The most intelligent animals in the world
The top 3 according to 4 votes from people: Chimpanzee · Dolphin · Orangutan. (Updated Jun 12, 2025.)
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.
Automatically translated (original in Deutsch). See the original
Top 12
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1
Chimpanzee
Makes and uses tools, such as sticks for fishing termites.
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2
Dolphin
Recognises itself in a mirror and communicates with whistles and clicks.
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3
Orangutan
Builds a new sleeping nest every night and learns by watching.
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4
Pig
Learns fast, recognises other pigs and can solve simple tasks on a screen.
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5
Ravens and crows
New Caledonian crows bend wire hooks to reach food.
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6
Elephant
Exceptional memory; mourns its dead.
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7
Octopus
The cleverest invertebrate: opens jars and escapes from aquariums.
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8
African grey parrot
Learns hundreds of words; the parrot Alex could name colours and shapes.
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9
Goffin's cockatoo
Solves multi-step lock puzzles and shapes its own tools.
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10
Dog
Understands human gestures; some dogs learn hundreds of words.
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11
Rat
Learns mazes quickly and shows empathy for other rats.
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12
Bonobo
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.
Is something missing?
Comments (6)
Oktopusse können Gläser aufschrauben, Wahnsinn.
Rabenvögel sind unglaublich, die lösen mehrstufige Rätsel.
Mein Graupapagei redet mehr als mein Mann 😄
Wo sind die Bienen? Die tanzen Wegbeschreibungen!
Schweine sind schlauer als Hunde, sagt man.
Delfine haben eigene Namen füreinander.