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Scientists have been notoriously bad at studying animal intelligence. One of the main reasons is because we have compared non-human animals to humans. We have basically given animals human tests and seen how well they do. Based on anatomy and physiology, human intelligence is not a fair test for all species. Many human test revolve around sight but some animals have poor eyesight, this does not mean they are unintelligent.
Ex: one way we test animal's intelligence is whether or not they can recognize themselves in a mirror. Dogs do not pass this test. However dogs have poor eyesight and rely on smell. Is this a fair test? It has been shown that dogs can recognize their own smell, is that a type of self awareness?
Intelligence ≠ Human-like thinking
Intelligence = Problem-solving, learning, communication, memory, etc.
How Scientists Measure Intelligence in Animals
How Scientists Measure Intelligence in Animals
Behavioral Experiments:
Maze running
Puzzle solving
Memory tests
Tool use
Social learning / imitation
Mirror test for self-awareness
Examples of metrics: brain-to-body size ratio, adaptability
Types of Animal Intelligence with Examples
Types of Animal Intelligence with Examples
Problem-Solving
Crows using tools to get food
Octopuses opening jars
Communication
Dolphins' signature whistles
Bees' waggle dance
Tool Use
Chimpanzees using sticks for termites
Elephants using branches to swat flies
Memory & Navigation
Elephants remembering watering holes
Migratory birds navigating thousands of miles
Social Intelligence
Wolves hunting in coordinated packs
Primates forming alliances and hierarchies
Class Discussion:
Should highly intelligent animals have more legal protections?
How does understanding intelligence impact how we treat animals (zoos, labs, pets)?
How do we decide what animals get rights and which ones do not?
Animal Welfare Act (AWA): Regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, and commercial transport.
Covers: Warm-blooded animals like dogs, cats, primates, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, marine mammals, and some livestock used in non-agricultural research.
Excludes: Birds, rats of the genus Rattus, mice of the genus Mus bred for research, and farm animals used for food or fiber.
Language
Language
What does it mean to communicate?
What does it mean to talk?
-If you had to come up with a definition for talking what would it be?
-Can parrots talk?
-Can some other orders of birds talk?
-Is there any animal other than humans that can talk?
Parrots have some of the best language skills
This is an African Grey Parrot. African Greys are usually used for language experiments because they are so good at vocabulary building.
There is a parrot named Einstein who has been trained with a large vocabulary and sound response. Here is a video of Einstein on TED Talks.
What did you notice about Einstein? Was he really talking? Or was he just responding to ques? If you watch other videos of Einstein he seems to have the same routine. Here is another video of Einstein that you can watch on your own.
Alex is another African Grey. Alex was considered the most linguistic parrot until she died in 2007. Watch this video of how Alex responds to questions. Alex is answer questions. Is that different than Einstein?
Alex was the most linguistic bird until she died in 2007
After Alex died the same professor became training another African Grey parrot. The new parrot is named Griffin. In this video you can see the different between Griffin and Einstein.
So what do you think...can parrots talk? What does it mean to talk?
The lyre bird cannot talk but it has the best mimicry ability. From car alarms to chainsaws
Here is a video of the Lyre Bird copying a camera shutter and chainsaws.
The Genus Corvus
Crows might not have a large vocabulary but they are one of the smartest animals on the planet. Their ability to problem solve is extraordinary. If there is time we will start this crow documentary in class. Your homework is to finish the documentary. You will have a quiz on the documentary one Friday.
Class discussion:
Project NIM
The Dr. Lilly Dolphin experiment
Here is a list of 50 intelligence animals based on different measures of intelligence. This list is very subject and you can easily make a list of 50 of the smartest animals that is totally different than this one and still be right. We are only using this one because of its variety of different types of intelligence.
Top 50 of our Smartest Animals for different reasons
Top 50 of our Smartest Animals for different reasons
Rank Animal Why They're Smart
1 Humans Self-aware, language, abstract reasoning, civilization.
2 Chimpanzees Tool use, problem-solving, memory, sign language.
3 Bonobos Empathy, cooperation, high social intelligence.
4 Orcas Complex societies, vocal dialects, hunting strategies.
5 Bottlenose Dolphins Self-recognition, complex communication, problem-solving.
6 Elephants Grieve dead, long-term memory, tool use.
7 African Grey Parrots Talk with understanding, count, recognize shapes/colors.
8 Crows Use tools, plan, hold grudges, teach young.
9 Ravens Playful, strategize, use logic, mimicry.
10 Pigs Mirror use, puzzle-solving, social smarts.
11 Dogs Emotional intelligence, obedience, human comprehension.
12 Cats Independent problem-solving, routine-learning, emotional reading.
13 Octopuses Escape artists, maze-solving, tool use, memory.
14 Gorillas Sign language, empathy, problem-solving.
15 Capuchin Monkeys Fairness understanding, tool use, social systems.
16 Rats Meta-cognition, empathy, memory.
17 Sea Lions Abstract thought, pattern recognition.
18 Horses Communication, emotional reading, learning commands.
19 Bees Math (zero), communication dances, memory.
20 Ants (esp. Army Ants) Social complexity, engineering, path optimization.
21 Macaws Communication, memory, problem-solving.
22 Pigeons Image recognition, navigation, learning sequences.
23 Magpies Mirror test, social awareness, mimicry.
24 Baboons Hierarchical societies, vocalizations, spatial memory.
25 Squirrels Complex food caching, deception, memory.
26 Raccoons Lock picking, puzzle-solving, adaptability.
27 Border Collies Massive word vocab, herding strategy.
28 New Caledonian Crows Create tools, sequential thinking.
29 Tarantula Hawks (wasps) Precision hunting, navigation.
30 Kea Parrots (New Zealand) Mischievous problem-solvers, group coordination.
31 Clark’s Nutcracker Stores thousands of seeds, remembers months later.
32 Cockatoos Tool use, imitation, memory.
33 Manatees Gentle, curious, learning-based memory.
34 Wolves Social hierarchy, coordinated hunting.
35 Tigers Problem-solving, memory, strategic hunting.
36 Bears Tool use, map memory, problem-solving.
37 Zebras Complex social groups, memory.
38 Otters Tool use (rocks), teaching behavior.
39 Ducks Learning ability, problem-solving, social communication.
40 Kangaroos Intentional communication with humans, memory.
41 Elephant Seals Navigation, memory of land/sea routes.
42 Gibbons Complex vocalizations, social bonds.
43 Turkeys Social smarts, memory, mate selection behavior.
44 Cuttlefish Camouflage, learning, memory tasks.
45 Shrike Birds Hunting strategy, food storage behavior.
46 Platypus Sensory navigation, problem-solving.
47 Guppies Risk assessment, learning from peers.
48 Prairie Dogs Sophisticated language system for predators.
49 Tree Kangaroos Spatial awareness, climbing strategies.
50 Lemurs Social intelligence, tool use, memory.
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