While all of these great apes boast remarkable intelligence, which one is the smartest?
Distinct Great Apes
Orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees are all great apes. While they may have a monkey-like appearance, all of them are not monkeys.
Moreover, orangutans are specifically known for their unique red fur. They are considered the largest arboreal mammals, spending the majority of their time on trees. They are capable of moving through branches thanks to their long and strong arms as well as their grasping hands and feet. These creatures are known to share 96.4% of human genes.
On the other hand, gorillas are massive creatures that exhibit several emotions and behaviors that are similar to humans. Known as the largest great apes, gorillas have broad shoulders and chests as well as massive human-like hands. They share up to 98.3% of humans' genetic code.
Lastly, chimpanzees are also great apes that are highly social. They spend years caring for their offspring. These chimps can also live beyond 50 years of age. Interestingly, these creatures share roughly 98% of human genes. While these creatures usually spend the majority of their days on treetops, they typically travel on fours when they reach the ground. However, they are also capable of human-like bipedal walking for up to one mile.
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Who Is the Smartest Among the Chimpanzee, Gorilla, and Orangutan?
Among these great apes and primates in general, the most intelligent ones are orangutans.
There are several ideas and methods that build on this thought. Firstly, these great apes are the only known species with the capacity to speak of earlier events. Though other animals could be capable of having memories, only orangutans and humans have the capacity to communicate through language to discuss these earlier matters.
Interestingly, orangutans have also exhibited the capacity to communicate about possible events in the future.
On top of this, orangutans are notoriously adept when it comes to manipulating their environment with the help of memories and tools. They make use of this to create a sense of culture and even "histories" of their own through communication and observation.
Moreover, their capacity to manage their laryngeal muscles also shows that they could develop language skills that may have a role in further research and study.
These creatures also have the capacity to learn skills without receiving instruction. This means that they have exceptional learning skills and intelligence.
Other signs of orangutan intelligence include their capacity to make tools and use them to solve problems, time mental maps, space insight and memory, self-recognition in the mirror, planning in advance, deception, empathy, and language.
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