Let's Look At Intelligent Things

I plan on making a Thrive-version of each of these as a sort of "challenge" once the project is completed.

Humans



Oh you know - that thing sitting in front of the computer? Yup, that one. The most obnoxious successful... THING on the planet, really, in terms of general everything. We have food at every turn, companions, vaccines, and lifespans of 90 freaking years. Pretty well-off, I'd say. In terms of biology we aren't really all that special, but I suppose thumbs are just long enough to make a readily available pedestal to set oneself on! actually, using your thumbs as a pedastal would probably hurt...

Dolphins


Our simply adorable marine counterparts! Recognizing themselves in a mirror, possibilities of language, complex social groups (girl power, amirite, orcas?). I think I love 'em. I think they were made most famous with Free Willy, AKA Keiko, when everyone discovered that Willy was not, in fact, free. Ever since then there's been lots of research, understanding, and awesome goodness of the watery kind. Wolves of the sea, killer whales - majesty!

Magpies


D'awww, look at 'um. Magpies, the silly little "ooooh shiny!" things that intently murder you in the face if you get near their precious eggs. Multiple sources say they could be among the most intelligent animal on earth - and if you just take a peek at them, you'd probably agree. I have raven couples living around my town (lots of babies!), and you'd be amazed at how fast a raven can snag a cheese-doodle out of your hand and fly away unseen. And they don't even recognize themselves in a mirror - and Magpies can! These happen to be my favorite animal, too <3

Elephants


Probably the most famous of all the "aware" creatures this earth has to offer - and my first love, really... certainly no "Dumbo," although he was certainly my buddy back when I was but a bite-sized lil nugget. Probably the most "human" out of all of 'em, I sincerely cried when the famous matriarch Echo passed on.

Apes of All Kinds

accurate picture of that one year when everyone forgets to shave in preparation for the coming summer
*points* This means you, too! I know we already covered humans, but heyo, might as well get all the uncles and aunts as well, right? All of these species (as far as I know?) have found a voice in sign-language or pictograms, and are just as complex as everyone else on this list. I mean, Chimpanzees have started using spears to hunt sugar babies for Pete's sake! We could be peering into our own past right here in the present day!

Parrots

Parrots! The most intelligent parrot of them all, the African Gray, is famous for one member - Alex, the dear fuzzy bird that proved humans aren't nearly as unique and fancy as we previously thought. Counting, comprehension, language use (excuse me: Pepperburg called it a two way communications system. 'kay then), other such things that seem mystifying! Poor thing passed away young, but he left a big imprint!

Honorable Mentions

Red Fox


These guys are incredibly smart. Naturally they aren't as smart as the other species going on here - but they are seriously getting ready to catch up, I swear. Have you ever heard of a domesticated animal that got smarter via domestication? Yep, your humble Fantastic Mr. Fox fits the bill. And nobody else, I daresay, at least in their family. They have the phenotype diversity of humans: some are red, some are white, some are gray, some are silver, some are mottled, some are piebald, some are marbled. And sometimes they live in family groups; sometimes they don't. Some foxes have one mate, while others have a crapton. Their instincts don't have as much demand over their lives as one might think, and that's pretty cool. (I can see it now; Dawn Of The Planet Of The Foxes!)

I'll probably add more as I discover 'em. If there are any I missed (or an honorable mention you wanna feature), plaster it up in the replies section and I'll smash it into there

Also, will you be trying to make these in Thrive? I think it'd be a fun challenge!