• kerrigan778@lemmy.world
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    20 days ago

    A fairly small number of known species evolved to the vaguely humanoid form, but 100% of known species with a human level of higher intelligence have had roughly this body plan, it’s really not unreasonable to extrapolate that this could be a common body plan for intelligent aliens.

    • leftzero@lemmynsfw.com
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      20 days ago

      known species with a human level of higher intelligence

      • Humans (allegedly; evidence points to most being dumb as a rock).
      • Some species of extinct hominids (sure, but they’re extinct).
      • Dolphins (and orcas, which are big fancy dolphins); absolute creeps, though.
      • Whales, possibly, though they tend to keep to themselves, so who knows.
      • Some species of octopods.
      • Some species of parrots.
      • Some species of corvids.
      • I swear some of those black and white sheepdogs seem more intelligent than many of the people I know.
      • jol@discuss.tchncs.de
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        20 days ago

        Dolphins and whales might be intelligent, but their bodies do not allow them effective use of complex tools. Same for birds.

        Octopods do have a body that is flexible enough, but having evolved in water is a huge limiting factor. But some are able to move around outside water, so it’s not too far fetched to imagine becoming a global species.

      • Annoyed_🦀 @monyet.cc
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        20 days ago

        My cat. Seriously, stop looking at my lazer pointer and start chasing that freaking dot wtf. I swear sometime she chase it just to entertain me, else i’ll be standing there waving like a total idiot.

      • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.world
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        20 days ago

        None of those animals have human levels of intelligence except for the humans. When was the last time you saw an orca use calculus to solve the mysteries of the universe, or antibiotics to cure their sickness? They’re smart, but they’re nowhere near as smart as humans.

    • MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml
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      20 days ago

      Taken more seriously, having the evolutionary background to have:

      • fine control over your limbs, like fingers
      • 3D-thinking (throwing) and manipulation
      • cooperation

      another human-like civilization is pretty unlikely.