2006-09-29 11:43:17 · 19 answers · asked by martin48732 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
We will never be able to know how intelligent the most intelligent extinct species was, thought I will take a guess.
Intelligent species:
The sabertooth cats, any extinct cetacean(dolphins, whales, etc), wolf ancestors, ancient man, and the most intelligent dinosaur is said to be the Troodon.
I would liken all of these to their ancestors alive today, with the exception of ancient man, who was several steps below modern man.
2006-09-29 11:47:32 · answer #1 · answered by almostdead 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Extinction has nothing to do with intelligence, was Chingachgook an idiot for being the last of his kind? Mans evolution is not a series of oblivions and starting again from scratch, it is more like a tree losing a branch, or a few twigs. In time the remaining branches fill the available gaps. Neanderthal is one of the fallen branches, modern man has filled the spaces- mostly with tarmac and concrete and people.
2006-09-29 19:50:05 · answer #2 · answered by ED SNOW 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My webbing shows that early man is considered a different species.
so I would say the most intelligent EXTINCT species was/is
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis (also Homo neanderthalensis) (Fossils)
Since this is a form of mankind .. they were probably as smart as we are.. lived in tribes, used tools, probably used language, built huts, fires etc.
copied from the link:
Neandertal (or Neanderthal) man existed between 230,000 and 30,000 years ago. The average brain size is slightly larger than that of modern humans, about 1450 cc, but this is probably correlated with their greater bulk. The brain case however is longer and lower than that of modern humans, with a marked bulge at the back of the skull. Like erectus, they had a protruding jaw and receding forehead. The chin was usually weak.
2006-09-29 18:49:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
7
2006-09-29 22:35:40 · answer #4 · answered by esotericindivid 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are several extinct species and subspecies of humans that were no doubt as, or near as, intelligent as modern humans. Most had language (something unique to humans) and complex societies.
Remember to, if you were thrown into a band of Neanderthals, you would appear to be the dumb one, because you lack the skills and physical prowess to survive in their world. So, by some definitions, they are smarter than you.
2006-09-29 18:59:05 · answer #5 · answered by Wundt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quite tricky. If you consider another species of hominid as a separate species then I suppose it would Neanderthal. As to other species the elephant is quite intelligent so I suppose the mammoth was. If you go back as far as the dinosaurs there was a bipedal dinosaur that had a crenellated brain which is a sign of intelligence
2006-09-29 18:51:25 · answer #6 · answered by Maid Angela 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before Homo Sapiens 'intelligence' did not exist. Remember: In the Beginning was the Word.
2006-10-03 05:41:35 · answer #7 · answered by los 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not intelligent enough to avoid becoming extinct.
2006-09-29 19:07:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Velosaraptor was supposedly highly intelligent, having developed basic communication & pack hunting skills
2006-09-29 19:27:25 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most intelligent of all intelligent... is not here anymore to tell. We are just guessing it could be judged by our own intelligence. Amitiés.
2006-09-29 19:44:01 · answer #10 · answered by Nicolette 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋