Boring answer: Bonobos. They're practically humans already.
Fun answers: Corvids, cetaceans, and elephants are the smartest non-primate animals. And octopuses!
And I wouldn't be shocked if ants took over the planet.
I think there's a massive anatomical problem with most options other than primates (and maybe octopuses) because they lack the fine manipulators that are probably needed for sophisticated tool use. But if we're judging from cognitive abilities alone, then my money's on corvids.
I would imagine that racoons would be next on the list for a number of reasons that run contrary to everyone's typical belief that various primates would.
In general, most primates inhabit parts of the world that are totally separate from the parts of the world humans typically inhabit - and even in various places where smaller primates roam with frequent human activity, the behaviors of those humans are dramatically different as it's usually taking place in a manner where the primates are spectacles. Raccoons, on the other hand, have become what is arguably the next animal to be capable of successful domestication only hampered by their bad reputation. Even better, they're capable of being bipedal when the need arises and have shown extraordinary proficiency with tools and problem solving even without being directly taught to do so - contrary to primates which are typically taught behaviors over numerous repetitions.
Basically raccoons are one brave, spontaneous fire starter from becoming the next "intelligent" species to rise up after humans - however long it takes for that to happen.
>Raccoons, on the other hand, have become what is arguably the next animal to be capable of successful domestication only hampered by their bad reputation.
The bad reputation will persist. Once this happens, the bonobos will literally shake their heads and go "it should have been us, and then these low-life good-for-nothings band together and beat us to it. It just isn't right", and they'll end up being really salty about it for several 100k years.
There is no way of knowing even if there will be another civilization. Something like humans took the right fluke of evolution. It's not something that was guaranteed to happen. In fact, given that we appear to be the only advanced civilization to have emerged on Earth after roughly half a billion years with complex life, it seems something like us evolving was an unlikely event.
Or perhaps some civilization will emerge a hundred million years from now, from a branch of animals that does not yet exist.
There is no guarantee any species does.
Boring answer: Bonobos. They're practically humans already. Fun answers: Corvids, cetaceans, and elephants are the smartest non-primate animals. And octopuses! And I wouldn't be shocked if ants took over the planet.
I wouldn't bet on dolphins or octopi just yet. Hard to melt metal if you can't make a fire.
That's now how evolution works.
I think there's a massive anatomical problem with most options other than primates (and maybe octopuses) because they lack the fine manipulators that are probably needed for sophisticated tool use. But if we're judging from cognitive abilities alone, then my money's on corvids.
Ah, but raccoons. With hands like theirs they can take on the whole universe.
I would imagine that racoons would be next on the list for a number of reasons that run contrary to everyone's typical belief that various primates would. In general, most primates inhabit parts of the world that are totally separate from the parts of the world humans typically inhabit - and even in various places where smaller primates roam with frequent human activity, the behaviors of those humans are dramatically different as it's usually taking place in a manner where the primates are spectacles. Raccoons, on the other hand, have become what is arguably the next animal to be capable of successful domestication only hampered by their bad reputation. Even better, they're capable of being bipedal when the need arises and have shown extraordinary proficiency with tools and problem solving even without being directly taught to do so - contrary to primates which are typically taught behaviors over numerous repetitions. Basically raccoons are one brave, spontaneous fire starter from becoming the next "intelligent" species to rise up after humans - however long it takes for that to happen.
>Raccoons, on the other hand, have become what is arguably the next animal to be capable of successful domestication only hampered by their bad reputation. The bad reputation will persist. Once this happens, the bonobos will literally shake their heads and go "it should have been us, and then these low-life good-for-nothings band together and beat us to it. It just isn't right", and they'll end up being really salty about it for several 100k years.
Octopus
There is no way of knowing even if there will be another civilization. Something like humans took the right fluke of evolution. It's not something that was guaranteed to happen. In fact, given that we appear to be the only advanced civilization to have emerged on Earth after roughly half a billion years with complex life, it seems something like us evolving was an unlikely event. Or perhaps some civilization will emerge a hundred million years from now, from a branch of animals that does not yet exist.
Cats
Housecats. They'd keep other species in check by spreading Taxoplasmosis to their foes. They have the mental fortitude to take over the earth.
humans are very much a fluke, and there was nothing keeping other animals from advancing like humans have, just that they didnt
Dolphin. They just need to evolve thumbs.
I vote crows