There aren't any known species matching the intelligence of humans

Gelzo

Sure there's shit like dolphins, but that doesn't come close enough to what I had in mind.

You ever think we'd be better able to understand what we are as a species if we had something similar to compare us to?

glennmagusharvey

I think so.

GLORIOUSLeader

What about the mice? 

Gelzo

I guess after mentioning dolphins, it's fitting that someone make that reference.

vacasama

Have you heard of Bonobos

glennmagusharvey

Orangutans?  Cockroaches?  Pigs?

ClockworkUniverse

Corvids and octopi are both closer than dolphins.

Counterclock

well, considering our Treatment of most other animals, would you be surprised if intelligent animals are hiding?

Gelzo

Guys. I said matching.

I know y'all don't think much of humanity, but there's a reason we're the dominant species.

And yes, I would be surprised if intelligent animals are hiding. You can't seriously be suggesting that that's likely.

Hatter

HUMANITY IS SUPERIOR!

Gelzo

Well, it's true...

Icalasari

Corvids seem to come pretty damn close, from what I know

ClockworkUniverse

^I agree. They're confirmed to have fully developed languages with dialects and are better at identifying individual humans than humans are. I think the only reason they aren't on the level of humans is the whole thumbs thing.

Chagen

Wait wait wait

They have languages?

ClockworkUniverse

Yep.

IanExMachina

Also on Corvids:

Corvids might even be able to second-guess another bird's behaviour. For example, experiments by Bernd Heinrich at the University of Vermont and Thomas Bugnyar at the University of Vienna, Austria, found that ravens will take steps to protect a secret food cache from other ravens that might have seen them hiding it, but were unconcerned about ravens stuck behind an obstacle that would have blocked their view (Proceedings of the Royal Society B, vol 272, p 1641). "The work certainly suggests that these birds have the capacity to monitor both the experiences and perceived mental states of others," says Edelman. In other words, they have a basic "theory of mind", which should not be possible without some kind of thought process.

Chagen

INUH: Do you have any links on this?  Sounds fascinating.

ClockworkUniverse

Tracking down links will be difficult while I'm still stuck with my iPhone. Sorry.

IanExMachina

Link regarding social learning among crows.

Link relating to the above and being able to differentiate between humans.

Icalasari

I also heard that corvids can be taught to speak and understand human languages somewhat fluently

Vivi

Now I want one as a pet.

Counterclock

@Vivi: lol .

>Hear that species is intelligent.
>Adopt it as a pet.

And people wonder where all those "Aliens adopting humans as pets" stories come from >_>

Vivi

Well, there isn't anything else I can do with it. It's not smart enough to date

GLORIOUSLeader

Actually, I think it's the other way around, AMIRITE GAIZ

Icalasari

^^^^ If you live in the states, then, if I recall correctly, most places won't let you own one native to North America, which means you have to get a several thousand dollar African Crow to have a corvid legally

Gelzo

"They're confirmed to have fully developed languages with dialects... I think the only reason they aren't on the level of humans is the whole thumbs thing."

These claims need quite a bit to be backed up.

I have a feeling I'm a little biased here, but I'm still massively skeptical about this. Do these birds keep an oral history? Can they communicate to each other what's poisonous? How the heck are you defining fully developed languages?

Counterclock

Gelzo, why don't you learn the brain-pathing of animals, and retroactively try to enhance the ones that show the most promise of advancing.

In lay-mans terms: Drug and Gene-splice Kittens to be rational people

Counterclock

Also, Aren't Ducks smarter than humans?

Bob

lolwut

Gelzo

^^You, maybe.

Bob

That's not nice. :<