The Worlds Smartest Animals

Which animal can find its way through a maze and even learn shortcuts? And which animal is so smart it lets cars do the hard work of cracking open its food?

"Extraordinary tales of the natural world's cleverest creatures"--Cover.

A New York Times bestseller: "A passionate and convincing case for the sophistication of nonhuman minds." —Alison Gopnik, The Atlantic Hailed as a classic, Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? explores the oddities and complexities of animal cognition—in crows, dolphins, parrots, sheep, wasps, bats, chimpanzees, and bonobos—to reveal how smart animals really are, and how we’ve underestimated their abilities for too long. Did you know that octopuses use coconut shells as tools, that elephants classify humans by gender and language, and that there is a young male chimpanzee at Kyoto University whose flash memory puts that of humans to shame? Fascinating, entertaining, and deeply informed, de Waal’s landmark work will convince you to rethink everything you thought you knew about animal—and human—intelligence.

Dolphins are some of the world’s smartest animals! This fact-filled title explores the intelligence of these smart swimmers through leveled text and engaging photos. Readers will discover why dolphins are smart, how they use their intelligence, and how humans study them. Along the way, special features such as a brain comparison chart, a skills graphic, a profile, and a scientific study offer even more information.

Rats are cute critters and popular pets. They are also among the world’s smartest animals! Using engaging text and vibrant photos, this informative title explores what makes rats intelligent, from their excellent memories to their great social skills. Added features, including a brain comparison chart, a skills graphic, a profile, and a scientific study, offer even more information about brainiac rats!

Humans are not the only intelligent animals. Dolphins, elephants, and crows are among the smartest animals on earth. A dolphins brain is four times the size of a humans, elephants have a colossal memory to match their size, and crows can use tools. The brilliance of these creatures, plus the octopus, parrot, horse, chimp, and orangutan is waiting to impress your students. Each volume gives a detailed description of a genius animal and explains the different types of intelligence each possesses.

Combining heroic stories of dogs with the latest scientific and psychological information, this book has provoked controversy with its lists that rank more than 100 breeds and its exciting new insights into the thoughts, emotions, and inner lives of dogs.