Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Explain Which Animal Species They'd Turn Over Control Of The Earth To If They Could

People Explain Which Animal Species They'd Turn Over Control Of The Earth To If They Could
elephant walking during daytime
Make us preferred on Google

There are a lot of different species of animals—most of which are insects—on this planet.

Primates—specifically hominins which includes chimpanzees and humans—ended up top dogs.

But what if we didn't? What other species could take on the role?

Maybe one of them would do a better job of managing the planet than humans have.


Redditor EmperorOfDankness asked:

"If you had to hand over this planet to a different species of animal for them to rule over it, what would you choose?"

Feline Overlords

"House cats. They're taking over the world anyway. Might as well get on their good side while I can."

-HammockDistricOn5th

"Same. They are much more intelligent than we think."

-cute_floof

Giphy

Good Bois

"Dogs, especially golden retrievers. They would call everyone 'hey buddy!' and the world would be peaceful again."

-sayhummus

"This is the correct answer, a dog ruled society would be a uptopia of love empathy and cuddles. There would also be a fair amount of normalized poo-eating, no vacuums, and almost certainly waaaaay too much public acceptance of deeeeep up close crotch sniffing, but it would be a small price to pay."

-HoratioReddacted

Giphy

World's Largest—And Chillest—Rodents

"Capybara."

-quotidianwoe

"Capybaras. They get along with every animal."

-SmartAlec105

Giphy

Corvid Kings

"Crows, I love their intelligence, plus they look cool. I’m genuinely hoping they wind up becoming the next intelligent species on earth."

-Not-Alpharious

"'Sorry boss, I'm going to be late for work this morning, there's a murder at the bus stop again.'"

-dusty-kat

Giphy

Division Of Labor

"I'd let octopuses rule the seas, elephants rule the land, and crows rule the skies."

-ruffsnap

"I argue we they should get full control of the planet."

"Birds are dumb as hell, don't let their nut dropping antics fool you. And like, do you really want to be ruled over by something big and threatening and thrice your size? Octopodes are small and squishy and very smart and already have an alliance formed with the squids for this precise contingency."

-Plethora_of_squids

Giphy

Endangered Species

"I’d love to see the endangered or hunted species of a given area become the ruler of that specific place. So-nutria & gators in Louisiana, wolves & cattle in the Midwest, tigers & pangolins & sharks & antelope & rhinos & dogs & bears & fox & etc etc etc in China…ex like that. I like poetic justice."

-Sobadatsnazzynames

Giphy

Formidable Formicidae

"Ants, if they could reach our level of intelligence in combination with their coordination could make a powerful civilization."

-sticky-man1229

"ANTS"

"The ant is one of the world's strongest creatures in relation to its size. A single ant can carry 50 times its own bodyweight, and they'll even work together to move bigger objects as a group! Ants carry leaves and twigs back to their nests!"

-PoeticThesaurus

Giphy

Floofy Kitties

"Snow leopards. I trust they would do a good job."

-That-Desktop-User

Giphy

It's About Time

"Crocodiles. They've survived hundreds of millions of years. It should be their turn."

-DirtySingh

Giphy

Seems Fitting

"Dung Beetles, they will take care of all the sh*t we have caused."

-dkamp92

Giphy

Maybe we should give a few of these animals the chance to be in charge.

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Screenshots from X user @Sofia50020Sofia's video
@Sofia50020Sofia/X

Video Of Guy Turning Off Mall Escalator And Blocking People From Getting Off Has Viewers Sounding Off

We can all agree that some social media trends are fun and harmless, but most of them are pretty ridiculous and either inconvenient or hurt people.

There have been a few escalator trends over the years, mostly one person confusing someone else by touching their arm, passing them a note, or even flirting with them.

Keep Reading Show less
Models @haroonellahkarim and @0ilprincess, featuring the "Martin Pride Capsule" fashion line
@church.ofmartin/Instagram

Mormon Church Accidentally Spotlights Gay Mormon Fashion Designer—And People Can't Get Enough

A Mormon church tried to stay hip and garner new followers by promoting a fashion line, only to prove to all of us that we're really not as different as the prejudiced people among us would like us to believe.

Let's unpack this: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an Instagram account over at @churchofjesuschrist. They regularly promote members of their community, demonstrating what they do, how they give back to their community, and how their religious testimony ties into their mission.

Keep Reading Show less
Screenshot of David Brouillette from news video
News Center Maine / YouTube

ICE Agent Who Killed Man In Maine Caught In Chilling Audio Threatening To Slit His Ex-Wife's Throat

David Brouillette, the ICE agent who fatally shot Joan Durán Guerrero four times during an attempted traffic stop in Biddeford, Maine, earlier this month, has sparked outrage after unearthed audio revealed he once left a voicemail for his ex-wife threatening to slit her and her female family members' throats.

In an interview with NPR, Ashley Brouillette shared a profanity-laced voicemail her ex-husband left on Nov. 28, 2025, shortly after she filed for a restraining order against him. The recording, obtained by NPR, captures him speaking with slurred speech before ending with a threat that she and the women in her family should have their throats cut.

Keep Reading Show less
Screenshot of Ken Paxton at press conference
@DemocraticWins/X

Texas AG Ken Paxton Flees Press Conference After Reporters Bring Up His Mounting Scandals—And Yikes

Texas Attorney General and Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton was called out after fleeing a press conference to avoid answering questions from reporters about two different scandals that have threatened his race against Democrat James Talarico.

A New York Times report published last week revealed that Paxton—who has served as Texas attorney general since 2015—has amassed 15 properties valued at roughly $9 million across states including Utah, Hawaii, Florida and Oklahoma, despite earning a government salary while simultaneously campaigning for the Senate and navigating a divorce.

Keep Reading Show less
Screenshot of Lauren Boebert
MeidasTouch Network

Lauren Boebert Dragged After Making Bonkers Claim About Moon Landing Before Correcting Herself

Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert was widely mocked after she told a MeidasTouch reporter that she believes the moon landing was done in an "Amazon warehouse" before quickly correcting her own mistake.

July 20 marked 57 years since the Apollo 11 mission astronauts landed on the Earth's moon. Conspiracy theorists have long alleged the moon landing was fabricated by NASA in what they claim was an elaborate hoax.

Keep Reading Show less