6. Dolphins cheat
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Dolphins are often cited as the second-most intelligent animal on Earth due to their relatively high brain-to-body size ratio, capacity to show emotion, and impressive mimicry of the dumb apes who research them.
Now, findings from the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Mississippi suggest dolphins may also be the second-sneakiest animals on Earth.
When dolphins at the Institute were trained to pick up litter in their tanks and exchange them with trainers for fish, one dolphin named Kelly discovered a way to game the system.
By hiding scraps of litter under a rock in her tank, Kelly discretely tore single sheets of discarded paper into multiple pieces, then turned them in one at a time to maximize her fishy reward.
Kelly’s clever deception, it seems, was no accident; researchers say she did it all on porpoise.
7. Bees hold dance-offs
ISTOCK/CHENP
Honeybees have evolved what we call “swarm intelligence,” with up to 50,000 workers in a single colony coming together to make democratic decisions.
When a hive gets too crowded in springtime, colonies deploy scouts to look for a new home.
If any scouts disagree on where the colony should build its next hive, they argue their case the civilized way: through a dance-off.
Each scout performs a “waggle dance” for other scouts in an attempt to convince them of their spot’s merit; the more enthusiastic the dance, the happier the scout was with his spot.
The remainder of the colony votes with their bodies, flying to the spot they prefer and joining in the dance until one potential hive reigns #1 bee disco of the neighborhood.
Alas, if only Congress settled their disagreements the same.
8. Elephants don’t need Facebook
ISTOCK/LORRAINE BOOGICH
In case you’ve forgotten, elephants have incredible memories.
They’re able to recall specific routes to watering holes over incredible stretches of terrain and over the span of many years—and they never forget a friend, either.
In 1999, an elephant named Shirley arrived at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Immediately, a resident elephant named Jenny became animated and playful.
It wasn’t love at first sight; Jenny remembered Shirley from when they performed briefly in a circus together—22 years earlier.
(See this touching video below)