Our planet is filled with some incredible animals that couldn’t be more diverse if we tried. We generally consider ourselves the smartest species on the planet, but there are some animals out there whose intellect is far higher than most of us ever thought.
Dolphins
It’s no secret that dolphins are intelligent creatures, but most don’t know just how clever they actually are. Researchers studying dolphins have noticed that they can identify and use resources around themselves to give them an advantage. They had been seen trapping fish in the mud so they can’t get away, and even used sponges to protect themselves. They even have evolved to ensure their hunting isn’t interfered with human activities.
Ravens
Ravens are amazing birds capable of solving complex puzzles and seem to have the same intellect as a toddler. They are quick learners that adapt to their environment. They can learn which key unlocks a box containing a treat and wait nearly a full day before finding an opportunity to use it.
Pigs
Most people don’t know that pigs are actually quite intelligent animals. Through studies, researchers have observed pigs learning to play basic video games. They managed to manipulate a dot on a screen by using a joystick. This shows that they have surprising cognitive intuition.
African Gray Parrots
African Gray Parrots have the ability to make inferences and judgments based on the dilemmas they are given. They even seem to perform better than 5-year-old children at some problem-solving tasks. All this concludes that they are amazing deductive thinking for an animal.
Octopuses
Octopuses may be the most well-known animal for their intelligence, but it’s because they exhibit behavior far above what most people are aware of. Octopuses have been observed catching jellyfish to use as a deterrent against other marine life and collecting coconut shells to build primitive shelters. They are exceptionally good at solving tasks when survival is their priority.
Chimpanzees
Being apes, chimpanzees are quite intelligent animals. There are many examples of chimpanzees being taught sign language and being able to communicate the language effectively to humans. They have similar approaches to problems that humans have, making them one of the smartest animals on the planet.
Elephants
Elephants may not seem like it but don’t underestimate their intelligence. The stereotype about them having a good memory isn’t unfounded. Elephants remember important places like water sources and locations the herd may need to get back to. They also have good memories for individuals and can recognize them after years of separation.
Hyenas
Hyenas are exceptionally social animals that can have packs of up to 100 members. With this in mind, they can remember each member’s unique vocal calls and remember where each sits in the hierarchy of the pack. They are similar to other canines when it comes to the cognitive abilities.
Raccoons
Raccoons can vary a great deal with it comes to their IQ levels. Some raccoons have been studied and have shown an amazing ability to solve puzzles. The reason for the variance in their population is due to thei glial cells, which directly effect cognitive function.
Honey Badger
Honey badgers have a fearsome reputation in the animal kingdom for a reason. They are really good at sizing up their prey and determining if they can reasonably get into an altercation or not. They have also been known to build tools to get them out of problematic situations, such as a ladder to get out of an enclosure.
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish are cephalopods that give octopuses a run for their money when it comes to intelligence. These animals have shown amazing adaptability and come up with complex solutions to solve puzzles. They also have an evolutionary trait to confuse predators by changing color at will.
Squirrels
Squirrels are a species with amazing cognitive abilities when it comes to planning for the future. They bury nuts in anticipation of winter and will remember where they’ve buried up to thousands of them! This means their problem-solving skills are surprisingly high for a rodent.
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