Yes, I have always suspected that intelligence does not necessarily equal survival. There is a wonderful science fiction story called "Swarm" by Bruce Sterling which focuses on that point.
A brain does not equal intelligence. Plenty of examples among humanity.
A swarm mind - a collective mind - can be intelligent while each individual of the swarm alone might not be.
Furthermore, intelligence is not limited only to our physical world. It is literally possible to have a physical body but it's intelligence in another plane (like a swarm mind), connected to the physical body in some ways, as in fact it is with humans as well. Humans also have a collective (un)consciousness, but it can be accessed and used if you know how.
There isn't even enough information in DNA alone to warrant the development of a new organism. And whatever it is behind actual development has to have one damn intelligent aspect.
Intelligence also does not require the presence of consciousness nor awareness.
And intelligence essentially does equal survival, as intelligence in its core equals "the right choices". Cannot survive without "making" the right choices. But survival does not require consciousness nor awareness, not our kind at least.
