What are the most intelligent and curious animals?

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   Baileybearposted 14 years ago

   Have read that cats, dolphins, ants are.  I recall doing a school project on bees and was fasinated with how bees communicate with each other.
   
   Are humans really more intelligent etc than other animals, or do they just think they are?  Why do humans search for meaning?  Do any other animals do this?

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      Castlepalomaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Man intelligence is mainly in the brain and eye sight.
      I hope we will learn how to use it toward all living creatures and the planet.
      My guess is dolphins are second, based on their numerous of abilities
      .

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         Baileybearposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         humans have larger brains, but certainly not the most superior eyesight

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            Castlepalomaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Measuring visual ability, fine detail, range of colour perception, depth perception, and long range of focal depth, then humans have the best vision of any animal.
            
            Runners up, birds of prey eagles, hawks, owls have excellent eyesight because they can spot a mouse moving around in a field from very high up in the sky. Their eye balls are on each side of their head, giving them some disability

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         Castlepalomaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Favourite wildlife relate to my career - Dolphin is the best swimmer, sexy Intelligent and the king of the sea domain
         
         
         Favourite domestic animal is a dog. Relate to how would want a mate. Human like emotion and the friendly.

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   Esoriposted 14 years ago

   I've often wondered this. I think it has something to do with how we're able to speak and use tools and innovate that leads us to think that animals are unintelligent and beneath us. I'm always seeing new ways that animals smash through that, however. They'll never be able to understand human concepts, but then, humans complicate everything so why would they want to
   
   I think that at least a few animals also search for meaning. For example dogs from working lines need a purpose in life. Be that getting the mail, fetching the ball or catching the bad guy, they need something to do everyday or they get stressed out and start misbehaving. And I know that other animals are said to be even smarter than dogs so what's to say it doesn't happen elsewhere.

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      Baileybearposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      dogs like to  have a master too.  Cats are supposed to be more intelligent than dogs (and better sense of smell etc), but dogs are more willing to please
      
      As for tools, crows use sticks as "tools" to get food out of tricky places

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   skyfireposted 14 years ago

   Eye sight ? Hawk, Falcon and some other hunter birds.
   
   Curious ? cat, parakeet, dog.

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   klarawieckposted 14 years ago

   Pigs and horses are extremely smart animals too.

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   timorousposted 14 years ago

   Squirrels and raccoons are pretty crafty

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   ediggityposted 14 years ago

   Curious? Monkeys!....Curious George....case closed.

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   Shadesbreathposted 14 years ago

   Humans, apes, crows, elephants, parrots, dolphins and whales, dogs, pigs, squid, horses, rats, cats... from there it seems like mostly instinct running things.  I guess if we could speak to them all somehow, we'd know.  Hell for all we know, we're the dumb ones.  If we nuke ourselves or consume all our resources and eventually die, I think we definitely have to take ourselves off the list.

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      Druid Dudeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Primates and aquatic mammals such as whales and dolphins.

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   wychicposted 14 years ago

   I'm not sure what "they" say the most intelligent and curious animal is, but in my own experience it's been raccoons, hands down. The only time I've ever seen one truly confused was after it tried to steal a sugar cube. Sugar cubes are not the best food for a critter that likes to wash everything before it eats...poor thing couldn't figure out what the heck happened to it and dug most of the water out of its bowl before I was able to distract it with some corn.

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