18 Most Intelligent Animals
From the omen-bearing crow to the wondrous gorilla, here are some animals out there in the world with high IQ levels.
6. Bottlenose Dolphins
This species of dolphin has been regarded as a smart animal for quite some time but just how smart are they really? Bottlenose dolphins have truly remarkable cognitive abilities such as recognizing themselves in a mirror, long-term memory, and comprehension of pointing and gestures. Speaking of memory, dolphins are the only other species on earth that have the longest memory besides humans. They’ve been observed using tools both in the wild and in captivity in order to obtain food sources. They also take part in what is known as intraspecies cooperative foraging where they drive fish towards the shore where fisherman await with nets. This causes all sorts of confusion for the fish that then get scooped up by both dolphins and men.
5. Pigs
This one might come as a surprise to meat eaters everywhere that those strips of bacon they’re eating were once intelligible animals with complex feelings. That’s right, according to various research pigs who have reached a middle age have been discovered to be as smart as a three-year-old child. That might not seem very smart to an adult human, however, for an animal it is. They are able to adapt to the surroundings in their environment because they can so easily learn new skills. Turns out, pigs are a lot smarter than dogs and we don’t eat dogs.
Pigs enjoy playing, solving challenging problems, and each one has a unique individual personality, but all that’s overlooked for the sake of meat.
4. Spider Monkeys
These monkeys are known for being the smartest out of all the other species of New World monkeys thanks to a recent study of primate cognition. Spider monkeys are able to make a wide variety of sounds for different reasons. One such sound is described as a type of “barking” that they’ll emit whenever they feel threatened. They can also create a vocalization that sounds like a horse’s whinny and will scream for a prolonged period of time. A spider monkey will tend to use its body and posture to communicate as well such as notifying of an attack or sexual receptivity. Humans who get too close to them will be warned when they go to the ends of tree branches and vigorously shake them.
3. Gorillas
There’s no doubt that gorillas are one of the smartest animals to grace the Earth with their presence. Perhaps the most famous of these highly intelligent creatures was Koko the gorilla, who was taught more than 1,000 signs in sign what is called Gorilla Sign Language. Not only that, but she was able to recognize and understand around 2,000 English spoken words. Only a few other individuals in captivity have been taught how to sign. Just like the rest of the great apes, gorillas are capable of experiencing deep emotions, can laugh, and even experience grief. Gorillas, like humans, can think about the past and future, form strong familial bonds, and have their own cultures in certain areas like “methods of food preparation.”
2. Chimpanzees
One of our closest living relatives, chimpanzees are incredibly smart mammals from what humans have gathered over the years. They have been observed using tools such as sharpened sticks and stones in order to gather food such as termites and nuts. They have hunting strategies that rely on cooperation from each other as well as having to do with each chimp’s rank and influence. Chimpanzees are able to learn how to communicate through symbols and signing words, but they can also grasp other certain aspects of human language, such as “concepts of number and numerical sequence. They’re even known for being capable of manipulation and deceit. Fun fact: chimpanzees like to solve puzzles as a form of entertainment.
1. Orangutans
Based on the hierarchy of nonhuman primate intelligence, the orangutan is at the top of the list. This is according to the research of Psychologist Robert Deaner who works at the Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Orangutans in captivity and in the wild have been observed using tools to help them forage insects out of tree hollows. These primates are also able to learn new skills like how to use a hammer and nail to construct things or sawing wood. They possess the ability to know and understand their surroundings which allows them to adapt to harsh environmental conditions. These great apes are even capable of learning and understanding various signs in sign language, up to at least 30.