Clever creatures

Chimpanzees, orangutans and dolphins are among the smartest animals on the planet and a commando of ants is a formidable task team... Take a look at what goes on inside the minds of animals
By Betina Louw, Health24

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Only half a dolphin's brain goes to sleep
Dolphins breathe consciously - not involuntarily the way people do - so only half their brain can sleep at a time. If they lose consciousness while they sleep they'll suffocate or drown. A dolphin always has one eye open and the other closed, depending on which side of their brain is snoozing.

The chimp in the mirror
Chimpanzees, orangutans and dolphins are the only animals we know that can recognise their reflection in a mirror. Other "intelligent" animals such as gorillas, dogs and elephants don't pass this test.

Ants think in colonies
A single ant is a fairly helpless creature but take a closer look next time you come across a colony of ants. Those hundreds of eyes and jaws are linked to one another like brain cells to form a network that can react intelligently to outside stimuli.
Each time two ants come together and touch antennae they're exchanging information about the task in which each is involved. They soon figure out if too many ants are doing the same thing and some ants will then take on other jobs. See, it works in almost the same way as the synapses in your brain!

Which dog is the cleverest?
Collies, poodles, Labradors and German shepherds are among the smartest species of dog. Some can learn a new command after just five repeats. It can take a hundred times longer for Afghans, bulldogs and basenjis.

• An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain
• An elephant's brain weighs about 5 kg; a human's on average about 1,3 kg
• 11 That's the number of brains a silkworm has. Just a pity it uses fewer than five.

YOU Pulse; Summer, December 2007

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