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Besides human beings, what counts as the next smartest animal? Below is a list that scientists and botanists have come up with as the top 10 smartest animals.

No. 10 – Rat
A look into their beady eyes will tell you, “Don’t fool around with me!” This highly intelligent animal is often tested in laboratories and is known for its expertise in finding shortcuts and solving mazes in experiments. In science experiments, the rat has contributed more to the cure of human illness than any other animal.

No. 9 – Octopus
Who would have thought this invertebrate is one of the smartest sea creatures. It seems that the octopus is highly curious, playful and agile. It has the ability to learn and solve problems. It has short-term and long-term memory. To top it off, it has the strength and skill to screw a lid off a jar! So those eight arms do really come in handy after all.

No. 8 – Pigeon
In Australia, pigeons have been sighted to take turns drinking and bathing in a water fountain. One sits on the handle, while the other drinks or bathes, and the third keeps watch. How cool is that! Pigeons also have a remarkable memory. They can recognise hundreds of images even after many years have passed. They can recognise themselves in a mirror, be taught to perform a sequence of movements and differentiate between two objects. Some pigeons are selectively trained to enter pigeon racing competitions. Competing birds must complete a race of up to 1,500km. The bird that reaches home in the shortest time is the winner.

No. 7 – Squirrel
You must not be deceived by this cute-looking animal. Squirrels in California will cover their fur in the scent of rattlesnakes to mask their own scent from predators. While squirrels are well known for storing and hiding food for later times, they may also pretend to hide food in order to confuse potential thieves. This shows they have an advanced level of intellect.