sensitive animals, showing stress or remorse.
6. The Raven
The crow is considered by many scientists to be the most intelligent bird. They are social animals that form packs.
In New Caledonia it was found that crows they use tools like knives to cut and who throw nuts on the road waiting for a car to drive over them and break them. This means that they are able to find ways to solve problems.
The octopus is the most intelligent invertebrate that exists. They are solitary beings, but they are capable of recognize your surroundings and memorize long term what they have been discovering. Its nervous system is complex, and the curious thing is that only a third of its neurons are located in the brain: the rest are distributed throughout the tentacles.
Their abilities for mimicry and camouflage also do not go unnoticed, and they are known for being great escape artists.
4. The elephant
The elephant is the land animal with the largest brain and has advanced cognitive abilities. For example, they are altruistic, that is, they sacrifice themselves for the good of the herd, they self-medicate when they are sick (feeding on different plants depending on the illness) or they carry out funeral rituals (they march to a “cemetery”).
Its social organization is one of the most complex in the animal kingdom, with very intimate social relationships and family ties that are only broken by death. In captivity, they are animals that learn quickly, have a great memory and have even been creative – remember the elephant that painted pictures.
3. The pig
Surely many think that the pig is an animal that is not neat and intelligent. Well, the truth is that they are probably the cleanest domestic animal: pigs refuse to defecate in areas close to where they live or eat.
Pigs have a high level of intelligence. There are many studies on pig cognitive abilities, which show that they have a good long term memory They learn quickly, have complex social interactions, and show empathy. Some texts even suggest that the pig could have a higher level of intelligence than the chimpanzee.
His fame precedes him; The bottlenose dolphin is popularly known as an intelligent cetacean. Their brain is much larger than the human one, they dominate a complex language of sounds and they present very intimate social relationships, especially between mother and children.
Many studies support their cognitive abilities; For example, they are highly curious and are able to recognize themselves when they see themselves in a mirror, that is, they are aware of themselves.
1. The great apes
The great apes are the closest brothers to human beings. This group is made up of gorillas, orangutans, bonobos and chimpanzees It is likely that due to this proximity there is great interest in the study of their characteristics, including their cognitive abilities.
The complex social interactions that these animals carry out, their use of tools to solve problems or the fact that they they transmit their culture from generation to generation. In captivity it has been shown that they are capable of communicating with humans using signs or revealing their creative abilities.
