How intelligent dolphins are really smart? A ranking of dolphins against other animals
Who is really number two?
After humans,dolphins are often considered the second most intelligent animal on the planet. They have a relatively high brain size ratio, advanced language and comprehension capacity, the ability to show emotion and are highly sociable. They also showed excellent cognitive capabilities - including individual differentiation and behavioral control - and are one of the few known creatures for passing the reference mirror self-recognized recognition test.
Yes, the dolphin is a very sophisticated creature and razor. But, while they are undeniably intelligent, they are not thealoneSmart animals out there. So, how are the dolphins stacked compared to other animals in the world?
First, a warning: "You can not really classify animals by intelligence because they are all designed to do different things," said Justin Gregg, Ph.D., a senior research associate at theDolphin communication project and the author ofAre the dolphins really intelligent?. Gregg has deeply studied these creatures of the deep sea and has seen a lot of ways they are as a cognitive way - and some of the lanes of the delay. Nevertheless, he notes: "When we talk about an animal" being smart ", it's usually when the animals do things that look like what humans do."
But, while animal animal tests are not exactly reliable, wecan Take a look at the complete spectrum available to offer difficult comparisons. Here you will get a deep look at the intellectual prowess of 15 other creatures that have also raisedanimal intelligence-Defined as a combination of skills and abilities allowing animals to prosper in their respective environments - and see which creature is really the smartest of all. In addition to us, of course. And to examine these magnificent cetaceans in their natural environment, check these13 magnificent photos of dolphins in the wild.
1 Chimpanzees have more so-called memories than dolphins.
Gregg points out that dolphins are actually linked remotely to primates. "Many things they do are very primated," he says, "who is unexpected, given how different they are." But when it comes to behaving and reacting to the world in a humane way - one of the main methods, we can compare animal intelligence from each other-dolphins are not at the same level as the chouchons.
A 2007to study found that chimpanzees share about 98% of the same DNA as humans. Observations and experiments indicate that chimeras are capable of empathy, altruism and self-awareness, which is that their intelligence is similar to dolphins.
But where they really really are in cognitive function. The chimpes have a profound memory - according to the search published inCurrent biology, their memory can be even greater than that of humans - and a relatively advanced knowledge of tools. They are known to use sticks to catch ants and termites, as a kind of rudimentary form of a fishing pole (or rather bug capture). And for smarter whip creatures, check the25 incredible animal ways communicate that you have never known.
2 Dolphins have stronger memories than elephants.
The size of an elephant's brain suggests that their intelligence must be quite high. Like dolphins, they were consolating and helping to others, and there was even aregistered instance a passage of the mirror test. But the elephant is lagging behind the dolphin in a crucial area: despite what a familiar saying could have thought you, the elephant forgets - or at least does not remember - just as well as the dolphin.
Researchers, writing in theActs of Royal Society Bsaid the dolphins have the most sustainable memory of the animal kingdom. The dolphins could have remember whistles from other dolphins to20 years. As a comparison, a test of the 2011 elephant intelligence and cooperation capacitieshave found them Simple "league with chimpanzees and dolphins as among the most advanced animals in the world."
Yet, elephants really shine when it comes to perception. According to one 2013to studyThey have the ability to decipher "ethnicity, sex and age" in humans, all by listening to voice acoustic signals.
So why does that mean intelligence? Well, recognize predators and judge their threat level is an essential skill for many wild animals. And since then, over the millennia, different types of human subgroups have posed various levels of threat: a man of his choice could mean a higher danger, for example - this is an extremely advanced competence that has been perceived and transmitted over generations. And for more fascinating animals, see the30 most difficult animals you would never want to meet in a dark alley.
3 Lavers are better problem solvers than dolphins.
If you think the dolphins are smarter than these adorable adorable small garbage monsters, we just have a question for you: Is a dolphin pick?
Bizarreto study According to Clark University, back in 1907, the raccoons were able to choose complex locks in less than 10 attempts, even after the locks were rearranged or reversed upside down. More recently, research has shown that lavers have impeccable memory and are able to recall solutions to puzzles up to three years.
And in 2017 researchers atWyoming University Putting raccoons in the puzzle found in one of the fables of Aesop, "the raven and the pitcher", where a bird falls from the rocks in a deep pitcher, to raise the water level at a point where it is drinkable . Like most of Esop's fables, it's pure mythos; Nothing in scientific literature suggests only crows have a solid understanding of the displacement of water.
Lavers did not understand it in no time.
4 The gate manipulate objects better than dolphins.
The octopus has the largest brain of any invertebrate, and the three-fifths of its neurons are located in its tentacles. Like the dolphins haveno Weapons, it really gives pious one major leg. "They are perfect for problem-solving tasks and manipulation and infanery-manipulation tasks can escape locations impressively through problem solving," says Gregg. A quick adventure in the YouTube rabbit hole will light the videos of the galls compressing their bulky bodies through a small slit holes, bursting the jacket covers with screws and even climbing tanks for their freedom.
Oh, then there is German aquarium octopus,Otto, which was known for launching rocks with glass and spray water at lamps suspended with short-circuit brilliant lights that disturbed it, at the astonishment of aquarium staff. And for more fascinating creatures of the depths, meet them20 bizarre marine creatures that look like what they are not real.
5 Dogs understand the human language better than dolphins.
Dogs are the best friends of man because they can relate to humans by understanding emotion and showing empathy. But are they as intelligent as dolphins? In some regions, not; In others, yes. Dogs did not manufacture the note on the self-awareness mirror test, something that the dolphins have mastered and dolphins seem to be better problem solvers.
However,Dogs and dolphins Can we use human pointing and ocular steering indices to locate objects in the distance. And an area where dogs fly over all other animals is in linguistic skills. "The most famous case of an animal that has learned the greatest number of symbols: one thing standing for something else or something else - was dogs," says Gregg. Hunter, aBorder Collie formed by psychologists "is released on the top knowledgeablefour or five times more symbols than dolphins or even gorillas. "And for some really adorable scrubbers, meet them50 dogs so ugly they are actually cute.
6 Squirrels are more misleading than dolphins (but certainly not smarter).
Squirrels have phenomenal memory and, like dolphins, they can even be misleading. For starters, they thrive in big urban cities, which gives them the main smart street on other animals. According to a Princeton Universityto studyThe gray squirrels can remember where they buried thousands of nuts, for months at a time, without relying on their sense of smell. And, in 2010to study, the squirrels who knew they were watching false caches for their nuts, then digging holes and tapping the dirt, while they really hide their nuts under their armpits or in mouth with the ultimate goal To deceive witnesses until they can find a better hidden place. Nevertheless, while they are snowers than dolphins, few researchers would argue are smarter.
7 Pigs are better in video games than dolphins.
"The dolphins have a big brain, so we spent time studying them," said Gregg. "We have ignored animals like pigs, because we eat them and transform them into bacon. But these days, there are many more research that find them a lot of things very complicated, not contrary to What you see in the primates. "
Pigs Are very intelligent beings capable of recognizing themselves in a mirror, like dolphins. In addition, they are very sensitive, are able to gain knowledge to help them solve problems later and at least in the case of mothers - are very protective, loving and playful with their little ones. ManystudiesHave pigs revealed to be even smarter than dogs and cats, and they are able to solve problems faster than many primates. Finally, they can also include abstract representations and even apply the skill toplay video games Using a joystick. In other words: the time someone who trits you inSmash Bros.You can call them accurately an average pig!
8 Parrots have a better understanding of the rudimentary concepts than dolphins.
"Parrots are surprisingly strong in their manipulation of symbols," says Gregg. Like dolphins, they are able to understand complex intellectual concepts that most humans can not master until the age of kindergarten. These birds solve puzzles and understand the concept of cause and effect.
A parrot namedAlex Received the same intelligence tests that were also awarded to dolphins and monkeys, and it marked in many areas and even better in some. When showing various objects, he was able to named 50. He knew different colors, and could remind the number up to eight. It also includes the concepts of "different" and "even". More generally, Africa's gray parrots, the Einstein of this species, can learn an impressive number of human words and use them in the context of communicating with humans.
9 Rats, dolphins unlike, have "metacognition".
The psychology and the emotional intelligence of the rat are similar to humans, and that's why they are often used for laboratory experiments. Similar to dolphins, rats also show altruistic behavior; For example, they have been known for other free rats of cages during experiments.
They also have metacognition, or the consciousness of his own thought, which is a mental capacity seen that in humans and some primates. In fact, they even madebetter than some humans On specific cognitive tasks: they can make calculations to help them get the food of a trap without being taken, and they can handle sensory signals to analyze situations and get out of labyrinths.
10 Crows and crows are better solver problems than dolphins.
It is difficult to say for sure that dolphins or corvids-family of crude birds and crows-are smarter because they exist in such radically different environments. But one thing is certain: these guys are certainly more eager cunning. "Crows are really good to handle and solve tools, they can create tools to solve problems," says Gregg. "They are one of the best tool manufacturing species, and are better than dolphins to that. »
According to reports of theSydney Morning HeraldThey are resolved with intelligent expert problems and tools. They also seem to understand that other birds have the spirit like theirs, and their decisions often take into account what others could know, want or intend. They think the observers know where they hid the food and want to fly later, so they take their food and hide sneakily elsewhere, which is known as re-cache.
11 Ants have cooperative cognition stronger than dolphins.
The ants "have made good memories for landmarks," says Gregg. "But they can not learn the manipulation of symbols or things like that, and are certainly much less human or flexible as in their thinking than dolphins. »
That said, ants have the biggest mass of the brain of all insects. Like dolphins, they are smart and methodical, but it's their intelligence ascombined group which deserves all the credit. When theywork togetherThey know how to train colonies that work with remarkable efficiency. (Think about it like the world is the most sophisticatedform of artificial intelligence, But with a distinct touch of nature.)
Ants are organized through the scent. Because different ants with different "jobs" cause different odors, ants can understand if there is not enough ants, for example, food patrol, if they are not breathed a food ant for a while. They then delegate jobs of responsibility and change. They can even optimize the best and shorter path between food and their nest.
12 Orangs-outans understand the need for object better than dolphins.
The Orangs-Outans are one of the most intelligent primates, and some experts go so far as to pretend that they are in fact the smartest. Compared to dolphins, orangutans are sharp because they understand how to build objects and why it is necessary.
For example, a 2012to study Orangs-Outans have demonstrated the engineering showed skillful in the construction of safe and comfortable beds. And, in 2018to study, Orangs-Outans surprised researchers when they showed their mastery in creating hooks. Primates have even used better than human children in the same experience!
13 Bees are better in math than dolphins.
Bees are known for their sweet honey And their sting not so sweet, but they are also large solvents. "The use of the BumbleBee problem solving tool is really fascinating," says Gregg. "There are many experiences where bumblebees can be trained to get a string to get a food reward and learn other bees that have acquired this skill."
Oh, and we can add two additional capabilities to their skill set: Addition and subtraction. Yes, let's see a dolphin dothis.
Of course, the ability to count or, at the very least, the distinction between various quantities is not unusual in animals, but to be able to solve equations using symbols is rare. It can only be done by chimpanzees, African gray parrots and bees. Ato study showed bees successfully using colors instead of more symbols and fewer symbols, and they got the answer to more than two-thirds of time! And if you want to see how your arithmetic skills are attacking, here is here30 questions you would need to spend the 6th mathematical year.
14 Goats better understand humans than dolphins.
Just like dolphins,goatsHave strong cognitive abilities, despite their unpretentious behavior. Thanks to their domestication and the fact that they spent a lot of time around the man, goats "are very good in things that humans enhance - they can even follow the human pointing gesture," which, even Cats and dogs, are unable to do, according to Gregg.
Researchers in Australia led aexperience Test their intelligence by putting in place a reluctantly invention at the end. To access fruits, goats had to use their teeth to slide a rope, which then activated a lever they had to lift with their mouths. Nine of 12 goats out of 12 have mastered the task after four tests. When the researchers withdrew the same goats again ten months later, the majority still remembered working the system to get to the fruit.
15 The pigeons are better in multitasking than dolphins.
Many people know that pigeons have been used during wars like messengers because of their ability to remember people and places for several years at a time. There have been many experiences that show considerable proof of pigeon intelligence, but notablyThese intelligent birds can be multiple And divide their attention between several stimuli at the same time to accomplish various tasks in a shorter period. It's a remarkable spectacle of intelligence that dolphins (And even humans!) Can not duplicate. And to learn even more on dolphins, do not miss these17 facts about the dolphins that will make you love even more.
To discover more incredible secrets about the life of your best life,Click hereTo follow you on Instagram!