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 language and we use it to express complex ideas. All of these are, perhaps, signs of intelligence. Scientists cannot agree on the best and complete definition of intelligence - but they generally agree that humans are highly intelligent. However, in the kingdom of fauna there are other creatures that are not much inferior to many people in intelligence. Introducing top 10 smartest animals in the world.
10. Rats
The eternal companions of civilization are usually perceived as spreading diseases and have a bad reputation. However, any rat breeder will confirm that his pet is one of the smartest animals on Earth. According to researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, rats, while unable to solve cognitive tasks using inherent strategies in humans, are often successful on their own terms. Rats very quickly navigate in unfamiliar rooms and communicate with relatives in the ultrasonic range so as not to attract the attention of predators. Moreover, they can vary the frequency of signals during a conversation and have a supply of shouts with different meanings. There is mutual assistance in a pack of rats. If one rat tries something unfamiliar, the rest wait a few days. If nothing happened to the rat-taster, its relatives also try a new dish.
9. Ravens
They have the largest brain of any bird, with the exception of some species of parrots. They are smart enough to recognize human faces and hide their food from other birds. Ravens use a variety of tools (such as twigs to reach insects hidden under tree bark).
They also know how to break nuts by dropping them onto uneven surfaces. Crows also used stones and pebbles to repel the attacks of birds of prey. The raven vocabulary is very rich, it contains sounds for courtship, general gathering, swearing, distress signals, addressing chicks and threats.
8. Cows
Cows seem to be calm and even melancholic animals. However, they have a rich and complex emotional life. Researchers have discovered that cows have friends and enemies. In addition, these animals are capable of feeling strong emotions such as fear and even anxiety about the future.
7. Pigs
Not the smartest animals in the world in the top 10, but some of the most underestimated and unfairly ranked among the "dirty". They equip their toilet far from home, the main thing is to give them such an opportunity. Pigs are some of the smartest, most playful and social animals. They eat together, play together, and sleep closer to each other. These animals use 20 different types of sounds to communicate. Even a newborn pig can understand what the mother wants to tell him by sound.
Studies have shown that pigs have more cognitive energy than dogs and human babies.
6. Octopuses
The smartest and most sensitive creatures among invertebrates. They are the only invertebrate cousins who use tools. Small octopuses easily learn the habits of other octopuses. Octopuses have the ability to reshape their bodies to avoid predators.And they know how to make a shelter using such scrap materials as stones, shells and shells of eaten crabs. In all this "goodness" the octopus makes a crater in which it settles. Sometimes it is closed on top with a flat stone, like a saucepan lid.
5. Dogs
The smartest pets (although owners of cats and mini-pigs might argue with that). Since ancient times, dogs have been a faithful companion of man. The average dog is as smart as a 2 year old human child. They have a deeper understanding of the human world than any other animal, are distinguished by the fastest learning abilities of pets, and are able to respond to many different commands. The most trained dog breeds can be found in our rating... Dogs' brains can identify a million types of odors.
4. Whales
Because of the enormous 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 on our hit parade. Whales have larger 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 coherence between thoughts and feelings. They are also found in humans, chimpanzees and dolphins. Whales communicate with each other using complex vocal tones. They are extremely social, traveling and hunting in groups. And beluga whales are capable of imitating human speech.
3. Elephants
They have the largest brain in comparison with other land 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 capable of using a variety of tools to find food.
2. Dolphins
The smartest animals on the planet after monkeys are in second position on the list. People use the intelligence of dolphins to solve many of the mysteries of the oceans. These graceful and cheerful children of the sea can express different kinds of emotions and have great 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.
Dolphins are also the only marine animals to successfully pass the mirror test. They recognize themselves in him.
1. Hominids
Hominid monkeys are the smartest animals on earth after humans. They have a well-developed and rich social life and are capable of expressing various types of emotions. The family includes chimpanzee great apes, orangutans, gorillas, and bonobos (a close relative of chimpanzees).
Hominids can build houses, use a variety of tools to find food. Gorilla DNA shows similarities to humans. Monkeys can understand what individuality is and are able to learn the words of the human language, as well as the language of signs 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 his pet is the smartest one.