What Animal Has The Lowest IQ? Of all the species, humans undoubtedly have the most sophisticated brains, and we are still making enormous advances in technology. But sometimes our minds fail us so terribly that we are left with an abundance of insulting proverbs that belittle our ignorance.
On the other hand, other specialists say that sloths are the animals with the lowest IQs. IQ is a human-centric metric; these species are renowned for their sluggish movements and lack of vitality. No comparable scale or metric exists that is applicable to other species.
If you’ve seen Ice Age, you’ve undoubtedly spotted Sid the Sloth and his brilliant schemes, which frequently land the cartoon friends in sticky situations but also help them escape them. You may have assumed that actual sloths are intelligent, but that’s not the case.
Conversely, sloths are sluggish, ungainly, frequently irresponsible, and uninterested in their surroundings. As a matter of fact, these creatures sleep for most of the day. They may fall asleep for so long that they pass away without realizing it.
Furthermore, they frequently misidentify a tree branch for their limb, which can have deadly results. When sloths do sometimes wake up, their primary “sport” is perching on trees and consuming food, which takes days or even weeks to digest.
Wild turkeys
Attribute
Information
Scientific Name
Meleagris gallopavo
Size
Males: 100-125 cm (39-49 in) in length, Females: 76-95 cm (30-37 in) in length
Weight
Males: 5.4-11 kg (12-24 lbs), Females: 2.5-5.4 kg (5.5-12 lbs)
Lifespan
3-5 years in the wild, up to 10 years in captivity
Some animals’ peculiar appearances serve to validate the label “foolish.” Indeed, if we were to rank the least intellectual animals only based on looks, turkeys would undoubtedly come in first. It’s exacerbated by clumsy walking, strange head twists, and widely opened eyes. But it wasn’t only the dumb glance that put turkeys on our list of low-IQ animals.
Rather, it’s their careless behavior and their sluggish lifestyle on farms. Because of this, there would be no possibility for these fowl to live in the wild.
According to some farmers, their turkeys frequently have their beaks open and look up at the sky as it rains. Additionally, as they appear to “enjoy” the sight, water runs down their necks, drowning them. A ridiculous way to pass away, to put it mildly.
Killdeer
Attribute
Information
Scientific Name
Charadrius vociferus
Size
Approximately 23-28 cm (9-11 inches) in length
Weight
Around 72-120 grams (2.5-4.2 ounces)
Lifespan
Typically 5-10 years in the wild
Killdeers appear to be foolish creatures that constantly dart around calling out to one another. This instantly makes their predators pay more attention to them. They make themselves even more noticeable by not attempting to flee from their predators.
Rather, they remain still and oscillate, akin to experiencing hiccups. These birds even construct their nests on the ground, giving the impression that they would be simple pickings for raptors.
An adult killdeer bird will sprint toward a predator it sees approaching its nest while it calls out to it. The killdeer bird feigns a damaged wing as well. The killdeer takes flight and returns to its nest, where it is greeted with warmth by its spouse and, if the young have hatched, by the fledglings, just as the predator is about to feast on a good meal.
Secretary Bird
Attribute
Information
Scientific Name
Sagittarius serpentarius
Size
Height: 1.2 to 1.5 meters (4 to 5 feet)
Weight
2.3 to 4.5 kilograms (5 to 10 pounds)
Lifespan
Up to 15 to 20 years in the wild
In the world of birds, the ability to fly is a natural talent that enables them to move more quickly, hunt more effectively, and avoid predators. Some animals, meanwhile, appear to take that capacity for granted. The secretary bird, for instance, has enormous wings but is not a frequent flyer. Yes, you are correct. These dimwitted birds solely use flight to go to nests or to court potential mates.
Secretary birds also have an unusual method of hunting. As they move on the ground, they capture their victim. It first severely impairs their vision. Second, they run the risk of not being the hunter but the victim.
Moreover, secretary birds have poor judgment to use their beaks rather than their claws to capture rodents and reptiles, which is a bad idea. Because they risk being killed if a snake or rodent bites them if they miss.
Ostrich
Attribute
Information
Scientific Name
Struthio camelus
Size
Height: 6.9 to 9.2 feet (2.1 to 2.8 meters)
Weight
220 to 350 pounds (100 to 160 kilograms)
Lifespan
Up to 40-50 years (in captivity)
This ignominious list of animals with the lowest IQ has unquestionably been overtaken by the avian species. This is where even the largest of all, the ostrich, has found a home.
Probably because ostriches’ brains measure just 26.34 grams or less than an ounce, and their architecture simply doesn’t do these enormous birds any favors. The whole weight of their body is made up of around 0.015% of their brain.
Ostriches are not particularly smart, but they do have physical prowess that makes them worthy of admiration. These enormous birds really seem to act carelessly and heedlessly in every way; from their tendency to devour practically anything they come across to their overall demeanor in times of peril.
Komodo Dragon
Attribute
Information
Scientific Name
Varanus komodoensis
Size
Up to 3 meters (10 feet) in length
Weight
Up to 70 kilograms (150 pounds)
Lifespan
Up to 30 years in the wild
Komodo dragons are formidable predators, although they often don’t threaten people. These enormous lizards are existentially stupid, yet we can’t call them stupid creatures since they possess neither ability or resourcefulness.
In fact, by allowing their instincts to rule them, they frequently put themselves in peril. Komodo dragons, for instance, may struggle with their weight since they may consume nearly their whole prey in a single meal. Furthermore, they don’t feel like rushing and climbing up when their tummies are full.
It is evident that they are vulnerable to a variety of predators, including smaller ones. Furthermore, these lizards do not view people as a threat. As a result, they are frequently domesticated and hunted illegally. That may be one of the causes of the impending extinction of these low-IQ animals.
Flamingos
Attribute
Information
Scientific Name
Phoenicopteridae
Size
Varies by species, typically 3.3 to 4.6 feet (1 to 1.4 meters) tall
Weight
Varies by species, typically 3.3 to 9 pounds (1.5 to 4 kilograms)
Lifespan
Typically 20 to 30 years in the wild, can exceed 50 years in captivity
The flamingo is the animal kingdom’s equivalent of a clueless blonde. Of course, it would be incorrect to assume that intelligence and attractiveness are mutually exclusive. But this is accurate when it comes to flamingos.
Despite being stunning wading birds, flamingos are not thought to be very clever. But it’s crucial to keep in mind that there is no right or wrong answer to the complicated topic of “What Animal Has The Lowest IQ?” as intelligence is hard to gauge objectively amongst species.
Flamingos are not clever, even if they make a pretty sight! Moreover, flamingos use an unusual method of fishing. Specifically, they have inverted beaks, which makes it difficult for them to capture fish.
The intelligence of flamingos is occasionally seen. They tend to their young well since it is normally the case when they obtain chicks. And for that reason, these birds continue to withstand all of their own foolishness trials.
Koala
Attribute
Information
Scientific Name
Phascolarctos cinereus
Size
60 – 85 centimeters
Weight
4 – 15 kilograms
Lifespan
10 – 20 years
Another endangered species is the koala. This was undoubtedly influenced by people, who frequently hunt them and sell them for their fur or as pets. However, these creatures also go to great lengths to endanger their own extinction.
Let’s talk about nutrition first. As herbivores, koalas mostly consume the leaves of eucalyptus, acacia, and related plants. However, they are so stupid that if a food source is out of reach, they will starve to death!
Furthermore, koalas are such feeble and awkward creatures that, in the face of danger, they never even attempt to flee. Furthermore, since koalas are not very hygienic, they make an ideal environment for the growth of infections and illnesses.
The koala’s peculiar behavior can be explained by their anatomy. Koala brains are the smallest among mammals in relation to body weight, and because of their underutilization, these animals act as though they are high all the time.
Pandas
Attribute
Giant Panda
Red Panda
Scientific Name
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Ailurus fulgens
Size
Approximately 4 to 6 feet in length
Approximately 20 to 26 inches in length
Weight
Adult males: 190-275 lbs (86-125 kg) <br> Adult females: 155-220 lbs (70-100 kg)
7 to 14 lbs (3 to 6 kg)
Lifespan
Up to 20 years in the wild <br> Up to 30 years in captivity
Up to 14 years in the wild <br> Up to 20 years in captivity
Pandas are perhaps the first animals that come to mind when discussing foolish behaviors that have driven animal species to the brink of extinction. Yes, they are adorable and cuddly. However, these kind-hearted behemoths are also quite unintelligent and lethargic creatures.
Giant animals that have evolved for life in the wild are pandas. They possess the powerful claws and keen fangs needed to capture prey. They munch on bamboo leaves! Pandas actually need to consume these plants all day long in order to maintain a minimal level of nutrition.
The number of pandas in the wild is declining because they lack the ability to forage, climb trees, and—most importantly—marriage if they don’t get enough protein and fat. Given that pandas’ indolence endangers the existence of their species, it should come as no surprise that they lead the list of non-intelligent creatures.
Kakapos
Attribute
Information
Scientific Name
Strigops habroptilus
Size
Up to 60 centimeters (24 inches)
Weight
1.4 to 3.6 kilograms (3.1 to 7.9 pounds)
Lifespan
Up to 90 years
The kakapo bird is an exception to the general belief that parrots are clever creatures capable of picking up hundreds of phrases, songs, and tricks.
Once free to fly across New Zealand, kakapos are flightless birds that resemble owls. Since there was plenty of food available and no predators in the area, these birds did not acquire the innate capacity to sense and react to danger. As a result, when people arrived and brought more sophisticated and competent creatures with them, they were more vulnerable to predators.
To exacerbate the situation, these birds have discovered a means of self-harm through improper mating practices. Despite their great drive to procreate, they frequently approach the task incorrectly. They have had difficulty successfully sustaining their species, from creating peculiar mating nests to upsetting females with their peculiar “love song.”
There are still a few hundred kakapos who have survived despite these difficulties. It’s almost surprising that these birds have survived at all, given their dumb behavior.
Jerboa
Attribute
Information
Scientific Name
Dipodidae
Size
Varies depending on species, typically around 2.8 to 6 inches (7 to 15 cm) in body length, with a tail length of 4 to 10 inches (10 to 25 cm)
Weight
Varies depending on species, typically between 1 ounce to 6 ounces (28 to 170 grams)
Lifespan
Around 2 to 6 years in the wild
Jerboas are little rodents with an odd appearance. They move in unexpected ways and at an almost astonishing speed, which makes them intriguing to watch. Due to their ability to walk on two legs, they may run like a roadrunner or hop like a kangaroo. However, breeding them in captivity is challenging.
This species, which may be found in both Africa and Asia, is another example of an organism that doesn’t appear to know how to live. They are useless in locating, preserving, and safeguarding food.
Moreover, they can either hop like superfrogs or sprint like roadrunners because of their strong, unusual-looking legs. It appears rather crazy to watch them dart back and forth to evade predators. However, there is no evidence that it is ineffective!
Norwegian Lemmings
Attribute
Information
Scientific Name
Lemmus lemmus
Size
Approximately 13 to 15 cm
Weight
Around 30 to 112 grams
Lifespan
Typically 1 to 2 years
For ages, people have considered Norwegian lemmings to be foolish due to their tendency to battle larger creatures when necessary. These rodents reach a maximum length of 6 inches and a maximum weight of 4.5 pounds. Nonetheless, they hunt on creatures such as bullmastiffs, cats, and raptors.
Their main line of defense is their powerful teeth. They must so approach their adversary closely enough to bite them. Their unique white chin and cheeks might attract the attention of potential predators to their lips.
“What Animal Has The Lowest IQ” was the question and you have got the answer. Animal intelligence varies from species to species, however, it might be difficult to rank them all owing to differences in cognitive capacities and environmental adaptations.
IQ Comparison Between Animals
FAQs
Do animals have IQ?
Yes, animals demonstrate various levels of intelligence across different species.
Which animals are considered the smartest?
Some of the smartest animals include dolphins, chimpanzees, elephants, crows, and octopuses.
What animal has the highest IQ?
After humans, orangutans are said to be the most intellectual animals. When Sandy, an orangutan, took part in a human IQ test, she outperformed one of the human applicants with a score of 75 on live television.
Do all animals have the same level of intelligence?
No, there are significant differences in intellect between species and even between members of the same species.
What animal has an IQ of 0?
Cnidarians apart from Cubozoa lack brains, and consequently, they do not possess measurable IQs.
