They were created just a little bit lower than the angels. And they had the capability of reason. No animal ever had that. What animal ever learned to worship. What animal ever learned to cook.
Human beings are the top of the totem pole.
Humans are the last and best thing to be created from God's hand on Creation week. Even though we do not look much like it, at one time we WERE made in the image of God, believe it or not. You look at some of us and you think, We've come a long way downhill. In some of us sin has greatly distorted the image of God. Not much of it left anymore.