# The most intelligent animals in the world

The animals named as the smartest by German knowledge sites, with what they can do. There is no true ranking: each species is clever in its own way.

- 4 votes · 12 items
- Jun 12, 2025 · labrat
- https://even.best/en/l/1108/the-most-intelligent-animals-in-the-world

## Top 12

1. **Chimpanzee** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Makes and uses tools, such as sticks for fishing termites.
2. **Dolphin** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Recognises itself in a mirror and communicates with whistles and clicks.
3. **Orangutan** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Builds a new sleeping nest every night and learns by watching.
4. **Pig** (1 · ▲1 ▼0) — Learns fast, recognises other pigs and can solve simple tasks on a screen.
5. **Ravens and crows** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — New Caledonian crows bend wire hooks to reach food.
6. **Elephant** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Exceptional memory; mourns its dead.
7. **Octopus** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The cleverest invertebrate: opens jars and escapes from aquariums.
8. **African grey parrot** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Learns hundreds of words; the parrot Alex could name colours and shapes.
9. **Goffin's cockatoo** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Solves multi-step lock puzzles and shapes its own tools.
10. **Dog** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Understands human gestures; some dogs learn hundreds of words.
11. **Rat** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Learns mazes quickly and shows empathy for other rats.
12. **Bonobo** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The chimpanzee's close relative; Kanzi communicated using picture symbols.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.