| Animal Intelligence | It’s not just about teaching old dogs new tricks. |
When we think of intelligent animals, we usually think of mammals, such as dolphins and dogs. So it might be surprising to learn that a creature that seems much more primitive—the octopus—is capable of planning, strategizing, and using tools.
Pigeons that guide missiles to their targets? Cats that spy on secret meetings? Trained spiders? Read this article to learn why Bob Bailey, the first director of the Navy’s dolphin training program, says he’s never found an animal he couldn’t train—and find out what his animals have been trained to do.
In the 1990s, the U.S. Navy revealed that sea lions and dolphins were being used to find and retrieve valuable equipment from the sea floor. These animals are also being trained to help clear mines and to protect our harbors. Read to learn about the secret uses of marine mammals!
Pigs are known for being highly intelligent animals, but this pig is known for her creativity, too.
How much of what you say to your dog is really understood?
Read about how these endangered sea lions are repopulating New Zealand in a big way.
Do dogs love each other? Do they feel guilty about the rotten things they sometimes do? Read Stanley Coren’s article to find the answers, and, while you’re at it, discover how to laugh like a dog, interpret a dog’s barks, and tell what a wagging tail really means.
Thanks to the efforts of these highly skilled dogs, rhinos at the Mankwe Wildlife Reserve are safer from poachers than ever before.
You may not be able to teach a fish how to climb a tree, but can you teach it to drive? Read about this remarkable study to find out.
Learn how chimpanzees use insects to treat wounds and care for others.
Next time you throw something at a sibling or friend in annoyance, think about how this is an example of advanced social dynamics. Read about how octopuses are capable of this act as well.
Even though they aren’t in a math class, rhesus macaques can be trained to connect numerical values with symbols and give the correct answers to math problems. Dig deeper into the study about how monkeys learn.
Studies have shown exactly how ants dig their sturdy tunnels. Ants may have tiny brains, but their tunnels are a feat of engineering.
Happy the elephant is in the middle of a monumental court case with far-reaching consequences.
With the right incentive, pigs can be taught to play simple video games. Will this experiment pave the way for swine-filled gaming lobbies in your next online multiplayer experience?
Don’t underestimate squirrels and ducks when it comes to intelligence. Click here to read more.
According to new research, chimps have all the brainpower needed to cook — except for the ability to control fire. Read about it here.
Although dogs often get more credit for their smarts, cats also display some intelligent characteristics. Read about the 11 smartest cat breeds.
New research has discovered that dolphins share personality traits with humans despite evolving in a drastically different environment. Read about the interesting ways in which dolphins are similar to us.
Researchers have discovered that dogs display body awareness. Read on to learn more about how this brings dogs one step closer to self-awareness.
* HMH is not responsible for the content of third–party websites.
