35 Of The Smartest Animals On Earth

Not only are elephants big in their stature, but they also tower among others in their intelligence. Known to have excellent memory and displaying human-like emotions, elephants are one of the smartest land animals. 

Although they might look like entities from outer space, they have very earthly intelligence. Same as mammals, these cephalopods are known to have the ability to solve complex problems are real escape artists!

They are stubborn and often weird, but that's because the intelligence of a domestic cat compares to that of a 2-year-old human toddler! One interesting thing about cats is that they understand that if an object is out of sight, it doesn't mean it has vanished forever. They do know you've hidden their treats. 

These plain-looking birds are nothing but plain when it comes to intelligence. Crows are known to use tools, solve complex problems requiring planning, and are great at communicating. They can also remember the faces of their wrong-doers, so treat them with respect!

You might not believe this, but experts agree that orcas are more intelligent than dogs! Besides having the second-biggest brains among all ocean animals, they have a definite sense of self, and display various behaviors linked to intelligence. 

Although we're used to seeing them as these cute yet pesky trash burglars, raccoons are actually quite intelligent. In fact, they rank as high as monkeys on intelligence tests! Maybe that's why, no matter the lock you put on your bins, they always find a way to get to the good stuff. 

There is no doubt that gorillas are highly intelligent! Remember Koko, the gorilla who learned how to use sign language? If that's not proof of this species' intelligence, we don't know what is. 

Sperm whales are one of the very few animals who can recognize themselves! Hopefully, that does not come with human-like attributes like an occasional episode of a low-self esteem.  Sperm whales are capable of solving problems, and they can even find people who are lost at sea or pinpoint underwater landmines!

We all know that dogs are smart, but did you know that their intelligence is comparable to that of a 2-year-old human kid? Now, only if human kids were so amenable and cute... 

We all know that dolphins are intelligent - they are known to use tools, have a complex communication system, give 'names' to each other, and are capable of solving various problems. Not to mention they're painstakingly cute!

We all know otters as these painstakingly cute and adorably playful animals, but they are also pretty smart. Some studies show, that otters might be just as smart as dolphins!

These adorable parrots are among the most intelligent animal species in the world. In fact, they are capable of solving some cognitive tasks at the levels and beyond that of five-year-old humans! 

It's easy to assume that squirrels are not as bright just because they don't use tools. But how would you use a tool with such tiny little arms? Anyway, they are capable of learning by observing which is a clear sign of intelligence. 

A recent study shows that orangutans are better at making various tools than human kids, three to four-year-olds, to be exact, because that is how smart orangutans are compared to humans. 

Pigs are considered the fifth most-intelligent animal in the world, outranking dogs! We're not sure how the study was done, but that particular one showed that pigs are capable of playing video games with more focus and success than chimps. 

Slow and amenable, cows might not strike you as highly intelligent. However, they learn new things even faster than dogs, can solve problems requiring logic, and form long-lasting friendships with other cows they particularly like!

Sea lions, a.k.a water puppies, might be just as smart (if not smarter!) than their land counterparts. They have excellent short-term memory and exceed at learning new things. 

Although positively tiny, honey bees are very complex animals. Bees can count, recognize human faces, learn tools use, and understand abstract concepts. All that in a tiny stiped package!

Manta rays have the largest brain-to-body mass ratio of any cold-blooded fish. Don't ask us where its brain is, though. Studies have shown that manta rays may be able to recognize themselves in a mirror, which is an ability reserved only to highly intelligent animals. 

Chimpanzees are one of the most intelligent animals around! They can learn to use tools, communicate with complex vocalizations and signs, and are excellent problem-solvers. 
It is noted that the IQ of an average chimp is right around 20-25, similar to a toddler's!

Although very similar in appearance, Bonobos are said to be slightly more intelligent than chimpanzees. And while chimps are better at using tools, bonobos excel at solving tasks requiring understanding social causality. How's that for smart!

Although we're used to thinking of them as the kings of the jungle (although they aren't even from the jungle) because of their impressive looks, they are actually so because of their intelligence! One of the clearest signs to determine intelligence is an animals' ability to learn by observing, and that's what lions do. 

Nobody would expect it from a measly rodent, but rats are actually excellent at learning and understanding concepts. And, although they are tiny compared to dogs, they might be just as bright!