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Top 10 Smartest Animals in the World
For hundreds of thousands of years human beings have been set apart from the rest of the creatures on earth due to our apparent superior intelligence. No other species on the earth can do several things that a human can do such as use language, entertain abstract thoughts, produce art, etc. However, all these things have only been made possible through evolution as humans have adapted to various environments to become the intelligent and diverse people we are today. Given elements of evolutionary continuity between many different species, it would seem strange to see no aspects of intelligence at all in other species.
10. Rats
Rats are the most hated pests because they have the tenancy to spread disease. Between 1340–1400, Europe experienced the most deadly disease outbreak in history when the Black Death, the infamous pandemic of bubonic plague, hit in 1347, killing a third of the human population (threat: rats). But their lack of sterilization has no effect on their cleverness. Scientists use them as test subjects for studies eventually try on human beings. They are the best at finding solutions to puzzles and mazes.
9. Bees
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. They exhibit some of the most fascinating abilities in certain areas. The “waggle dance” they do in their hives to signal nectar location to other bees is a very complex series of movements which relays a large amount of information. After viewing this dance, bees can fly off to find the nectar source with the accuracy of a few miles, even if the source is miles away from the hive.
8. Octopus
The octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. They have two eyes and four pairs of arms and, like other cephalopods, they are bilaterally symmetric. The Octopus is one of the most intelligent sea creatures in the world. This animal is also one of the most misunderstood, but scientists are constantly discovering new and smart ideas that octopuses possess. They love to play, solve problems and navigate through mazes. The only downside is that they have a short-term memory.
7. Elephants
It’s no coincidence that elephants can be found in many circuses around the world performing tricks. They are very smart animals. The brain is very heavy and weighs approximately 5 kilos or more. Other large mammals, such as rhinos and hippos don’t come close to possessing such qualities. Scientific research has proven that elephants have the ability to use different objects in creative ways without any scaffolding needed. They have been known to clean their food and use tools in various ways in the wild, and they can also follow human prompts and requests easily.
In 2010, while taking a stroll in his backyard, one elephant named Kandula smelled something good to eat. The scent pulled his attention upward. There, seemingly suspended in the air, was a sprig of bamboo decorated with some juicy cantaloupe and honeydew. Stretching out his trunk, he was able to get the fruit and break off a piece of the branch, but the rest of the tasty leaves remained on the tree and out of his reach. Without hesitation he marched straight to a large plastic cube in the yard, rolled it just beneath the hovering bamboo and used it as a step stool to pull the whole branch out, so that he could have his meal.
6. Squirrels
You know how hard it is to install a bird feeder in your backyard and not attract the squirrels It takes a lot to keep these animals away- no matter what you do, they figure out how to steal a snack. Frustrating as it may be, it’s just one indication of how smart and cunning these critters are. Squirrels are quick studies, capable of learning by observation. In a study performed at the University of Exeter, squirrels would watch another squirrel remove a nut from one of two pots. The squirrels learned quickly that if the squirrel they watched took the nut, the pot would be empty and that going for the opposite pot was the better bet. Squirrels bury nuts in order to have access to them later, a skill that’s not very helpful if they can’t remember where they hid them. Squirrels have shown they are capable of remembering where they have buried nuts.
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