What are the smartest animals in order of intelligence?

Question

I would think there is no definitive way of defining an animal smarter than another but humor me.

Bonobos, chimpanzees, bottle nose dolphins, and elephants are on my radar for the smartest animals.

Does anyone know which of these animals are the "smartest"... a list in order would be awesome.

Some facts I have learned about some of these animals:

- chimps and bonobos are the closest relative to the definitive smartest animal... humans

- bottlenose dolphins have been seen to display empathy, communicate in complex manners, use "names" for themselves, and use tools

- elephants have culture in the form of burying their dead, moving disturbed elephant bodies to spot of death, staying around dead (relative or non-relative) long after they certanty of death, and they have also been seen to protect other animals and humans from danger or help them when in distress

I find advanced intelligence of other animals very interesting.

Answer 1

Penguins :D

Answer 2

Of mammals, dogs, dolphins and elephants are all very smart. Of other animals, many birds appear to be very smart  in particular ways.

And don't forget octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, which are said to be as intelligent as dogs.

Answer 3

It's really hard to define "smartest" here.  You're right on track with the dolphins, primates and elephants, but dogs are exceptionally smart, too.  I'd read this article by National Geographic, its a good one.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/0...