respecting animals

[Shiari]

But size *does* matter. Specifically, brain size as proportioned to body size.

[Solid]

Not always, if a human brain functions at only 10% and we say find a species whose brain was smaller then ours but worked at full capacity. It is highly possible that species can have a higher intelligence that of a human. I can see what you mean by it, brain size does have some relevance however. I was try to show that despite a false statement on Grave part doesn't mean that she entirely wrong. Even though a dolphin brain isn't the smallest, it proves that brain size doesn't entirely show an animal intelligence.
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Rest in Peace, Ronnie James Dio, from Mortal to God, Rest in Peace.(1942-2010)

[Shiari]

[Miru]

Its not 10% of the brain, its 10% of your capacity for thought...
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Farewell my shadow, you who walk the path I chose not to follow, Yet I do not regret my choice. I will continue to choose this path.

[Jasriella]

[Solid]

[SkieFireYokana]

Also note that scientists are looking into spindle neurons as being an explanation for the great apes' and humans' intelligence: we have considerably more than any other primate, and they're thought to be what permits quick social thought on, say, whether someone is feeling pleasure or pain. And if we're going by that rationale, then whales take the spotlight, since not only do they have more than we do, they have more proportional to their brain size and they have had them in their brains for more of their evolutionary history. Convergent evolution at its finest: two separate species as different as whales and humans have near-identical structures in their brains. Dolphins, interestingly, don't have them--as far as I'm aware--so this doesn't account for their intelligence. I haven't kept up on this hypothesis, but last I heard it was suggested that they evolved another method.

Also, to refute that dolphins' brains are any smaller than those of humans... look here. That's just after about a minute of looking around. So, like Solid, animal biology is not my strong suit... but please reaffirm your claims before making them, because I have a habit of checking them.

EDIT: Also, since I provided an unsupported claim above and criticized someone for making one exactly the same way, here. Note that I stand corrected on the point that dolphins do not have spindle neurons: this is why I prefer that claims be supported.
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Happy Fourth of July everybody! The funniest thing about this signature is that I wrote it on the fourth of July, 2010, and it's probably going to be here for several months.

[Miru]

I commonly use about 30% of my brain, its what causes my migraines.
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Farewell my shadow, you who walk the path I chose not to follow, Yet I do not regret my choice. I will continue to choose this path.