We humans have the ability to learn, solve problems and create. We have self-awareness, the ability to be aware of the presence, thoughts and feelings of other people. We make tools and practice the art of deception. We have a language and we use it to express complex ideas. All of these are perhaps signs of intelligence. Scientists cannot agree on a better and more complete definition of intelligence - but they generally agree that people are very smart. However, in the kingdom of fauna there are other creatures that are not much inferior to many people in the intellect. Introducing top 10 smartest animals in the world.
10. Rats
Eternal companions of civilization are usually perceived as spreading diseases and have a bad reputation. However, any rat-rat will confirm that his pet is one of the most intelligent animals on Earth. According to researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, rats, although they cannot solve cognitive problems using strategies inherent in humans, are often successful on their own terms. Rats very quickly navigate in unfamiliar premises and communicate with relatives in the ultrasound range so as not to attract the attention of predators. Moreover, they can vary the frequency of signals during a conversation and have a stock of screams with different values. In a flock of rats there is mutual assistance. If one rat tries something unfamiliar, the rest wait a few days. If nothing happened with the taster rat, her relatives also try a new dish.
9. Crows
They have the largest brain of birds, with the exception of some species of parrots. They are smart enough to recognize human faces and hide their food from other birds. Crows use various tools (for example, twigs to get insects hidden under the tree bark).
They also know how to crack nuts by dropping them on uneven surfaces. And crows used stones and pebbles to repel the attack of birds of prey. The crow's vocabulary is very rich, it has sounds for courtship, general gathering, abuse, distress signals, calls to chicks and threats.
8. Cows
Cows seem calm and even melancholy animals. However, they have a rich and complex emotional life. Researchers have discovered that cows have friends and foes. In addition, these animals are able to feel strong emotions, such as fear and even anxiety for the future.
7. Pigs
Not the smartest animals in the world in the top 10, but some of the most underestimated and unfairly ranked as "dirty". They equip their toilet far from home, the main thing is to give them such an opportunity. Pigs are one of the smartest, playful and social animals. They eat together, play together, and sleep closer to each other. These animals use 20 different types of sounds for communication. Even a newborn pig can understand what his mother wants to say to him in sound.
According to studies, pigs have more cognitive energy than dogs and human babies.
6. Octopuses
The most intelligent and sensitive creatures among invertebrates. They are the only invertebrate counterparts to use tools. Small octopuses easily learn the habits of other octopuses. Octopuses have the ability to change body shape to avoid predators. And they can make shelter using materials at hand such as stones, shells and shells of eaten crabs. In all this "good" the octopus makes a crater, in which it settles in. Sometimes it closes on top with a flat stone, like a pan lid.
5. Dogs
The most intelligent pets (although owners of cats and mini-pigs can argue with this). Dogs have been a faithful companion of man since ancient times. The average dog is smart as a 2 year old human child. They have a deeper understanding of the human world than any other animals, are distinguished by the fastest learning abilities from pets, and are able to respond to many different teams. The most trained dog breeds can be found in our rating. The brain of dogs can identify a million types of odors.
4. Whales
Due to the huge size of the whales, training them is a difficult task for humans. However, social behavior and communication methods make whales one of the smartest animals in our charts. Whales have more brains than any other living thing. Their cognitive abilities are due to the presence of spindle cells in the brain. These cells are responsible for social behavior and consistency between thoughts and feelings. Humans, chimpanzees and dolphins also have them. Whales communicate with each other using complex vocal tones. They are extremely social, travel and hunt in groups. And whale whales are able to imitate human speech.
3. Elephants
They have the largest brain in comparison with other terrestrial animals. They can recognize hundreds of individual sounds. These gray giants can exhibit a wide range of emotions such as joy, playfulness and sadness, as well as mimic a wide range of sounds. They are able to use various tools to find food.
2. Dolphins
On the second position in the list are the smartest animals on the planet after monkeys. People use dolphin intelligence to solve many of the secrets of the oceans. These graceful and cheerful children of the sea can express different types of emotions, have excellent learning abilities. During rest, only one side of the dolphin’s brain sleeps, the other is awake in order to perceive a possible threat in time.
And dolphins are the only marine animals that have successfully passed the test with a mirror. They recognize themselves in him.
1. Hominids
Monkeys from the hominid family are the smartest animals on Earth after humans. They have a developed and rich social life and are able to express various types of emotions. The family includes the apes chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas and bonobos (a close relative of chimpanzees).
Hominids can build houses, use various tools for finding food. Gorilla DNA shows resemblance to humans. Monkeys can understand what personality is and are able to learn the words of the human language, as well as the language of gestures and symbols. They defend themselves from enemies with tools.
It is impossible to answer the question of which animal is the smartest until numerous tests have been carried out with the participation of all representatives of this rating. Maybe this is for the best, because for each owner it is his pet that is the smartest.
