what is the smartest animal on the planet ?
485819
(m)\n\nToo often, scientists focus on what animals can't do. But one of my heroes, primatologist Jane Goodall, has always focused on what they can do, so I turned to her for a definitive list. \n\nShe, of course, first opened the door to the world of chimpanzees back in 1960 in Gombe, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania. Before Goodall, researchers learned about animals by benignly observing subjects as if they were washing machines. She took a personal approach, even giving her chimpanzee subjects names like Freud, Fifi and Frodo. At the time, she was roundly rebuffed by her scientific colleagues, although the public connected with the chimps as individuals through her TV specials, articles and books. Today, her methods of observing animals in the wild are the norm. \n\nTo Goodall, these chimpanzees are friends. Chimps are, after all, our closest living relatives, sharing at least 98% of our genes. It was Goodall who learned chimps can get the same diseases we do, from the common cold to polio. She also discovered chimps use tools (sticks to "fish" for ants and termites to snack on) and even fashion crude weapons by hurling objects. \n\nGoodall focused on chimps but has studied lots of other animals, too, including African wild dogs and hyenas. With ex-husband Hugo van Lawick, she found that Egyptian vultures use tools (they drop just the right-sized stones on ostrich eggs to crack them open). \n\nBefore Goodall's discovery, tool use was considered the gold standard to define intelligence, something -- it was thought -- only humans could do. Goodall concedes that people have brainpower far exceeding other animals'. After all, chimps don't build rockets to go to Mars, and dogs don't organize into unions to deal with unfair treatment by people. Still, Goodall says: "We're arrogant if we believe we're the only animals with thoughtful intelligence and an ability to solve problems. Intelligence also includes feelings, doesn't it? I mean empathy for others and sadness, and also a sense of humor." \n\nSo, exclusively for USA WEEKEND Magazine, here's Jane Goodall's list of the five smartest animals on the planet. \n\n\n\n1. Great apes \nLanguage once was thought to be limited to people. "All the great apes [in captivity] -- which include chimpanzees, bonobos (pygmy chimpanzees), gorillas and orangutans -- have learned American Sign Language," Goodall says. What's more, each kind of ape has taught ASL to others of their own kind. \n\n"Great apes can use computers," she says. "There's a chimpanzee in Japan who's hooked on her computer like kids are hooked on video games. She's learned to solve complex problems. For example, she can replicate a set of numbers on the computer after the screen goes dead. To watch her is amazing. Her mind is clearly working the same way as ours, but actually much, much faster. \n\n"Maybe chimps are a little too much like us; look at them, and we look into a mirror. The reflection isn't always flattering. They live in a society where power is rewarding for its own sake. They also have wars over territory." \n\n2. Whales and Dolphins \n\n \nIt was once assumed that only humans could communicate with others they can't see, but it turns out dolphins and whales (and elephants, too) have their own versions of telephone and e-mail. Whales and dolphins use high frequencies to communicate over long distances. In fact, they seem to have a need to "talk." Goodall says: "We're only starting to understand what it is they're saying to one another. I believe when we ultimately learn what they're talking about, it will be quite revealing." \n\n3. Elephants \n\n \nThey use very low frequencies to communicate over great distances. "Elephants establish long-term friendships and recognize these individuals years later," Goodall says. "We all know elephan
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Supposedly, we are the most advanced animal upon this planet but, after reading some postings here on YahooAnswers I am starting to doubt that theory...\n...I am starting to feel that, even the penguins are more sensible than we, the homo sapiens, are...
871990
human\nchimpanzee\nafrican grey parrot\nelephant\nmonkey\nkiller whale\npig\ndog\nsquirell\nrat
183746
We will have to wait for a Centaur to answer this because they are the wisest of all creatures.
287793
Yeah probably the dolphins.  It's been shown they are more intelligent than humans.  Once they evolve to the point of being physically independent on land AND water, I think they'll give us a run for our money.\n\nEver see that Simpsons episode where the dolphins reclaim the land?  I just love that one.  *smile*
958920
That question is irrelevant, they are both entirely different species, and as such they are both smart in different ways.. both cats and dogs are highly intelligent species as well as having individuals who have different levels of intelligence. You really can't compare them and say that all cats are smarter than dogs (or vice versa) there are individuals of each species that are more gifted than others and less so. My cats all learned how to open cupboards, drawers and doors by watching the oldest cat, and yet my dog still cannot grasp the concept of it no matter how much he watches the cats. Then again my cats cant learn how to sit, spin, jump or rollover no matter how much I try to teach them... but the dog easily learns from me how to do tricks.. with the exception that my other dog is not nearly as fast a learner as the first dog. It doesnt mean any one of them is smarter than the other it just means they each have different but equally amazing skills and abilities.
402369
I think animals are way more intelligent than we can imagine, but certainly they are not as intelligent as us, but that's not like a reason to be dead or whatever, because they have a porpouse here you know, and it's how it's meant to be, they don't care that they aren't intelligent they just do what they are supposed to do, and it's not to think. Of course I wouldn't like to be a deer and the only thing that i could do was wait until I get killed by other animal. thanks god I'm a human
107058
Chimp.\nHe's about as smart as one,and there's a definate resemblence.
494739
They're the only animals on earth (other than humans) that have sex for pleasure. How much more intelligent could you get? :D
922945
Basing off speed, strength, intelligence and skill, I believe the Siberian tiger comes out on top.  Kodiak bears are somewhat slow but powerful, not too bright but have decent skill.  A lion has good speed but isn't as strong as a bear or tiger. A lion may be a little more intelligent than a bear but lacks in skill compared with the other two.  The Siberian tiger is swift for it's large size, very skilled, and intelligent. It may lack strength compared to the Kodiak bear but it appears to rank better than the other two.
484052
we don't know for sure.\n\nbut i'd like to think so.\n\ngotta be something smarter than humans\n\n(besides dolphins..and mice.)
594918
I assume by animal you mean mammal, I think the most beautiful mammal is the ocelot, and the most beautiful bird the Argus pheasant.  I'd also like to give a shout out to some oft neglected divisions of the animal kingdom; most beautiful insect, the Blue Morpho butterfly and the most beautiful mollusc, the Pearly Nautilus
56275
Dogs are smart, but a 5 year old is smarter. Five year olds can use tools, understand complex relationships and so on.
438001
animals lack intellegence from my experiences !! however i been doing this model on animal behaviour it claims that animals have two ways of thinking !!\ninnate behaviour (which is genetically inhereted) like a spider is born knowing how to build a web ...etc\nand learnt behaviour (which is obviously learnt): this is what u can teach to an animal like training a dog to respnd to a type of whistle ...etc this varies in animals and more animals are able to learn more/ or less than others !! but intellegence, there is no intellegence there i tihnk. you wouldnt one day wake up and see ur cat has used ur laptop to browse the net and had just regestired on a monthly phone price plane with vodafone and payed using your debit card if u know what i mean
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Dolphins -\nThey are intelligent and communicate, they have sex for fun, and they live free and peacefully.
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the smartest I think was Abraham Lincoln and least smartest is George W. Bush for a two reasons 1.he cant even say a sentece without screwing it up 2.he went to Iraq to catch Saddam because his daddy didnt
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The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest creature on the planet.