Top six smartest animals of the world list. Number six, natural student, the rat, who can excel at learning and can show empathy. Easy to train, known for cutting deals with other rats. Number five, chimpanzee, incredibly intelligent, can work with tools and communicates in complex vocals. Number four, elephant, has the largest brain of any land animal. They can actually mimic humans' voices and can identify different languages. Octopus, each of its eight tentacles have a mind of its own and can actually think for itself rather than waiting for the central brain. Number two, crow, can recognize humans' faces, remembers what you did, and actually is capable of flanking battlefield techniques. Orca can actually sink your boat and passes information generation to generation.