List of the 10 Smartest Animals in the World, Turns Out Number 1 is Not a Dolphin!

Kapanlagi.com - The diversity of natural animal intelligence is often overlooked by humans who tend to underestimate their abilities. However, animals have special intelligence that allows them to survive and adapt to their surroundings.

Animals as living creatures on this planet create incredible diversity. Although their numbers reach millions, animals are often considered as creatures without common sense. However, through in-depth research and observation, it is revealed that many animals actually have a level of intelligence that deserves recognition.

A scientific community has released a list of the 10 smartest animals among millions of species in the world. This confirms that animal intelligence is not limited to humans.

A number of smart animals apparently have the ability to think and make decisions. This list of intelligent animals, as reported by AZ Animals in April 2023, provides new insights into the diversity of life and intelligence on this planet, breaking down traditional boundaries in the perception of the relationship between humans and animals.

1. Rats

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Ranked tenth, Rats are actually included in the category of the most intelligent animals. They are not only intelligent creatures, but also highly capable species in understanding and learning concepts.

As evidence of their intelligence, rats have become a frequently chosen subject for laboratory research by scientists for many years.

They also have remarkable abilities in solving complex tasks. With skills in solving mazes, memorizing routes, and completing tasks involving multiple steps, rats prove themselves as intelligent and agile animals.

In addition, rats are known as social animals. When left alone, they show symptoms of loneliness and depression, highlighting the psychological and social differences that make them unique in the realm of animal intelligence. The social awareness of rats provides a new dimension to our understanding of intelligence and the complexity of the animal world.

2. Pigeon

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Their greatness is not only limited to the ability to recognize English letters, but also to make them achieve high rankings in the list of the smartest animals. The seemingly limitless memory ability of pigeons indicates a complex level of self-awareness.

The extraordinary memory allows pigeons to recognize specific people and places over long periods of time, even for months or years.

This ability forms the basis of their historical role as messengers, faithfully carrying out their duties for centuries.

The ability of pigeons to recognize and understand is not only limited to letters or self-images, but also includes distinguishing between two people in a picture. This shows that their observation and analysis abilities exceed expectations.

3. Raven

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The raven, an animal often considered to have a mysterious aura, actually possesses an astonishing level of intelligence. They belong to the rare group of non-primate animals that have the ability to create tools, demonstrating high cognitive capacity.

As part of biodiversity, ravens play an important role as messengers, comparable to the role of pigeons in history.

Ravens can learn to speak, have strong memories, and can even change migration patterns to avoid danger. Researchers have also noted unique behaviors, such as the ability of ravens to memorize garbage routes and truck schedules in order to steal food more efficiently.

Ravens not only have the largest brain among bird species, but also show remarkable abilities in recognizing human faces. This excellence involves the use of tools even though they do not have hands and arms like humans.

For example, ravens in New Caledonia are obsessed with making knives, proving their sophistication in tool use. They also use hooks to reach difficult-to-access food sources, demonstrating unique adaptation abilities in the animal world. All of this confirms that ravens are not only intelligent animals, but also creatures full of wonders and innovations in their natural environment.

4. Pig

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Pigs, often considered as undervalued farm animals, actually have a surprising level of intelligence. According to animal experts, pigs are easier to train compared to dogs or cats, and recently they even surpassed dogs in the list of the top 10 smartest animals.

Although dogs are known to have intelligence equivalent to that of toddlers, pigs actually have a much higher IQ level.

In addition to their intelligence, pigs also possess richness in communication. They are capable of producing around 20 different sounds to communicate with each other. An interesting habit is the mother pig singing to her piglets while they eat. This is not only a manifestation of intelligence, but also shows a deep emotional aspect in pig behavior.

The empathy trait possessed by pigs is another interesting point. They respond to emotions and even show empathy when needed, a rare characteristic in the animal world.

5. Octopus

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Its ability to navigate mazes and solve problems quickly puts it as the only invertebrate animal on the list of the world's smartest animals.

Octopuses in captivity have been observed using high-level planning with multiple steps to achieve freedom, while other octopuses are known for their ability to manipulate objects in a coordinated manner.

They are capable of performing astonishing acts in the wild, such as throwing rocks at glass and opening screw-top jars. This ability exposes a very high level of intelligence, providing new insights into the complexity of octopus behavior.

In addition, in their natural habitat, octopuses use their intelligence to camouflage themselves as rocks, utilizing optical illusions to move undetected by predators. This strategy demonstrates that octopus intelligence not only serves as an escape mechanism but also as a defense against threats in their environment.

The octopus' ability to solve mazes and problem-solving experiments confirms their intelligence. By utilizing both long-term and short-term memory, octopuses are able to find their way back to their den even after long journeys.

6. African Grey Parrot

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Ranked at the top among bird species in the list of the most intelligent animals, this African grey parrot is estimated to have a level of intelligence comparable to a five-year-old human.

Their abilities not only include learning human speech, but also involve a very extensive vocabulary, covering hundreds of words.

The uniqueness of African grey parrots is not only in their speaking ability. They also understand spatial reasoning, able to recognize and identify shapes and colors.

As popular pets, African grey parrots have found a place in homes around the world. Although they are part of the family as pets, they originate from the rainforests of central Africa, adding to the uniqueness and natural appeal they possess.

7. Elephant

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The elephant is an animal known not only for its long memory, but also for its ability to mimic the sounds of other elephants and even some human words. Despite often being identified with its physical greatness, elephants are actually among the most intelligent animals in the world.

One of their distinctive characteristics is their complex social structure, often being involved in funeral rituals to honor deceased family members, showing their emotional side and intelligence.

In addition, elephants demonstrate a high level of understanding and intelligence in tool use and self-medication. They will eat certain plant leaves to heal illnesses and can even induce labor.

The uniqueness of elephants is not only in the level of intelligence they display, but also in the altruistic actions they perform. This becomes even more intriguing because most animals do not have the capacity to process the abstract thinking required for such altruistic actions.

In dangerous situations, elephants willingly put themselves in the front line to ensure greater safety for their group members. This demonstrates a high level of empathy and strategic thinking, making them highly intelligent and complex creatures.

8. Chimpanzee

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Chimpanzees rank third on the list of the most intelligent animals, sharing 98 percent of their DNA with humans. They originate from sub-Saharan Africa, showing an impressive genetic closeness.

Their ability to solve various problems given by human trainers and researchers has made them an interesting subject of study.

They are recognized as experts in using tools to fulfill their needs. Additionally, chimpanzees also utilize complex psychological techniques in their social interactions.

Scientists have discovered that adult members within a family unit naturally take responsibility for teaching sign language to the next generation.

What's interesting is that there is no human interaction or encouragement in this process, meaning that chimpanzees teach sign language and use it to communicate effectively within their group on their own initiative. This provides unique insights into the level of understanding and ability of chimpanzees to transmit knowledge and culture within their groups.

9. Bottlenose Dolphin

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Researchers believe that bottlenose dolphins demonstrate a high level of self-awareness, showing highly sophisticated abstract thinking.

With the largest brain among their family, bottlenose dolphins have a unique anatomy that allows them to perform nodding movements similar to humans because they do not have fused neck bones.

They are not only easily trained but also capable of recognizing themselves in mirrors, identifying foreign marks on their bodies through reflections, and even able to recognize images on television. The memory capacity of dolphins is very impressive, such as their ability to remember the calls of their mates after being separated for more than two decades.

However, the two most interesting aspects of the intelligence of bottlenose dolphins are their ability to communicate with a specific language for their species and to collaborate with other species in effective hunting activities.

Their ability to adapt to a 'common language' when interacting with other dolphin species, as well as collaborating with humans and even false killer whales in hunting activities, creates the uniqueness and intelligence possessed by bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat.

10. Orangutan

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Just like chimpanzees, orangutans also have the ability to use tools, understand sign language, and engage in complex social structures involving rituals. However, their uniqueness lies in their cognitive ability to understand 'why', or the reasons behind certain actions.

Researchers have observed how orangutans cleverly use improvised tools from their surroundings and build similar structures to protect themselves from the rain. The level of adaptation and understanding of 'why' has become a unique highlight of orangutan intelligence.

The similarity in DNA between orangutans and humans, over 97 percent, explains much of the level of intelligence they exhibit. Their tool use ranks highest among other animal species.

They can be trained to use hammers and nails, even learning to use hoses to suck up liquid. The diversity of these skills not only reflects their intelligence, but also demonstrates a high level of adaptation to their environment.

Despite their extraordinary intelligence, Indonesian orangutans face serious threats of extinction due to habitat loss. Empowering conservation efforts and protecting their habitat are key to ensuring the survival and extraordinary intelligence legacy of orangutans.

11. Question and Answer

1. What is the smartest animal in the sea?

Orca (Orcinus orca) - the largest member of the dolphin family, and the only species still existing in the genus Orcinus, this impressive apex predator is highly intelligent and uses a complex communication system. Often referred to as the 'wolves of the sea', these mammals hunt and live in groups or pods, and cooperate, similar to wolf packs. They use cone-shaped teeth for ripping and tearing but not for chewing.

This animal has the second largest brain capacity after the sperm whale. The brain of an orca whale is nearly four times larger than that of a human, which strengthens their high intelligence.

(kpl/amh)