2006-09-27 15:09:56 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
It’s In the Culture
Even ants have certain behaviours that we humans consider noble and intelligent; for example, their very high level of organization. But the intelligence of each ant is limited and it is mostly a creature of pre-programmed instinct.
All mammals nurture our young. However, there are certain traits that only the most highly evolved mammals possess...
The ability to play for leisure, sport, or to learn: Dolphins do this (they can even play complex games with us humans – a species alien to them – which is unusual). Cats and killer whales play deadly games with their prey sometimes. We humans have this violent streak too, but we don’t do it to learn (actually this makes us unintelligent in some ways).
The ability to form varying, social cultures with a sense of tradition: Orcas can do that. Different pods might play different games unique to the culture of their own pod; or some pods might hunt grey whale prey while others might survive almost entirely on a diet of fish; and young orcas would learn the traditions of their own pod from their elders.
The ability to use tools: Chimps can do that. This is done to help make life easier in some ways; as seen when a chimp scoops up ants with a strand of straw to have an ant feast.
2006-09-27 16:13:02 · answer #1 · answered by Yahoo user 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Intelligence is based on several things such the ability to remember, to learn, and to modify behavior to adjust to their environment.
2006-09-27 22:13:50 · answer #2 · answered by Mike 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They know this because scientists do cognitive/behavioral tests and experiments on animals. I have tons of books explaining various tests....but the quick answer is because scientists have tested the animals and found this to be true!
2006-09-27 22:15:05 · answer #3 · answered by natureutt78 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they generally take an index based on body mass and brain volume/mass. That's the quick and dirty way anyway.
2006-09-27 22:18:01 · answer #4 · answered by niwriffej 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a lot of ways. One is to test how much brain activity they have.
2006-09-27 22:50:38 · answer #5 · answered by Stephanie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they judge intelligence on train-ability.
2006-09-27 22:18:14 · answer #6 · answered by highchaparral2006 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they conduct harmless intelligence evaluations on the animals
2006-09-27 22:12:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋