10 Mind-Blowing Facts About Animal Intelligence

When one thinks about intelligence, humans are the first to come to mind. However, in the animal kingdom, there is a range of animals that amaze anyone with their intelligence: solving problems creating great memories, and even learning to communicate. These animals test the boundaries of our cognition and show us just how much we share the planet with truly brilliant minds. In this blog, we take a look at ten mind-blowing facts about animal intelligence that are sure to leave you in awe.

1. Dolphins Name Themselves

Dolphins are essentially playful and very intelligent mammals. Their unique whistles, by nature and high levels of intelligence, almost function like names. Each dolphin invents a signature whistle that identifies it, and other dolphins call that particular dolphin by its specific whistle. It really serves as a sign of self-awareness and, hence, an indication of their cognitive level.

2. Crows Are Capable of Using Tools and Solving Complicated Problems

Crows are members of the corvid bird family, along with ravens, magpies, and jays-three of the most intelligent bird species in the world. Observations of crows have shown they can use tools to solve problems, such as bending wires to retrieve food from an enclosed space. They are able to remember human faces, plan for the future, and understand basic physics. They solve problems at a level advanced enough to be compared to that of a seven-year-old human child.

Also Read: What Animal Has Only 10 Left in the World?

3. Elephants have great memories and a lot of empathy.

There is some truth to the phrase “an elephant never forgets.” Elephants have amazing memories and can recall where water sources are located, the bonds between them, and even those that have hurt them before. More than just memory, elephants also show empathy. They have been observed pacifying one another in times of distress, mourning their dead, and even helping other species in distress.

4. Octopuses Are Great Escape Artists

Octopuses are known to be among the smartest invertebrates, especially in matters related to problem-solving. These cephalopods solve complex mazes, open jars for food, and even break out of enclosures by finding their way out through tiny openings. In fact, their adaptability and problem-solving capability in a new environment simply point out how great their cognitive skills have become-developing them into probably the smartest invertebrates in the world.

5. Chimpanzees Outperform Humans in Memory Tests

Perhaps the most cognitively interesting non-human animals are chimpanzees, relatives sharing many traits with us. But in certain regards, they even surpass beyond us. For example, research has documented that on brief memory tasks, chimpanzees outperform humans by being able to remember the position of numbers on a screen in their heads longer than people are able to, a skill most helpful in the wild for locating food and making one’s way around a forest.

Also Read: 10 Fascinating Extinct Animals You Never Knew Existed

6. Parrots can understand and speak human language.

Parrots, especially African Greys, are renowned for their capabilities in mimicking human speech. However, their intelligence does not stop there. The fact that parrots, such as Alex-a studied African Grey by Dr. Irene Pepperberg comprehend and apply appropriate context to communicate effectively with language, reflects higher cognitive capabilities. Alex was able to recognize colors, shapes, and numbers and had even learned the concept of “zero.” His language abilities have shed light on the cognitive functions of birds.

7. Pigeons Are Capable of Self-Recognition in a Mirror

Self-recognition is a higher-order intellectual ability, and the pigeon is among a few animals that have passed the “mirror test.” In this test, an animal is marked with a non-toxic dye in a place where the animal can only see it with the help of a mirror. When pigeons notice the mark and try to remove it, the implication of recognition appears to indicate that they can view the reflection as themselves. This is quite a rare ability in the animal kingdom and is very indicative of the cognitive sophistication of pigeons.

8. Bees Can Perform Complex Calculations

Bees are not just important pollinators but also mathematical geniuses among insects. They are able to work out the most energy-saving routes between flowers-a problem known as the “traveling salesman problem,” which computers don’t easily solve. In saving energy by collecting nectar, bees solve this problem. The level at which such complex calculations work in a small head is nothing less than remarkable.

9 Rats Display Altruism and Fairness

The rat is intelligent and social, though most anybody would judge it by its less-than-desirable attributes. In various studies, rats have gone out of their way to help other rats in distress, even when there is no immediate reward for doing so. They even show a sense of fairness; if one rat sees another getting a better reward, then it is less likely to cooperate in the future. These behaviors reveal certain levels of social intelligence and moral reasoning rarely observed in the animal kingdom.

10. Dogs Understand Human Emotions and Commands

This is no secret, considering that dogs happen to be man’s best friend; their intelligence goes beyond just loyalty, for they can understand a wide range of human emotions and respond to them in a proper manner. They are capable of learning and obeying commands, recognizing words, and even understanding gestures. Some dogs have been trained in the detection of diseases such as cancer and diabetes through their incredible sense of smell, showing them capable of processing complex information and acting on it.

Conclusion

The intelligence of animals bears testimony to the grand diversity and complexity of life on Earth. Dolphins with unique names, and crows with their tools, have all given ample evidence that intelligence is not a privilege of man alone. A developing appreciation for the cognitive capabilities of animals will allow us to develop more concern and respect for the natural world and the incredible minds inhabiting it. Whether it’s a dog sensing your emotions or an octopus outsmarting a trap, animal intelligence is out of this world.

Also Read: Top 10 Critically Endangered Species and How We Can Save Them