11 smartest animals in the animal kingdom

Intelligence turns out to be far less human than we imagined, and far more widespread than we ever expected.

The animal kingdom is replete with surprises that continually challenge our understanding of intelligence and cognitive capacity. From the depths of the ocean to our own backyards, creatures everywhere are demonstrating problem-solving skills that rival, and sometimes exceed, our own.

We often judge intelligence by human standards, but the natural world demonstrates that there are many different ways to be intelligent. These eleven amazing animals display incredible feats of memory, tool use, and emotional depth that will completely change how you view them.

Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives and share about 98 percent of our DNA, so it is no surprise they rank at the top in brainpower. They use sophisticated tools, such as sticks, to forage for termites and can even learn American Sign Language to communicate with humans.

Their social structures are incredibly intricate and involve complex politics that would make any seasoned diplomat take notes. In fact, young chimpanzees have outperformed human adults in memory tests in which they had to recall the locations of numbers on a screen.

Orangutans

These red-haired apes are the masters of patience and arguably the most technically skilled tool users among the great apes. They are known to construct elaborate sleeping nests each night and can even saw wood or use hammers when taught by humans.

A stunning discovery in May 2024 revealed that a wild Sumatran orangutan named Rakus treated his own facial wound using a medicinal plant. Scientists observed as he chewed the leaves to create a poultice and applied it directly to the injury, marking the first scientific record of an animal treating a wound with biologically active plants.

Bottlenose Dolphins

Dolphins are famous for their playful nature, but their intelligence goes far beyond jumping through hoops at an aquarium. They have demonstrated self-awareness by recognizing themselves in mirrors and can solve complex puzzles that require planning and foresight.

Their communication system is so advanced that researchers believe they use distinct whistles to identify specific individuals in their pod. They are also among the few species that pass knowledge to their young, such as using sea sponges to protect their snouts while foraging on the rocky ocean floor.

African Grey Parrots

You might think of parrots as simple mimics, but the African Grey possesses a level of reasoning comparable to that of a young child. They can identify colors, shapes, and quantities, and they understand concepts like “same” and “different,” which is huge for a bird.

Alex, the most famous African Grey, could express his wants and count objects with impressive accuracy before his death. Current research suggests that these birds not only copy sounds but also understand the context and meaning of the words they produce.

African Elephants

Elephants are legendary for their memories, but their emotional intelligence is what truly sets them apart from the rest of the herd. They show deep empathy for others, mourning their dead and even comforting distressed family members with gentle touches of their trunks.

A groundbreaking study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution in June 2024 found that wild African elephants address one another with unique name-like calls. Researchers used machine learning to analyze these rumbles and discovered that elephants recognize and respond to their specific “names” while ignoring calls meant for others.

Carrion Crows

Never underestimate the birds you see perched on power lines, because crows are shockingly clever problem solvers. They understand water displacement and can fashion wire hooks to retrieve food from tight spaces without prior training.

According to a study published in Science in May 2024, crows can count out loud in a way that is remarkably similar to human toddlers. The birds produced a specific number of caws—from one to four—in response to visual and auditory cues, indicating that they can plan their vocalizations in advance.

Border Collies

Dog lovers have always known their pets are smart, but the Border Collie operates on a completely different level of focus and agility. They were bred to herd sheep independently, which requires them to think on their feet and anticipate livestock movement.

A study published in Biology Letters in September 2024 reported that “gifted” dogs can remember the names of their toys for at least two years. While most dogs know a few commands, these canine geniuses retained a vocabulary of object names even after not seeing the toys for a very long time.

Octopuses

The octopus is the closest thing we have to alien intelligence on Earth because its brain is distributed throughout its entire body. Two-thirds of an octopus’s neurons are in its arms, allowing each arm to taste, touch, and act somewhat independently from the central brain.

They are famous escape artists who can unscrew jars from the inside and navigate through complex mazes with ease. Captive octopuses have even been known to short-circuit bright lights by squirting water at them because the glare was annoying them.

Rats

Rats often have a negative reputation, yet they are highly intelligent social animals that can learn tasks more quickly than many dogs. They feel empathy and will free trapped companions even when no reward is involved.

In November 2023, scientists published research in Science showing that rats can use their imagination to navigate through digital environments. The study demonstrated that rats can mentally activate their brain’s location system to “think” about moving to a place without physically going there, effectively daydreaming about a location.

Pigs

Pigs are often smarter than the dogs we keep as pets and have demonstrated an uncanny ability to play video games using a joystick. They have excellent long-term memory and can use mirrors to locate hidden food that they cannot see directly.

These domestic animals are socially complex and can readily distinguish between people who are kind to them and those who are not. Farmers and scientists alike have observed that pigs can hold grudges and intentionally ignore humans who have mistreated them in the past.

Bumblebees

Insects are usually dismissed as simple reflex machines, but the bumblebee is proving that tiny brains can handle massive challenges. They can learn to solve puzzles by watching other bees and will even experience optimism after receiving a sugary treat.

A study published in May 2024 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B showed that bumblebees engage in socially influenced cooperation. When tasked with moving a block to obtain a reward, bees would wait for their partner to arrive before pushing, indicating that they understand the value of teamwork.

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