Rating the intelligence of an animal is a tricky topic. Do you assume that the animal with the largest brain is the cleverest (that’s the sperm whale, in case you were wondering)?
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Or do you test their ability to recognise themselves in the mirror-like a cleaner wrasse (which suggests self-awareness), wait for a snack like a cuttlefish (which shows self-restraint) or solve a puzzle like some sharks (which demonstrates problem-solving skills)?
What’s the most intelligent animal in the ocean?
There’s no one clear measure for animal intelligence so some people disagree which ocean creatures are the cleverest. But, although it’s hard to say categorically, there are usually two front runners when it comes to the smartest animals in the ocean: dolphins and octopuses.
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With their large brains, dolphins are highly intelligent and social animals. They typically live in groups called pods and form tight bonds with other dolphins. Each individual gives itself a signature whistle – the sound they use to identify themselves, like a name. They know other dolphins’ signature whistles and can also recognise members of their pod by the taste of their urine. Dolphins even have their own personalities: some are outgoing while others are more shy.
Like bats, dolphins also have a cunning way of sensing the world around: they create echolocation clicks to navigate in dark or murky waters and locate their food using sound.
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Some species, including bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins, have special types of brain cells called spindle neurons, which are related to socialising, empathy and problem-solving as well as self-awareness (yes, bottlenose dolphins pass the mirror test).
The ability to solve complex puzzles is demonstrated in some of their more unusual hunting techniques. For example, shelling is when they catch a fish in a conch shell and bring it to the surface where they can slurp it down easily, while sponging is when they hold a sponge in their beak while foraging to protect themselves from getting scraped on rocks or coral.
Octopuses are also highly intelligent, but in very different ways from dolphins. These clever cephalopods have one central, doughnut-shaped brain but two thirds of their neurons are in their arms. This means that each arm has its own “mini-brain” of sorts and can act independently. This is especially useful when the creature is hunting (the expression “many hands make light work” comes to mind!). They can also taste everything they touch through special cells in their suckers.
Although most species of octopus are solitary, that doesn’t mean they don’t have the ability for complex communication. An octopus’ remarkable ability to change the colour and pattern of its skin in a flash is useful for camouflage but may also be used in communication.
They can solve puzzles, open jars, recognise different keepers and have even been known to squirt water at the ones they don’t like. And, in the wild, some types of octopus use tools. Coconut octopuses got their name from their tendency to carry coconut shells for protection. Pretty smart!
