Animals, as we know, can be incredibly intelligent, sometimes even more so than we might expect. Including problem-solving birds and empathetic mammals, the animal kingdom is full of surprises. These are the 20 smartest animals you can find in the world.
Dolphins
Dolphins are known for their playful behaviour and high intelligence. National Geographic explains that “they team up in pods, or groups, to accomplish tasks,” and these marine mammals communicate with each other using a system of clicks and whistles, each with its unique signature. They can solve problems, understand human gestures, and even use tools.
Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees share about 98% of their DNA with humans, making them our closest living relatives. They use tools, such as sticks to fish for termites and rocks to crack open nuts, and chimpanzees are also known for their ability to learn sign language, demonstrating a remarkable capacity for communication.
Elephants
Not only the largest land animals but also some of the smartest, elephants have excellent memories, capable of remembering locations of water sources over vast distances and recognizing individuals even after years of separation. Elephants exhibit deep emotional bonds, mourning their dead and showing empathy towards each other, too.
Crows
Incredibly intelligent birds known for their problem-solving skills, crows can use tools, such as sticks, to retrieve food and even understand the concept of water displacement. They’ve also been observed dropping nuts on roads for cars to crack them open. Their ability to recognize human faces and remember interactions with individuals is truly astonishing.
Pigs
Often underestimated, pigs are nevertheless incredibly intelligent creatures. They have excellent long-term memories and can solve complex problems, such as navigating mazes and understanding the concept of reflection. Pigs are also highly social animals, capable of forming close bonds with both humans and other pigs.
Octopuses
Octopuses are known for their incredible problem-solving abilities and intelligent behaviours. Their talents include being able to navigate mazes, open jars to retrieve food, and even escape from enclosures. Octopuses have a unique nervous system, with two-thirds of their neurons located in their arms, allowing for remarkable control and flexibility.
Parrots
While they’re famous for their ability to mimic human speech, a parrot’s intelligence goes far beyond that. They can understand and use words in context, solve puzzles, and even learn to count. Parrots like the African Grey have been shown to understand concepts of same and different—and some have vocabularies of hundreds of words.
Rats
Rats are highly intelligent rodents capable of solving complex problems and learning new tasks quickly. They can work their way through mazes, recognize patterns, and even learn tricks, much like dogs. They also have excellent memories and are known for their social structures, often working together to achieve goals.
Border Collies
One of the smartest dog breeds is the Border Collie, thanks to its ability to understand and respond to a vast array of commands. They also excel in obedience training, agility, and problem-solving tasks, and can learn new tasks quickly. They have been known to understand over 1,000 words, too.
Orangutans
Orangutans are highly intelligent primates known for being able to use tools and solve problems—and have even been observed using leaves as umbrellas and gloves, as well as sticks to extract insects or open fruit. Their ability to learn from observation and adapt to their environment is truly remarkable.
Ravens
Ravens are not just smart, they are also excellent communicators. They can mimic sounds, including human speech, and use non-verbal gestures to communicate with each other. Ravens have been seen solving puzzles, and even planning for future events. Their problem-solving skills are on par with those of some primates, and they exhibit a high level of social intelligence.
Bees
They may be small, but bees are incredibly smart as they can communicate through complex dances, known as the waggle dance, to convey the location of food sources to other bees. Bees are also capable of understanding the concept of zero, an advanced mathematical skill.
Pigeons
There’s a reason pigeons have been used for centuries as messengers, thanks to their remarkable navigational skills. Pigeons can find their way home over vast distances, even when released from unfamiliar locations. They also have excellent memories, capable of recognizing human faces and remembering routes.
Sea Lions
Sea lions are highly intelligent marine mammals known for their ability to learn and perform, and they can furthermore follow commands, solve problems, and even understand simple arithmetic. Sea lions have been trained by researchers to perform various tasks, demonstrating their quick learning and adaptability.
Squirrels
Known for their resourcefulness and problem-solving skills, squirrels can remember the locations of hundreds of buried acorns and use various strategies to retrieve them. Squirrels are also capable of solving puzzles to access food and have been observed using deceptive tactics to throw off potential thieves.
Bonobos
Bonobos, which are closely related to chimpanzees, share many of their cognitive abilities. They use tools, communicate through vocalisations and gestures, and exhibit a high level of empathy and social cooperation. Bonobos are known for their peaceful nature and strong social bonds, often resolving conflicts through play and grooming rather than aggression.
Raccoons
Especially in urban environments, raccoons are known for their cleverness and adaptability; with their dexterous front paws that allow them to manipulate objects and solve problems, such as opening latches and containers, raccoons are also excellent learners. They are capable of remembering solutions to problems for extended periods.
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish are cephalopods known for their impresssive ability to change colour and texture to blend into their surroundings, and they are also highly intelligent, capable of solving complicated problems and learning from experience. Cuttlefish have been observed using their arms to manipulate objects—and even showing signs of planning for future events.
Horses
Not only majestic and strong but also highly intelligent and sensitive animals, horses can learn a variety of tasks, understand human emotions, and even anticipate the actions of their riders. Horses have excellent memories and can remember routes, tasks, and individuals for many years.
Ants
Our final smartest animal in the world is the ant: with their complicated social structures and problem-solving abilities within their colonies, ants are highly-efficient and work within their specific roles with coordination. They also communicate through chemical signals, which help them to complete complex tasks, too.
