"If anything, since orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family, their intelligence is perhaps superior to other dolphins," she told me.
Although dolphins use simple tools and possess unique abilities that are usually only present in complex animals, they still aren't at the same level of tool usage, problem-solving, and overall intelligence as us. And yes, whales may have larger brains, but that doesn't particularly mean they're smarter.
Orcas' brains are 2 1/2 times average -- similar to those of chimpanzees. But scientist think that looking just at the brain-body ratio seriously underestimates the thinking power of larger marine mammals. In other words, orcas might be even much smarter than the size of their big brain suggests.
Not only are orcas much bigger, they are also smarter. Great whites are now known to be warm blooded but orcas still have much higher metabolic rates because they breathe air. In the wild, orcas have been seen preying on great white sharks.
Measuring animal intelligence is hard but, based on both physical and behavioural evidence, yes whales are smarter than dogs. Dogs are man's best friend and anyone with a furry friend of their own will likely defend the intelligence of their companion.
CHIMPANZEES. RECKONED to be the most-intelligent animals on the planet, chimps can manipulate the environment and their surroundings to help themselves and their community. They can work out how to use things as tools to get things done faster, and they have outsmarted people many a time.
It's estimated that dolphins have an IQ of around 45, this makes them one of the smartest animals in the world, and probably the smartest animal in the ocean. It's estimated that the dolphin's brain size is almost five times bigger than is usual for a creature of their size.
Do orcas have predators? Orcas are apex predators, which means they're at the very top of the food chain and they have no predators. Killer whales are some of the largest and most powerful animals in the ocean, and no other predator is able to challenge them.
The scientist estimated it's IQ in the 80–90 range. It depends on the test, but some say that the average I.Q. of a dolphin is 126.
Selbmann says that in the majority of the interactions documented around Iceland, killer whales seem to avoid pilot whales. Occasionally things will get heated and the pilot whales will chase the killer whales at high speeds, with both species porpoising out of the water. Don't miss what matters.
The whales seem to understand people, and are eager to cooperate and create bonds. In fact, the only apparent instances of orcas attacking people have happened at aquatic parks, where the whales have killed trainers. Many experts think these attacks are not malicious, rather a case of play getting out of hand.
Whales and dolphins — both members of the cetacean family — are among the brainiest beings. Scientists have now identified differences among them that are tied to relative brain size.
Looking at all populations, orcas are generalist eaters, consuming fish, seals and sea lions, dolphins and porpoises, sharks and rays, large whales, cephalopods (octopods and squids), seabirds and more.
Based on current metrics for intelligence, dolphins are one of the most intelligent animals in the world. While intelligence is difficult to quantify in any organism, many studies suggest that dolphins are second only to us humans in smarts.
Orangutans are one of the most intelligent of the primates, and some experts go so far to claim they're actually the smartest. Compared to dolphins, orangutans are sharp because they understand how to build objects—and why it's necessary.
The great apes are considered the smartest creatures after humans. Of course, humans are biased in this regard, but the intellectual capacity of the great apes is difficult to deny. After all, we share over 96 percent of the same DNA. Orangutans stand out as being especially gifted in the brains department.
IQ tests are made to have an average score of 100. Psychologists revise the test every few years in order to maintain 100 as the average. Most people (about 68 percent) have an IQ between 85 and 115. Only a small fraction of people have a very low IQ (below 70) or a very high IQ (above 130).
Albert Einstein likely never took an IQ test but is estimated to have a 160 IQ—but even that can't stand up to these masterminds.
Elephants have the largest brains of all terrestrial mammals, including the greatest volume of cerebral cortex.
"This kind of association between one species and its apparent predator is unusual." It turns out the dolphins have nothing to fear from these particular killer whales, also known as orcas.
But the true ruler of the sea is the killer whale. Killer whales are apex predators, which means they have no natural predators. They hunt in packs, much like wolves, which are also at the top of their food chain.
There are a few theories about why orcas don't attack humans in the wild, but they generally come down to the idea that orcas are fussy eaters and only tend to sample what their mothers teach them is safe. Since humans would never have qualified as a reliable food source, our species was never sampled.
For fish, that title goes to manta rays. They're giant, charismatic and basically geniuses. Mantas have huge brains — the biggest of any fish — with especially developed areas for learning, problem solving and communicating.
There are several possible answers to this question as different animals display varying levels of intelligence. However, some experts suggest that the animal with the lowest IQ is the sloth.