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A 2018 study found that chimpanzees share the same five major personality traits with humans: conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness, extraversion, and neuroticism. Scientists also found that more agreeable male chimpanzees formed stronger social bonds and tended to live longer.
Gorillas have also been found to have five human-like personality traits. They also use facial expressions and gestures to communicate, and feel joy, empathy, and sadness.
Known for their intelligence, dolphins, similar to humans and other primates, have the personality traits of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Known for their high intelligence, strong social bonds, and empathetic behavior, research has shown that Asian elephants can recognize themselves in a mirror.
A member of the corvid family, this intelligent bird can make and use tools to feed their young and mimic human voices. Another study found that European magpies recognize themselves in a mirror.
Also known as killer whales, orcas form strong social bonds and live in close-knit family groups called pods. They've been recorded hunting, sharing food, communicating and socializing within their pod, demonstrating advanced cultural and personality traits.
A 2013 study found that rats display empathetic behavior. Scientists recorded them helping one another by allowing one rat to roam freely while another was trapped in a container. The free rat shared the emotional distress of the trapped rat despite no reward being offered each time it willingly freed the captive rat.
In a 2018 study published in the journal Learning and Behavior, researchers found that dogs notice when people are in distress and seek to comfort them. This behavior was interpreted as evidence of empathy.
Like humans, horses can interpret facial expressions and distinguish human emotions. Similarly to dogs, horses are known for being empathetic and having close relationships with their owners.
Adult meerkats take turns babysitting young meerkats, spending time educating them in essential life skills. This allows the dominant female meerkat to devote her time to breeding.
Sure, cats don't adore us in the same way dogs do, but a 2021 study found that they're able to form bonds with humans depending on the emotional behavior of the owner. When it came to displaying complex human-like emotions, jealousy was more commonly seen in cats than empathy or compassion.
A 2016 study found that pigeons could distinguish up to 60 four-letter words. It was the first time a nonprimate could recognize letters and have an orthographical brain.
Just like us humans, dragonflies can shut out unnecessary information, enabling them to focus on a specific task. This is a trait that's usually seen in primates.
In a 2011 study, bees were offered sugar with a mix of odors before being shaken in a way that simulated a predator attack. The shaken bees had lower levels of dopamine and serotonin, suggesting they might experience some negative human-like emotions. Suggesting that, like humans, honeybees feel more pessimistic after a stressful experience.
Although they're not commonly associated with cleanliness, cockroaches have a preference for self-hygiene, constantly grooming themselves. They do this to keep their antennae working efficiently.
Snakes are generally known for being solitary creatures, but a 2023 study found that, like humans, they may comfort each other in periods of stress.
Unlike primates, fish lack a large brain and visual cortex that aids in processing images. However, a 2016 study found that archerfish could learn and recognize human faces with accuracy.
Sources: (Live Science) (New Scientist)
In 2024, scientists found that nerve cells in the Japanese macaques' brain's premotor cortex, which prepares and executes movement in the limbs, strongly responded when tasked with adding and subtracting.
Along with chimpanzees, bonobos are humans' closest living relatives. Theu are known for living peacefully in close-knit social groups.
A 2023 study found that female northern mockingbirds can distinguish familiar humans and judge which individual poses the greatest threat. This suggests they have higher cognitive ability than previously believed.
A 2024 study found that big cats, including cheetahs, lions, and tigers, can recognize human voices and distinguish them from those of strangers.
Known for their intelligence, a 2010 study found that Pacific octopuses could recognize individuals using their large orbital lobes, an area of the brain used for vision.
Not only do parrots have the ability to mimic human speech, but they also exhibit social complexity. A 2022 study found that blue-throated macaws demonstrated mental self-representation and episodic memory.
Penguins are social creatures that, like humans, rely on collaborative social skills to problem-solve tasks, such as hunting. They also communicate by "singing" and can adapt their behavior to their environment.
A 2013 study discovered that cotton-top tamarins "whispered" to one another when in the presence of a human they disliked.
Ants are highly intelligent insects that live in huge colonies and form complex social structures. In 2006, a study found that ants teach one another new skills. Scientists observed ants performing a "tandem-running" style of teaching, with one ant showing another the route to a food source.
Another insect with impressive memory skills, a 2022 study discovered that crickets could learn and remember food sources using odors.
A highly intelligent bird, crows possess self-awareness and can make decisions, just like humans. A 2020 study showed that crows use sense and reason to problem-solve.
We humans often think we're unique, with abilities and behaviors far more evolved and complex than animals. However, that's not entirely true. In the diverse realm of the animal kingdom, we encounter many creatures, from tiny insects to our closest living relatives, who exhibit surprisingly human traits.
From elephants mourning their dead to bees that get pessimistic when faced with setbacks, click on for an array of animals with the most human-like behavior.
30 animals with surprisingly human traits
We have a lot in common with these animals
LIFESTYLE Wildlife
We humans often think we're unique, with abilities and behaviors far more evolved and complex than animals. However, that's not entirely true. In the diverse realm of the animal kingdom, we encounter many creatures, from tiny insects to our closest living relatives, who exhibit surprisingly human traits.
From elephants mourning their dead to bees that get pessimistic when faced with setbacks, click on for an array of animals with the most human-like behavior.