6 Species Proving Humans Aren't the Only Intelligent Ones on the Planet

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Defining intelligence is not easy. Is it an ability for abstract thought? Communication? Reasoning? Problem solving? It’s a troubling concept for humans because we know we have it but we’re not so sure what, exactly it is.

And traditionally, humans have considered their intelligence to be superior to that of the rest of earth’s inhabitants. Animals, it has long been thought, have a degree of intelligence but certainly nothing that could compare to humanity’s proclivity for innovation and emotional understanding.

Recently, however, a series of observations have challenged this idea. Indeed, we humans are finally realizing that several animals—from our cousins the apes down to fish and even some invertebrates—experience deep emotion, develop culture, and utilize tools for problem solving; all things that were once the cornerstones of the human intelligence pedestal.

vladdythephotogeek/flickr

1. Apes

Any discussion of animal intelligence must begin with apes. There has been extensive and well-documented research that has found evidence of some key elements of high intelligence in ape species including self awareness, emotional understanding, problem solving and reasoning, culture, and language.

Perhaps the most compelling sign, however, are the numerous videos of apes morning their dead kin. The footage of both chimpanzees and gorillas is chilling.

Top photo from Chi King via flickr.

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Read more: animals, apes, crows, dolphins, elephants, fish, intelligence, octopi, treehugger

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Heather M.

6:03PM PDT on Apr 3, 2012

Elephants also mourn those who have died. My German Shepherd dog was terribly grieved when her playmate died. They had been friends for thirteen years. I had to hand feed her for months to get her to eat. One thing I don't like is when people call them 'dumb animals' I would now say to those who say such things. "Oh can you speak chimpanzee, or elephant. Do you understand what they are saying?" Every creature has intelligence in order to just survive, it has to be common sense and though humans have a high level of intelligence it doesn't necessarily mean all of our decisions are wise. I come to that conclusion as I look at what we have done to Earth and even our own food supply. There are things that I have offered to my dog for food that she won't even consider. She knows there is something in that food that just isn't good. Referring to an occasional treat I may be eating that she sniffs and says (in dog language of course) there is no way that I am going to eat that stuff." We weren't meant to be all on the same scale of intelligence. Hopefully the more that we study other animals etc the more we will appreciate just how clever they really are. Many of them show incredible care for each other in family units that possibly can even surpass our acceptance and love. Who are any of us to judge them and say we are better. We were made to care for them and not take advantage or abuse, we were meant to be caretakers of Planet Earth and all who reside here.

send a green star

Cienna S.

9:06AM PDT on Apr 2, 2012

And I'm sure there are many, many more than just six. Evolution doesn't just apply to us: our cohabitants have been evolving just as long as we have. Yeah, there are a lot of 'dumb' animals who do especially stupid things when frightened, but guess what? Among those dumb animals are millions of humans. I've met dogs that were smarter than some full grown humans I've met. Just waiting for that article with the headline: "Humans: We're Dumber Than We Thought."

Katie W.

6:32AM PDT on Apr 2, 2012

I watched a squirrel use a tool once too. After my little dog chased it up a tree, the squirrel waited then came down and got the dog's bone, let the dog chase it back up and while perched on a branch, waited for my dog to be just underneath and then bombs away! Dropped the bone on the dog's head.
Doesn't make it comparable to a human though.

Hannah L.

8:19PM PST on Jan 21, 2012

I never knew about fish

Jo L.

4:18PM PST on Jan 19, 2012

How canu mention all of these animals that have higher intelligence and leave out the one with the highest, and that would be whales. All cetaceans actually, have a very high intelligence. We've barely scratched the surface of whale communication. Just an fyi, Cetaceans are whales, dolphins, porposes, killer whales, (which are actually a species of dolphin). I saw the largest pod of dolpins while sailing in the Sea of Cortez, not far from the inland coast of baja. We had seen pods of dolphins b 4, and they would swim along with the boat. They could easily have outrun us. They were playing w the kids with the dolphins and kids(on the boat) were running back and forth from side to side. It was great. When we saw the humongus pod it looked like a convention of pods. There were hundreds and hundreds Neither my late bf or i had ever seen any thing like it b4 or since.

Marsha A.

7:28PM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Perhaps animals have an 'emotional intelligence' that is far superior to the human species.

Sheri S.

6:30PM PST on Jan 18, 2012

There are many more animals species on earth that are far smarter than humans. They have learned to adapt, to live togetherm, to get along. There is a heiracy, but they know what it is and don't disturb it. They don't pave the world with cement.

Alison V.

3:35PM PST on Jan 18, 2012

I find it an interesting contradiction in terms that in the first paragraph we are told that defining intelligence is not easy since we're not even sure what it is, then in the part concerning chimpanzees intelligence is deined as self awareness, emotional understanding, problem solving and reasoning, culture, and language.

I also feel I need to take issue with the "emotional understanding" portion. I'm highly intelligent, but as an autistic woman, have a great deal of trouble understanding the strange minefield that is the Neurotypical's world-view. Perhaps if humans per se fixated less on a social ideal of intelligence, and more on logic (not mentioned at all in the article, by the way!) then we'd have a better idea of what intelligence truly means. Anything else is just apes grooming each other.

Susanne P.

1:01PM PST on Jan 18, 2012

That's exactly the problem: "... humans have considered their intelligence to be superior to that of the rest of earth’s inhabitants"

I guess WE, the humans, are the problem of the earth!

Peace D.

9:55AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

cool man..haha,thx^^