Fish are often thought of as simple, unintelligent creatures. But these aquatic creatures are far more intelligent than most people give them credit for.
Researchers at the University of Bonn found that cichlids and stingrays can add and subtract numbers from one to five.1
From problem-solving abilities to complex social behaviors, fish have been surprising scientists with their cognitive prowess. Here are 16 fish species with mental capabilities that may just blow your mind.
1. Archerfish
Archerfish are nature’s sharpshooters. These remarkable fish have evolved a unique hunting technique, demonstrating their problem-solving skills and spatial awareness.
By shooting water jets from their mouths, they can accurately knock insects off overhanging vegetation.
What’s truly impressive is the archerfish’s ability to compensate for refraction. These clever hunters can calculate the distortion caused by the water’s surface and adjust their aim accordingly.
This skill requires complex trigonometric calculations that would challenge even human mathematicians.
2. Manta Rays
Manta rays are gentle giants of the ocean that possess an unexpected level of intelligence. These massive fish have brain-to-body ratios comparable to many mammals, hinting at their cognitive capabilities.
Recent studies have shown that manta rays may even be self-aware. In mirror tests typically used to assess self-awareness in animals, manta rays exhibited behaviors suggesting they recognized their own reflections. (ref)
This puts them in an elite group of animals, including great apes and dolphins, capable of self-recognition.
3. Cleaner Wrasse
Cleaner wrasse are small fish with big brains. These industrious creatures have developed a complex symbiotic relationship with larger fish, cleaning parasites off their “clients” in exchange for food.
What’s remarkable about cleaner wrasse is their ability to remember and recognize individual client fish. They can recall which fish they’ve serviced recently and prioritize those they haven’t cleaned.
This demonstrates impressive memory and a sophisticated understanding of social interactions.
4. Elephantnose Fish
Don’t let their unusual appearance fool you—elephantnose fish are among the most intelligent fish in the world. These African freshwater fish have one of the largest brain-to-body size ratios of any known vertebrate.
Elephantnose fish use electrical signals to communicate and navigate their environment. They can generate and detect weak electric fields, allowing them to “see” in murky waters.
Combined with their large brains, this electroreception ability enables them to process complex information about their surroundings.
5. Groupers
Groupers are more than popular menu items—they’re also one of the intelligent fish species. These large predators have been observed engaging in cooperative hunting behaviors with other species, demonstrating advanced social cognition.
In the Red Sea, groupers collaborate with octopuses to flush out prey from reef crevices.
This interspecies teamwork showcases the grouper’s ability to understand the capabilities of other animals and work together towards a common goal.
6. Salmon
Salmon are renowned for their incredible navigational abilities. These fish undertake epic migrations, traveling thousands of miles from the ocean back to the exact streams where they were born to spawn.
Recent research has revealed that salmon use the Earth’s geomagnetic field to navigate. (ref) They can detect tiny variations in the magnetic field, creating a sort of internal GPS.
This sophisticated navigational system allows them to find their way home with remarkable precision, even after years at sea.
7. Parrotfish
Parrotfish are the unsung heroes of coral reefs. These colorful fish play a crucial role in reef ecosystems by eating algae that would otherwise smother coral. But their intelligence goes beyond their ecological importance.
Parrotfish have developed an ingenious method for staying safe while they sleep. At night, they secrete a mucus cocoon around themselves, which masks their scent from predators.
This behavior demonstrates problem-solving skills and an ability to plan for future threats.
8. Gobies
Gobies might be small, but they’re big on brains. These tiny fish have shown remarkable spatial memory and problem-solving abilities, particularly when navigating their complex tidal pool environments.
Some species of gobies can memorize the layout of tidal pools during high tide. When the tide goes out, leaving a maze of isolated pools, these fish can leap from one pool to another with pinpoint accuracy.
This requires an excellent memory and the ability to create and use mental maps.
9. Pufferfish
Pufferfish are known for their unique defense mechanism of inflating themselves, but their intelligence goes far beyond this party trick. Male pufferfish of some species create intricate geometric patterns on the seafloor to attract mates.
The sea’s “crop circles” are meticulously crafted over days, with the male using its fins to create grooves and valleys in the sand.
The precision and artistry in creating these structures suggest a level of planning and spatial awareness that’s truly impressive for a fish.
10. Clownfish
Clownfish, made famous by the movie “Finding Nemo,” are more than just cute faces. These small reef fish have complex social structures and impressive cognitive abilities.
In the wild, clownfish live in strict hierarchies among sea anemones. They can recognize individual fish and remember their place in the social order.
Moreover, clownfish have been observed engaging in behaviors that suggest they can count. When faced with two groups of fish, they can determine which group has more members.
11. Sharks
Sharks have long been misunderstood as mindless eating machines, but research reveals their true intelligence. Many shark species display complex social behaviors and problem-solving abilities.
Great white sharks, for instance, have been observed working together to hunt prey. They use sophisticated hunting strategies, taking turns to weaken their target.
This level of coordination requires social intelligence and the ability to plan and adapt strategies.
12. Cichlids
Cichlids are a diverse family of fish known for their complex social behaviors and parental care. These traits are often associated with higher intelligence in animals.
Many cichlid species engage in cooperative breeding, where non-breeding individuals help care for the offspring of others.
This behavior requires recognition of individuals, an understanding of social hierarchies, and the ability to engage in altruistic behaviors – all hallmarks of advanced cognition.
13. Tuskfish
Tuskfish have made headlines for their tool use – a behavior once thought exclusive to primates and a few bird species. These clever fish have been observed using rocks to crack open clams and other shellfish.
What’s particularly impressive is that tusk fish often carry their “tools” to specific anvil-like rocks they use repeatedly.
This suggests tool use, planning, and the ability to remember useful locations—cognitive skills that put them on par with many land animals.
14. Triggerfish
Triggerfish are known for their intelligence and curiosity. These reef-dwelling fish have been observed manipulating their environment in complex ways to access food.
In captivity, triggerfish quickly learn to operate mechanisms to obtain food rewards.
They’ve been seen squirting water at aquarium staff to get attention, demonstrating problem-solving skills and an understanding of cause and effect.
15. Goldfish
The humble goldfish deserves recognition for its cognitive abilities. Far from having a three-second memory, goldfish can remember things for months and even years.
Goldfish have once again surprised researchers with their cognitive abilities. Six goldfish successfully distinguished between photographs of plastic turtles and frogs from various angles, showcasing their capacity for object-picture recognition. (ref)
They can also be trained to respond to specific sounds, demonstrating their ability to learn and remember complex tasks.
These abilities challenge the misconception that goldfish are simple creatures with limited cognitive capabilities.
16. Stingrays
Stingrays are proving to be some of the most intelligent fish in our oceans. These flat, graceful creatures have demonstrated an impressive array of cognitive abilities that rival those of many land animals.
They can form and utilize cognitive maps of their environments, remembering fruitful feeding locations and navigating to these target areas from different starting points.
This ability to create mental maps and remember spatial information is a hallmark of advanced cognition, typically associated with mammals and birds.
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.