6 Unexpectedly Intelligent Animals

Intelligence was once thought to only be present in humans. However studies on animal behavior shows that animals too have what we call intelligence. Although it’s not as administering an IQ test on a dog, animal intelligence can be observed. Animals have their own form of intelligence, and some species are smarter compared to others.

Here are some of the smartest animals.

Rats

Rats have long been used for a number of cognitive experiments to measure animal intelligence. They’re great at finding escape routes, shortcuts and loopholes. In the Chinese culture, rats are known for their resourcefulness and cunning.

Octopus

Never underestimate these eight-legged creatures. Octopus can actually get themselves out of a jar with a lid on it. They’re known to solve problems, play, navigate mazes and even have a pretty good short-term memory. These animals are very misunderstood, but researchers and scientist are now discovering more and more about their cognitive abilities.

Pigeons

A lot of people think that these birds are the “rats of the sky” because they’ve been known to spread illnesses, but these birds have done more than just spread diseases. Like rats, pigeons have also been used as subject of a number of scientific experiments. These birds can actually recognize a wide variety of images, even when a long time as passed. They identify themselves around mirrors and they can be trained to do a sequence of different actions.

Squirrel

Persistent with a good memory, squirrels have the ability to adapt to living amongst humans easily. Most squirrels show an impressive lineup of strategies and tricks that help them endure. These cleaver animals have learned that they can live off food from bird-feeders, garden plants, and whatever they can get their tiny paws on. 

Pig

You might think that these animals are just lazy and dirty, but they’re actually one of the most intelligent animals around. Both wide and domestic pigs have to ability to live and adapt to different ecological settings. You can also train them like dogs and cats. Certain pig species have also become common pets in a number of countries because of their flexibility.

Crow

Although these birds are considered a bad sign, they’re the smartest birds around. They’re very innovative, in fact some crows would even place nuts in the middle of the road so cars would run them over and break them out of their shells. Like parrots, you can also teach a crow how to mimic human language.