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10 pages AND they insist on telling me I'm perpetually on page 1 / 10? bleh.

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The 10 smartest animalsHow do humans compare to other intelligent creatures?IntroductionWe humans have the ability to learn, to reason and solve problems. We're self-aware, and we’re also conscious of the presence, thoughts and feelings of others. We make tools and practice the art of deception. We're creative. We think abstractly. We have language and use it to express complex ideas. All of these are arguably signs of intelligence. Scientists may not agree on the best and fullest definition of intelligence – but they generally agree that humans are highly intelligent.Other members of the animal kingdom exhibit signs of intelligence as well, and some scientists might say the definition of animal vs. human intelligence is merely a matter of degree – a point that was brought home in 2005 when the London Zoo put “Homo sapiens” on display in the exhibit pictured here. Click the "Next" arrow above to learn about nine other species that stand out for their smarts.1. Chimps are almost like usIf we humans possess intelligence, chimpanzees must have some as well: Our genomes are at least 98 percent identical. Chimps make and use tools, hunt in organized groups and engage in acts of violence. Wild troops have distinct behaviors and customs. Field observations and lab experiments show chimps are capable of empathy, altruism and self-awareness. In the experiment pictured here, chimps performed better than humans on a number memory test.2. Dolphins get creativeThis dolphin in Australia uses a sponge to protect her snout when foraging on the seafloor, a tool use behavior that is passed on from mother to daughter. Scientists say that’s just one sign of dolphin smarts. Other signs include distinct whistles and clicks that may serve as dolphin names, perhaps used in a type of language. A famous 1960s experiment found that a pair of dolphins entered a tizzy of creativity once they figured out their novel behaviors were rewarded with fish. Frustrated human test subjects just let out a sigh of relief when they caught on to the idea.3. Elephants exhibit self-awarenessThe sheer size of their brains suggests that elephants must know a thing or two about the ways of the world. They have been seen consoling family members, helping other species in times of need, playing in water and communicating with one another via vibrations sensed in their feet. A crowning achievement, some researchers say, was when this female Asian elephant named Happy recognized herself in the mirror. The complex behavior is shared only with humans, great apes and dolphins.4. Cephalopods have big brainsAre octopi, squids and cuttlefish smart? That’s a matter of scientific intrigue, but such cephalopods are certainly among the brainiest invertebrates in the sea. The cephalopod brain surrounds the esophagus, but shares with the human brain features of complexity such as folded lobes and distinct regions for processing visual and tactile information. The how-smart debate swirls around deciphering observations that the creatures have a seemingly irrepressible curiosity, a disdain for boredom, an ability to learn and the capacity to use tools. The octopus pictured here exerts precise muscle control to eat.5. Crows get craftyCrows are crafty critters: They fashion tools from twigs, feathers and other bits of debris to snare food from hard-to-reach places. A crow named Betty, pictured here, uses a straight wire she bent into a hook to retrieve food from a tube. The birds are born with a tool-making ethic, but they hone their craft by watching their elders, a sign of higher intelligence. Ravens, a type of crow, have even been shown to manipulate the outcomes of their social interactions for added protection and more food.6. Squirrels can be deceptiveIs the squirrel pictured here plotting deception? Perhaps. Researchers recently reported that the rodents put on elaborate shows of deceptive caching to thwart would-be thieves. The behavior increased in a lab experiment after squirrels observed humans stealing their peanuts. The researchers called the finding a sign that squirrels can interpret intentions of others, though it could just be a case of learned behavior. Other studies have shown the critters make three-dimensional maps to recall where they cache their nuts. And squirrels in California will cover their fur in the scent of rattlesnakes to mask their own scent from predators.7. Man's best friendAre dogs intelligent or just really good at basic obedience? They can learn to sit, lie down and fetch, for example, but can they read their owner's intentions? Research suggests they can at least find food in response to non-verbal cues, a type of understanding that scientists think may be akin to the human ability to understand someone else's point of view. The dog in the experiment pictured here accurately discriminated between photos of dogs and photos of landscapes – an indication the dog was able to form the concept of "dog." 8. Cats are adaptableLike dog owners, some cat owners have trained their pets to sit down, roll over and jump through hoops. Cats learn the tricks by observation and imitation, egged on with positive reinforcement. But training cats is harder than dogs. Does that mean they are less intelligent? Not necessarily. Cat experts say felines are just different. They are solitary animals, motivated by the need to survive. This has allowed them to adapt to a variety of domestic environments for at least 9,500 years – even the hoods of cars.9. Pigs are wise - and cleanHere's the dirt on pigs: They are perhaps the smartest, cleanest domestic animals known – more so than cats and dogs, according to some experts. But pigs don't have sweat glands, so they roll around in the mud to stay cool. A sign of their cleverness came from experiments in the 1990s. Pigs were trained to move a cursor on a video screen with their snouts and used the cursor to distinguish between scribbles they knew and those they were seeing for the first time. They learned the task as quickly as chimpanzees.--------------------Not on the list:1. Wolves (They have twice the brain capacity of the domesticated dog)2. Other primates (not just chimps)3. Whales (ie Killer whales)4. Rats (for anyone who has had one as a companion, or as a pest)5. Parrots (a commonly held belief)Any other suggestions?

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I used to have a Chow and he was a great dog. Mean as s**t though to other dogs that came in the yard or people he didn't know. Very protective and they don't mind to throw down at a moment's notice.

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I think the dumbest dog I ever had was a Boxer. Ziggy was absolutely insane and we eventually had to give him to a Boxer expert. I hated to give him up (beautiful dog) but he was eating the bark off every tree in the yard. He also consumed a whole shed made out of lattace!

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There are so many intelligent animals out there that were not mentioned, and some of the ones that were mentioned were not mentioned for all the right reasons.However, I'm digging this article because it at least highlighted some of the animals and some of their skills and abilities and managed to connect that with a form of intelligence, whilst hinting that scientists are plugging away to prove it is a form of intelligence whilst other ignoramouses say animals are like machines and just do, and don't think.So it gets dugg for that - and because at least it draws people's attention to this fascinating subject area and makes people think twice about animals.I would have liked, however, to have seen more on each animal and some more animals - like parrots, wolves, rats, much more on cuttlefish, whales, sharks, spiders, chimpanzees, urangatangs, gorrillas, monkeys (they use tools as well and teach each other, have also imitated humans and humans have used them to steal wallets from tourists) etc.

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I agree- They've also been used to aid people with epilepsy. Some of them can actually sense an impending seizure in order for the person to get to safety beforehand. I had a Golden Retriever once ;)and his vocabulary was extraordinary. He understood more words than you'd expect a dog to understand. Of course I'm partial;-)

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There are more than a few other lists of smart animals. Toptenz has a similar list with supporting videos: <a class="user" href="http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-smartest-animals.php&quot;&gt;http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-smartest-animals.php&lt;/a&gt;

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