Top 15 Smartest and Most Intelligent Animals

You’ll see some animals considered the smartest and most intelligent. I wanted to make top 10 but they’re many different sources so I made top 15. It’s subjective to rank which one is smarter than the other especially some animals on bottom rank, just judge yourself.

15. Sheep

If threatened, they make large groups and run away together from predators. Can remember and identify animal face (other sheep’s in the same group, they’ve met predator) can remember and identify human face.

14. Pigeon

They have a great memory that can recognise themselves in the mirror, can remember hundreds of different images/photos and learn routes to their home from long distances.

13. Rat

Once they’ve experienced rat trap, they wont get trap anymore. They have a strong social relationship, maybe stress even die after their partner died. Like dogs, can be trained to sniff out land mines and bombs.

12. Octopus

Octopus are the smartest among all invertebrates because they can change color in less than a second, mimicking seaweed, crab, coral, etc. They can use tool with their tentacles (e.g. open bottle).

11. Squirrel

They can remember their home by identifying trees, bushes, flowers, etc. Every fall, they bury a thousands of nuts in many places and they can remember where to find all nuts during winter. To fool their rival, they make some “fake nuts burial”.

10. Pig

In fact, they’re one of the cleanest and odorless animals, they have emotion, sensitivity, hurt feelings and easily bored. Very sociable to humans, trainable. Some say they are more trainable than dog.

9. Cat

Trainable, can recognize radio, television, they can even check traffic before crossing the street. They’re smart enough to get attention (meow, rub near ankle, follow you, sit on your lap, etc.). Cats can hear and recognise their owner’s footstep or stranger’s footstep.

8. Dog

The man’s best friend, very trainable, sociable to humans, can understand commands and obedience. Can identify and remember animal or human faces they’ve met, they can recognise radio, television, etc.  Dogs can be sensitive, jealous and they won’t forget someone hurting them in their entire life.


7. Parrot

Parrot can mimic human words, understand the meanings, can remember many words and make sentences. Well-trained, can count up to 6 and can identify many objects. They can answer simple questions and can use tools with their beak (e.g.painting).

6. Crow

They’re the smartest among all birds, can count up to 3. Very creative because they can make and use tools without training (e.g. use branch to gather food). Sometimes they put nuts on the street and wait until car or pedestrian crack the nuts, then eat the nuts.

5. Elephant

Elephant can recognise themselves in the mirror, very altruistic. Among other animals, elephant has they’re own “death ritual”. They use their trunk to take a bath, drink, get food, play, even use tool (e.g. painting).  They can mimic sounds, few human words and can understand the meaning if they’re well-trained.

4. Monkey

Monkey can imitate humans behaviour without training and if well-trained, they can behave like humans (e.g) drink from bottle and ride  bicycle). Like human, they have egoism, vain, pride and strong relationship. If two monkeys were fighting, the relatives of one monkey will threaten the relatives of the other monkey.

3. Whale

They can find their relatives separated miles away in the sea for unknown reason but they have their own language to communicate, can call each other and have a strong friendships in a group. Whales can “sing” with their sound and can make many different “songs” in a good tone.

2. Dolphin

Dolphin is the smartest aquatic animals, they can recognise themselves in the mirror. Very trainable and can hold and use tool with their teeth for painting. They use whistling sound to communicate with best communication system among animals.

1. Great Apes

The 98% genes of the great apes are same as human, the smartest species is chimpanzee. They can also recognise themselves in the mirror, they can make tool (e.g. stone to cut food), use tool (e.g. painting). Like human, they can kiss, snuggle, tickle, laugh, can count very trainable and have language.

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21 Responses to “Top 15 Smartest and Most Intelligent Animals”

  1. Unofre Pili Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 9:56 am

    An informative and fun article.


  2. amilia snow Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 10:09 am

    thanks for sharing, a very interesting article, as always :)


  3. Francy Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 10:10 am

    i didn’t know that crow can count up to 3…very informative article


  4. Darla Smith Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 10:27 am

    Very interesting article!


  5. Hello Kylie Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 11:40 am

    The octopus is a surprising one!


  6. Southgate Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 11:43 am

    A very novel idea.Thank you


  7. Dundas20012002 Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    My dear Princess, seeing what thes 15 animals can do I feel very inadequate as a human


  8. Sheila M Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    Interesting article ~ such cute pics too!


  9. Mrs M Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    I never knew that some of these animals were on the top smart animal list. Well done


  10. DA Cournean Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    Interesting!


  11. Jenny Heart Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 6:10 pm

    Loved all the information and the pictures were interesting and funny. like it!


  12. Radhika Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 11:51 pm

    very interesting


  13. sexyme Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    HOW DID YOU FORGET ME ?????????/


  14. Eunice Tan Says...

    On June 17, 2009 at 11:58 pm

    Two thumbs up for you for this wonderful article


  15. Christine Ramsay Says...

    On June 18, 2009 at 8:51 am

    This is a brilliant article and the pictures are so cute. Great work.

    Christine


  16. Alexa Gates Says...

    On June 18, 2009 at 10:50 am

    Great article learned a lot!


  17. Rookie Expert Says...

    On June 19, 2009 at 6:44 am

    Very interesting article. I cant pick a favourite, but love the elephant painting picture!


  18. ibelieveindog Says...

    On June 20, 2009 at 9:34 am

    Where’s all the Christians bellyaching about God only gave humans brains and put the animals here to serve us?


  19. ibelieveindog Says...

    On June 20, 2009 at 9:35 am

    Where\’s all the Christians bellyaching about God only gave humans brains and put the animals here to serve us?


  20. Kate Smedley Says...

    On June 23, 2009 at 5:09 am

    Another excellent article, I learned a lot here.


  21. Steve Says...

    On August 23, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    cheese


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