Animal intelligence is difficult to define because "intelligence" takes many forms. Examples of types of intelligence include language comprehension, self-awareness, cooperation, altruism, problem-solving, and mathematical skills. Identifying the intelligence of other primates is relatively easy, but many other species may be more intelligent than you might imagine. Here are some of the most intelligent.

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Key Points

Both vertebrates and invertebrates possess high intelligence.
Testing the intelligence of non-human animals is difficult. The mirror test is a measure of self-awareness. Social skills, emotional intelligence, problem-solving abilities, and mathematical abilities also indicate intelligence.
All vertebrates exhibit some degree of intelligence. Vertebrates include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Cephalopods and insect groups possess a high level of invertebrate intelligence.

1. Crows and Crows

Corvidae are intelligent birds. This group includes magpies, jays, crows, and ravens. These birds are the only non-primate vertebrates to invent their own tools. Crows can recognize human faces, communicate complex concepts with other crows, and contemplate the future. Many experts compare the intelligence of crows to that of a 7-year-old human child.

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2. Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are our relatives in the animal kingdom, so it's not surprising that they exhibit intelligence similar to humans. Chimpanzees can make spears and other tools, display a wide range of emotions, and recognize themselves in mirrors. They can also learn sign language to communicate with humans.

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3. Elephant

Elephants possess the largest brains among land animals. The number of neurons in an elephant's cerebral cortex is as many as in a human brain. Elephants have remarkable memories, cooperate with each other, and exhibit self-awareness. Like primates and birds, they also play.

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4. Gorilla

Like humans and chimpanzees, gorillas are primates. This gorilla named Koko is famous for learning sign language and caring for a pet cat. Gorillas can form rudimentary sentences to communicate with humans and understand the use of symbols to represent objects and more complex concepts.

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5. Dolphins

Dolphins and whales are at least as intelligent as birds and primates. Like primates, dolphins and whales are mammals. Dolphins have large brains relative to their body size. The human brain cortex is very complex, but the dolphin brain has even more folds! Dolphins and their relatives are the only marine animals to pass the self-awareness mirror test.

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6. Pigs

Pigs can solve mazes, understand and express emotions, and comprehend symbolic language. Compared to humans, piglets grasp the concept of reflection at a much younger age. Six-week-old piglets can locate food by seeing it in a mirror. In contrast, human infants take several months to understand reflexes. Pigs also understand abstract representations and can use this skill to play video games with a joystick.

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7. Octopus

While we are most familiar with the intelligence of other vertebrates, some invertebrates are remarkably clever. Octopuses possess the largest brain of all invertebrates, but three-fifths of their neurons are actually located in their arms. Octopuses are the only invertebrates that use tools. It is well-known that an octopus named Otto would throw stones and spray water at the bright lights overhead in aquariums to short-circuit them.

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8. Parrot

Parrots are considered as intelligent as human children. These birds solve puzzles and understand the concept of cause and effect. The Einstein of the parrot world is the African Grey Parrot, a bird renowned for its amazing memory and counting abilities. African Grey Parrots can learn a vast number of human words and use them in context to communicate with people.

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9. Puppy

Man's best friend uses its intelligence to connect with humans. Dogs understand emotions, show empathy, and comprehend symbolic language. According to canine intelligence expert Stanley Coren, the average dog understands about 165 human words. However, they can learn much more. A Border Collie named Chaser demonstrated a comprehension of 1,022 words. An analysis of his vocabulary was published in the February 2011 issue of the journal *Behavioral Processes*.

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10. Raccoon

Aesop's fable "The Crow and the Pitcher" might be about raccoons. Researchers from the USDA's National Wildlife Center and the University of Wyoming fed raccoons a jug of water containing marshmallows and pebbles. To reach the marshmallows, the raccoons had to raise the water level. Half of the raccoons knew how to use the pebbles to get the food. The other simply figured out a way to knock the pitcher over.

Raccoons are also very good at picking locks and can remember solutions to problems for up to three years.

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11. Other intelligent animals

In fact, the list of ten animals only scratches the surface of animal intelligence. Other animals with super intelligence include mice, squirrels, cats, otters, pigeons, and even chickens.

Socially formed species such as bees and ants exhibit varying degrees of intelligence. While individuals may not be able to accomplish great feats, insects collectively solve problems in ways comparable to vertebrate intelligence.

Besides humans, the 10 most intelligent animals