Top 15 Smartest Animals on the Planet [+ Why]

The smartest animals demonstrate an astonishing range of skills often seen in young children, suggesting that intelligence in the animal kingdom is far more complex than we ever thought. From octopuses who solve complex puzzles to elephants who play video games and birds who use tools, these animals consistently challenge scientists’ understanding of cognition.

In this article, we’ll explain what animal intelligence is and how it’s measured. Then, we’ll explore the 15 smartest animals in the world, compare human and animal intelligence, and highlight the importance of studying this field.

Let’s start!

Key Takeaways

• Animal intelligence is complex; it varies across species and manifests differently than human intelligence.
• Researchers use tools like memory and self-awareness tests, as well as problem-solving tasks, to measure animal intelligence.
• Social animals like elephants and dolphins exhibit higher emotional intelligence.
• Animals with larger brains typically score highly on self-control and cognitive tasks.
• Understanding the smartest animals helps us improve animal welfare, conservation, and human-animal relationships.

Intelligence in Animals: What Is It and How Is It Measured?

Animal intelligence is tricky to define and even harder to measure because it varies across species and manifests in different forms. From a human perspective, it’s not possible to determine how animals interpret information and experience the world around them.

Luckily, researchers who study animal intelligence, such as ethnologists, comparative psychologists, and cognitive scientists, found a way to measure it.

To evaluate an animal’s cognitive abilities, they consider indicators like:

• Learning
• Solving puzzles
• Using tools
• Exhibiting self-awareness

To make comparisons between animals easier, some scientists compile data into an animal IQ chart that visually ranks various cognitive abilities, including memory, social skills, and problem-solving.

However, this wasn’t always the case. Back in the day, researchers like Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner only focused on how animals responded to stimuli and reinforcement.

As new approaches and technology developed, scientists became aware of many more types of animal intelligence.

Today, they employ a wider variety of techniques to study animal cognition, including:

• Memory tests—The focus is on assessing animals' ability to recall learned information.
• Problem-solving tasks—These measure how well animals adapt to new environments, overcome challenges, and achieve results.
• Social behavior observations—Researchers explore how animals communicate and cooperate within groups or other species.

For example, scientists perform the mirror test to measure self-awareness. In this test, they put a mark on the animal’s forehead and placed a mirror in front of it. If the animal is highly self-aware, it will realize that it’s looking at itself and show that by touching or rubbing the mark.

The sample size for this test is typically smaller, making it harder to compare across different types of animals. To tackle this problem, a team of researchers focused on the evolution of self-control. They performed the same tests on more than 500 animals across 36 species.

The surprising finding was that the scores of different species correlated with the absolute brain size. So, species like primates, who possess larger brains, achieved higher scores than birds or dogs. This makes sense because bigger brains mean more neurons, allowing animals to evolve specialized networks.

Top 15 Smartest Animals

Let’s take a detailed look at the ranking of the 15 smartest animals, exploring species from primates and marine animals to birds, invertebrates, and even insects. Learn how these incredible animals display intelligence through their problem-solving, tool-using, social, and memory capabilities.

#1. Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are considered the smartest animals after humans. They can feel a wide range of emotions, solve problems, use tools, and communicate through sign language. One of their strongest cognitive abilities is their memory.

In fact, chimpanzees can outperform humans in memory tasks. In a study from the Primate Research Institute in Japan, humans and chimpanzees were shown numbers on a screen for less than a second before disappearing. The task required them to point out the exact location of the numbers. Researchers found that humans and adult chimps performed pretty much the same, but the adolescent chimps were far more accurate in remembering each number's location.

The research demonstrates that their photographic memory is very advanced, which indicates a high chimpanzee IQ.

#2. Dolphins

Dolphins are one of the smartest animals that exhibit near-human levels of social bonding and playfulness.

Research on bottlenose dolphins by Diana Reiss and Lori Marino emphasized their intelligence, particularly their capacity for mirror self-recognition. This is an advanced behavioral trait previously seen only in humans and apes.

Dolphins are capable of performing many tasks, like learning complex commands or even using tools like marine sponges for protection while hunting. They’re rightfully placed at the top of animal intelligence as their large brains contain spindle neurons, which enhance reasoning, communication, recognition, and problem-solving.

#3. Elephants

There’s a reason elephants come in at number three on our smartest animals list—they have fantastic brain power, can use tools, stake their own meals, and even obey human commands. Known for their social nature and extreme empathy, elephants are capable of collaborating and using their ingenuity to help each other reach common objectives.

For example, a study from the National Academy of Sciences found that elephants could coordinate with each other to solve problems. In the experiment, two elephants worked together to drag ropes attached to both sides of the table that held food bowls. They quickly learned how to adapt to the situation and used their teamwork skills to their advantage.

#4. Parrots

Parrots, like most of the smartest animals on this list, can use tools to solve problems. Unlike other animals, though, they can mimic human speech and be trained to say short sentences.

The African grey parrot stands out as the smartest of its kind. For example, Dr. Irenne Pepperberg’s accomplishments while working with a parrot named Alex, who had the cognitive abilities of a 5-year-old, exemplified how parrots could identify objects by their materials, solve math problems, and understand abstract concepts.

What’s more, as shown in an experiment by Sandra Mikolasch et al., African grey parrots process deduction and elimination skills.

#5. Octopus

Octopuses are considered the smartest animals in the invertebrate kingdom. They have a large brain with over 500 million neurons, and 350 million of those are located in their arms. Each arm has a mind of its own and can act independently; one can be digging for food while the other is interacting with objects.

They’ve been observed using tools like picking up coconut halves to use as mobile homes or manipulating objects. What’s most interesting is that they can display different personalities, according to a study in the Journal of Comparative Psychology. Researchers found that octopuses reacted to food and threats in their own ways, showcasing their distinctive character.

#6. Crows

Crows are the smartest birds from the Corvidae family. As animals with high intelligence, they show exceptional animal cognitive abilities and are able to understand the relationship between actions and consequences.

For example, crows that live in urban areas can be seen throwing nuts on the street, waiting for a car to pass, and then eating what’s inside the shell. Basically, they use the car as a tool to access food.

Researchers at the University of Washington demonstrated the crow’s capacity for causal reasoning. In the experiment they conducted, crows dropped stones into water-filled tubes to raise the water level and reach the food, showing they understood how their actions led to specific outcomes.

#7. Pigs

Pigs are often overlooked when it comes to debating the smartest animals. However, they’re highly trainable, as they can learn commands like “sit” or “lay down” and even perform complex tasks like playing video games.

Studies have shown that a pig’s intelligence can be compared to that of a three-year-old child. They’re able to use tools like sticks to dig for food and can choose the right size to optimize their search. IQ tests on pigs show their average IQ score is between 70 and 85, which earns them the seventh place on our list.

#8. Rats

Rats have been used in research and experiments for good reason—they’re some of the smartest animals with exceptional problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and social intelligence.

Rats can solve mazes, perform intricate tasks, and—perhaps most surprisingly—display empathy when they free other rats that have been trapped. They also have great memory and can remember complex routes even after a single exposure.

These rodents can also quickly learn simple tricks and commands and respond to their names when called. Moreover, they can communicate by touch, smell, or even frequencies humans can’t hear.

#9. Pigeons

Pigeons often have a negative reputation when it comes to intelligence, but they’re among the world’s smartest animals. For starters, they’ve been able to pass the mirror test as part of a study by Robert Epstein, Robert P. Lanza, and B.F. Skinner.

Pigeons are also outstanding navigators, able to find their way home from distances of over 500 miles. They combine the Earth’s magnetic field, landmarks, the sun, and ultra-low sound waves to reach their destination.

Finally, pigeons have excellent pattern recognition skills—they can distinguish between letters and symbols and even distinguish between Monet's and Picasso's artwork!

#10. Dogs

Dogs are incredibly smart, blending instinct, loyalty, and adaptability. The ability to learn dozens of commands, solve puzzles, and even interpret emotions and body language enables dogs to be reliable companions and working animals.

Research by Corsin A Müller, Kira Schmitt, et al. indicates that dogs can identify human facial expressions and vocal tones, reacting differently depending on our moods. High-IQ dogs also excel at problem-solving and tasks that lead them to rewards, such as treats or playtime.

While intelligence depends on breed and training, dogs are fast learners and have an innate desire to connect. Therefore, they make loving household pets who are highly tuned to the world around them.

#11. Orcas

Orcas are among the smartest animals in the ocean. Known as the killer whales, they are highly skilled hunters. When hunting, they work together in groups called pods, engaging in complex communication.

Their hunting technique differs from region to region and pod to pod. For example, in the Antarctic, orca pods are known to engage in synchronized swimming, generating waves to push off seals on ice floats. They even know how to paralyze sharks with a technique called “tonic immobility.”

Orcas have impressive gyrification levels, which shows how wrinkled the cerebral cortex is. The more gyrification, the higher the total amount of data it can handle and the speed at which it’s processed. In comparison to humans, which have a gyrification of 2.2, orcas hold the world record with an impressive index of 5.7.

#12. Orangutans

The orangutan behavior is complex, reflecting their high intelligence and adaptability in diverse environments. They have advanced problem-solving skills, from using leaves as bandages to dress their wounds to building nests by weaving twigs together.

Orangutan intelligence goes far more than survival, though. Research conducted by Gordon Gallup Jr. in 1970 shows that orangutans are self-aware, being one of the few species that recognize their own reflection. They also display remarkable foresight, planning, and cognition.

These apes develop complex social skills as they grow up by mimicking the facial expressions and emotions of their peers. However, they’re the least social, often preferring solidarity over group dynamics.

#13. Raccoons

Raccoons are among the smartest animals because of their excellent problem-solving skills, memory, and adaptability. They possess dexterous paws, which help them unlock doors, unlatch containers, and navigate complex puzzles to reach food.

The raccoon's cognitive abilities have been a topic of interest for many researchers. In an article published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the following was observed:

• Raccoons perform better in captive settings compared to natural environments
• Age has an impact on the raccoon’s cognitive performance
• They are able to adapt to urban environments due to their fast learning abilities

#14. Cats

Cats are smart animals who can pick up on human emotions and even imitate behaviors, proving they have emotional intelligence. Felines also have quite a good memory, particularly when it comes to exploring locations that benefit them, be it food sources or toys.

They are efficient predators, a trait that necessitates high-level brain function (i.e., tracking movement or planning). Scientists at Kyoto University discovered that cats can distinguish between their names and other words, which proves their high learning capacity.

#15. Bees

Bees are insects with incredible intelligence. They can come up with the most efficient solutions to receive a reward rather than simply mimicking behavior. This highlights their problem-solving skills and impressive learning abilities. According to research conducted by David Baracchi et al., bees can even show emotions. For example, they can distinguish between discomfort and pleasure.

Additionally, the way they work together to achieve specific results, like regulating the hive’s temperature, is incredible. According to a research study published by Samuel A. Ocko and L. Mahadevan, bees follow a sophisticated plan to keep the temperature at 35 °C. When it gets cold, they contract and make the cluster denser. In warmer conditions, bees collectively expand to prevent overheating.

How Does Human Intelligence Compare to Animal Intelligence?

The comparison between human intelligence and animal intelligence is far from simple, as both have developed unique abilities as a result of their evolutionary history.

Our unique human abilities to think abstractly, communicate complex ideas through language, and develop ever-advancing technology enable us to evolve extensive cultures, intricate societies, and scientific knowledge. In contrast, animal intelligence tends to be domain-specific, tuned to immediate survival rather than abstract problem-solving.

Humans and animals exhibit different forms of problem-solving, memory, and social learning; think of chimpanzees, dolphins, and other tool-using, socially aware animals. Many of them are also empathetic, expressing emotions in response to cues from others.

This, therefore, opens the door to research about whether animals understand human emotions—especially when it comes to domesticated animals whose lives revolve around enjoying our company, such as dogs.

What’s even more fascinating is that animals do things better than humans in certain domains, like sensory processing and survival. Dogs, for example, are fabulous food finders with their incredible snouts, while birds like Clark’s Nutcracker are known for their excellent spatial memory, allowing them to stash seeds in a forest and find them months later.

These specialized behaviors show the unique aspects of animal intelligence, which, unlike human intellect, are remarkably adapted to their environmental surroundings.

The Importance of Knowing and Studying Animal Intelligence

Knowing and studying animal intelligence is important because it teaches us how animals think, adapt, and interact with humans. We already know from research that dogs can respond to human facial expressions. What’s even more interesting is that they can use their hearing to differentiate between our emotions.

But humans and dogs have a special relationship, so it’s no wonder we have more knowledge about their behavior. Unfortunately, there is still so much more to discover about other animals and their understanding of human emotions.

Research on animal intelligence helps us make sense of animals’ cognitive capabilities. If we are aware of the cognitive demands of animals like primates and dolphins, we can improve conservation planning.

For example, we can provide them with the complex environment they require to thrive. In addition, studying animal intelligence can help us create better welfare in zoos, shelters—and even in our homes.

Lastly, an understanding of how animals think and behave—especially with humans—gives us an enriched human-animal relationship. Ultimately, it will lead to increased respect for animal rights and the cultivation of compassion towards them.

Final Thoughts

The mysteries of animal intelligence are yet to be solved. However, we do know one thing for sure: our sophisticated brains aren’t as unique as we might like to think. The smartest animals have incredible intelligence—from chimpanzees who communicate with sign language to bees that can solve complex problems.

What’s more, animals like dolphins show empathy, revealing how advanced social intelligence in animals can be. Having all this knowledge about the smartest animals helps expand our current ideas about cognition and lets us become more respectful and considerate of other species, influencing how we care for and interact with them.