We often assume humans top the intelligence chart, but nature’s scale tells a different story. From octopuses that solve puzzles underwater to crows crafting tools, intelligence isn’t exclusive to us. Prepare to be surprised by the mental feats of animals you might overlook.
We’ve rounded up nine of the planet’s smartest animals, from the underrated to the unbelievable. Their skills aren’t just impressive, they’re changing how scientists define thinking itself.
But First, How Do Scientists Measure Animal Intelligence?
Scientists measure animal intelligence by looking at things like using tools, solving problems, and recognizing themselves. A detailed neuroscience review shows how these skills appear across many species. When ranking the smartest animals, researchers focus on these key abilities to compare minds big and small. Knowing how intelligence is tested helps us understand what makes each creature stand out.
#9 – Rats
Rats are surprisingly compassionate. In studies, they’ve freed trapped companions, even when offered chocolate instead. This shows they can empathize and act selflessly. They’re also quick learners, navigating mazes and remembering paths. Their ability to recognize familiar humans further highlights their social intelligence.
Rats’ emotional depth and problem-solving skills make them more than just pests; they’re sentient beings with complex minds. Their empathy challenges our perceptions and invites us to reconsider how we view other creatures
#8 – Bees
Bees may be small, but they’re mental powerhouses. They understand the concept of zero, a complex idea that even young children struggle to grasp. Bees also do basic math and work together to make group decisions. Their “waggle dances” share details about food sources using distance and direction.
Some bees learn faster than others and even pass that knowledge on. Each one has its own personality and emotional state. Despite having fewer than a million neurons, bees join primates and parrots in elite mental company. Their brains may be tiny, but what they do with them is truly extraordinary.
#7 – Pigs
Pigs are considered to be smarter than dogs. They can play video games using joysticks and recognize themselves in mirrors, which even human toddlers struggle with. Pigs remember places for months and solve puzzles without asking for help. Their intelligence matches a three-year-old child, while dogs compare to two-year-olds.
Pigs also use over 20 vocal sounds and understand symbols and commands. They feel empathy and can remember what happened, where, and when. That kind of memory is rare in animals. Once overlooked, pigs are now showing scientists just how deep their intelligence really runs—and it’s still being studied.
#6 – African Grey Parrots
African Grey Parrots don’t just repeat words, they understand them. Alex, the most famous parrot studied, could count, recognize shapes and colors, and even grasp the idea of “none.” He knew words had meaning and could answer questions with logic and humor.
These birds learn the difference between same and different and form full sentences. They also ask their own questions, a rare trait in animals. Their brains are the size of a walnut, yet they handle language in a way that surprises scientists. African Greys are living proof that deep thinking doesn’t need a big brain to work.
#5 – Octopuses
Octopuses think in a way that seems alien to us. They have nine brains: one in their head and one in each arm. Their arms can act independently, even taste and touch on their own. These animals open jars, escape tanks, and use coconut shells as tools.
Some octopuses learn by watching others and remember how to solve problems. Their intelligence evolved on a completely different path from ours, yet it’s just as complex. Scientists are even using octopus brains as inspiration for new types of artificial intelligence. Their thinking may be strange, but it’s one of nature’s greatest success stories.
#4 – Crows and Ravens
Crows and ravens are some of the smartest birds alive. They not only use tools, but are able to make them, shaping hooks to grab food. Ravens save tools for future use and plan steps ahead, much like humans playing chess. Some can remember faces for years and teach their young about danger.
In lab tests, crows solve puzzles using logic and memory. They even adjust their strategy when unsure, showing they understand how to think about thinking. Unlike mammals, birds evolved these skills separately, proving intelligence can grow in many forms.
#3 – Dolphins
Dolphins use sound to understand their world, much like we use sight. Each one creates a unique whistle, basically a name, and remembers others’ names for decades. Dolphins recognize themselves in mirrors, showing strong self-awareness. They use tools like sea sponges while foraging and pass down knowledge through generations.
In some places, they even team up with human fishermen. Brain scans show they have areas specialized for processing these names, just like we do with language. With brains nearly as complex as ours, dolphins think in abstract ways, form deep bonds, and even show kindness across species, including to humans in danger.
#2 – Elephants
Elephants have the largest brains of any land animal, filled with neurons that help with memory, empathy, and complex thinking. They recognize other elephants after years apart and can recall where water is, even after decades. Elephants use tools, mourn their dead, and comfort others who are upset. They also communicate with deep sounds that travel miles.
Their brains contain special neurons linked to social awareness, just like humans and great apes. What makes elephants stand out isn’t just what they know; it’s how they feel. Their rich emotional lives and strong memories show how deeply intelligent they truly are.
#1 – Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, and their intelligence reflects it. In memory tests, young chimps can beat adult humans, remembering number patterns in the blink of an eye. They use tools in creative ways and teach skills to each other. Some have learned sign language and combine words to express new ideas.
Chimps understand that others can believe things that aren’t true, which shows advanced thinking. They also plan ahead and reflect on their choices. While bonobos may lead in social intelligence, chimps dominate in tools and memory. Their abilities come closest to human minds in the wild.
These Animals Are Changing Everything
These nine animals are rewriting what we think intelligence looks like. Their minds didn’t evolve the same way ours did, but they still solve problems, use tools, and understand their world in complex ways.
From octopuses helping design smarter machines to pigs showing emotions and memory, they open new doors in science. We used to think only humans could reflect, feel deeply, or plan for the future. Now we know we’re just one branch of a much larger thinking tree.
These creatures aren’t just smart for animals, they’re proof that intelligence is all around us, in forms we’re still discovering.
