Scientists have long known the dolphin to be an intelligent species, based on anecdotal evidence as well as scientific research. Certain factors that include brain size and the complexity of the dolphin’s brain physiology have played a key role in trying to ascertain the dolphin’s intelligence, but new discoveries have been made that imply the dolphin is more intelligent than we’ve ever thought.
Recent studies of the dolphin genome have shown that the animal shares many genes in common with humans, although it has been 95 million years since we shared a common ancestor. Their intelligence has been likened to that of chimpanzees, because they both have displayed a capacity for learning and emotion. Further testing using MRI scans has revealed that the dolphin differs from the chimp in one crucial way: the dolphin’s neocortex is particularly expanded, which is precisely where cognitive thinking, reasoning, and emotional understanding originate.
In addition to behavioral clues like social interaction and recognizing members of their pod, dolphins have been most recently proven to recognize themselves in a mirror. This is an indicator of a higher level of intelligence than previously believed, due to the fact that in studies using mirrors, the dolphins not only recognized themselves, but appeared to be enjoying checking themselves out and hamming it up — much like a human youngster (or even adult!) would. Check out this cool footage of the dolphin’s intelligence on display:
Image via DocklandsTony
Nope… they’re to smart to let us….
We already know but just aren’t willing to admit it.
Dolphins are smarter than humans….and one day, I WILL swim with dolphins….its on my bucket list…
TRUTH BE KNOWN–PROBABLY MORE INTELLIGENT ALREADY..LOL
Larry Niven postulated that one day cetaceans would be found to have human-like intelligence, would be admitted to the UN, and would then sue whaling nations in international court.
We are not smart enough to answer the question….
Humans are intelligent??
When (or if) they want us to discover how smart they are, it will happen.
Just before “so long and thanks for all of the fish.”
Smarter….they generally try to stay away from humans…
def smarter….have you seen the amount of grey matter in their brain
Dolphins are much more intelligent. Just compare lifestyles.
Read “Startide Rising” & its series by David Brin. Humans are less intelligent
Look at the number of convolutions in any cetacean brain. Thanks for playing!
they are smarter, we are destroying this small planet that we live on, not our finned friends
Christine….is Startide Rising the first book? You have peaked my interest…I LOVE dolphins….
We are not in a position to judge the intelligence of other creatures. Their’s is their own, and it serves them in the environment they live in. Not only can a hawk see a mouse at over 500 yards, he can see its urine fluorese in sunlight. When you have capabilities like that in creatures of obvious intelligent behavior (dolphins can image objects in their brain with sonar), our puny 5 senses, that seem to serve us well enough, pale in comparison. What have we done with our “intelligence”? We’re quickly making hell on Earth for our own species while we destroy the habitat for the rest. As Keith Pineo said, is this intelligent behavior???
Look at the way we treat mother earth. I would say they are more intelligent than we are
the term intelligent is subjective
the term intelligent is subjective
Too bad we can’t view the video in Canada.