"Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."  Genesis 1:26

• There is a word, animal, that means: any living thing other than a human being. 
• There is another word, animal, that means a mammal, as opposed to a fish, bird, etc. 

The first word, animal, excludes human beings.  The second word, animal, includes human beings.  There are other words, animal, that mean other things.  English is a confusing language sometimes.

Rather than get into semantic arguments, which solve nothing, let's restate the question.

What is the difference between human beings and other living things?

Here are the differences:

1. Made in the image and likeness of God (lost by sin, but to be fully restored).
2. Having dominion over the other living things.

The Bible gives the answer: "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Many animals make tools.  Animals communicate.  The Scripture gives instances of animals thinking and even talking.  The Bible says that their bondage is because of mankind's sin.

All the speculation about making tools, intelligence, having a conscience, being accountable before God, etc., unless backed up by Scripture, are merely the teachings of men.  

Let's stick to the Bible.  Though the Atheists, Humanists, Agnostics, Skeptics, and other cultists have spent billions upon billions of dollars over thousands of years in an effort to discredit the authenticity of the Bible, they have never been successful, and they still can't do it. 

The Bible stands.