10 Most Intelligent Animals: Humans have the advantage of speech, making them the most intelligent living beings on the planet. But animals, on the other hand, have intelligence as an instinct and manage to survive in this world. Here are some of the most intelligent animals.

1. Chimpanzees:
Chimpanzees and humans have a lot in common including 99% of the same DNA. Much like humans, Chimps also live in social communities and are able to adapt to environments easily. Studies have shown that these amazing mammals can also learn sign language. These animals have learned the use of tools as well. Chimps are observed using stones to break nuts open and leaves to soak up water.

2. Bottlenose Dolphins:
The Bottlenose Dolphins are one of the few animals that can learn to use vocal sounds to communicate. Every Dolphin creates its own unique whistle sound and in future other Dolphins mimic the sound of the Dolphin they want to communicate with. It’s like calling each other by name.

Dolphins have also been found to get attached to other Dolphins. It has been found that Dolphins will stay by the injured or sick Dolphins and help them up to the surface when they need to breathe. These water animals have also saved humans from sharks by swimming in circles around the shark and distracting them.

3. Elephants:
The Elephant has the largest brain, by size, among all the animals on land. Studies have also shown that the cortex of an elephant has as many neurons as a human brain. The learning capability of elephants is remarkable and they can even recognize themselves in mirrors. Elephants can understand music and even sway to the beat of the music.

4. African Grey Parrots:
The African Grey Parrots are also known as the Einsteins of the parrot world. After studying these magnificent creatures it was shown that these parrots have abstract, inferential reasoning abilities.
The Lafeber Company reportedly said, “Most bird keepers believe that only an experienced bird enthusiast should keep a Grey. They are complex parrots, highly sensitive, and more than a little demanding. They are also charming and brilliant, but this match of sensitivity and brains can lead to behavioral issues. They are creatures of habit, and even a small change in routine can make a sensitive Grey unhappy.”

5. Rats:
Metacognition is the ability to think about thinking. A few years ago it was discovered that rats have the capability to make decisions based on the knowledge they already possess much like humans.
Rats are also very self-aware and can get ticklish. They also dream like we do. People have begun keeping rats as pets that have proved to be a good decision on both ends. Rats form a strong bond with their human counterpart and learn their names and come to the owners when called.

6. Crows:
A crow’s brain is no bigger than a human thumb but yet big for its size. The crow’s intelligence is kept on the same level as primates. They even have the ability to solve complex problems. Crows can also recognize humans based on previous interactions with them. Crows are also known to return the favor, an 8 year old girl fed crows in her backyard in Seattle and the crows thanked her with little gifts. The crows would leave trinkets (small ornaments) for her on the bird feeder. The gifts included a ‘best friend’ charm as well.

7. Dogs:
Dogs have been domesticated for a very long time now and spending so much time around humans, dogs have adapted and learned things from humans as well. Many dogs have been trained to do a number of tasks like getting the mail and closing doors. But the toughest would be, guide dogs or therapy dogs. Dogs have been trained to partner with blind or sickly people and help them in their daily work. Dogs have also been a success in helping people struggling with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.)

8. Pigeons:
Pigeons have learned to adapt and live in urbanization and studies have shown they are a unique type of bird. Unlike any other bird, pigeons can learn abstract mathematical rules. The only other animal capable of this is rhesus monkeys. Studies have also shown that Pigeons can make extremely intelligent choices and have problem solving skills. Pigeons are also known to recognize people by their facial characteristics.

9. Pigs:
A few experts believe that pigs are far cleaner and smarter than other domesticated animals. It’s hard to believe that pigs are the cleanest but the main reason you see pigs rolling in mud is not to get dirty but to cool off as they don’t have any sweat glands.
Researchers studying pigs have revealed that they have long term memories helping them with solving mazes easily. Pigs can also understand a simple symbolic language.

10. Octopuses:
Among all the invertebrate animals, the octopus has the largest brain. A common octopus has 130 million neurons in its brain. The interesting part is not all the neurons are in the octopuses brain, in fact, three-fifths of the neurons are in its arms. In a way, each of its arms has a brain of its own. If one of the arms get cut off (which the octopus can grow back) the arm wanders away and tends to grab at food as it did while still attached to its body.

Read More:

World’s Top 5 Most Deadliest Fish

World’s Top 12 Deadliest Snakes

Top 6 Rare Animals And Weird-Looking Animals Around The World