Which land animal is the largest? The largest living organism on the planet
Planet Earth is full of amazing animals. It is inhabited by small and large, short and long, tall and short. Each one is unique in its own way.
But the real amazement is caused by animals of unprecedented size. In this article we will look at the largest animals in the world. They all belong to completely different species.
The heaviest animal in the world
Of the animals living on land, the African elephant is the heaviest. It ranks second in the ranking of the largest animals in the world. And it is the largest of those currently existing. Male African elephants grow up to 7.5 meters in length, up to 3.3 meters in height, and weigh about 6 tons. Females are slightly smaller, reaching 7 meters in length, 2.7 meters in height, and weighing less than 3 tons.The heaviest animal is the African elephant
By the way, the adult African elephant has no natural enemies, and all because of its impressive size. However, cubs, particularly newborns, are very vulnerable to lions, crocodiles, hyenas and leopards.
Tallest animal in the world
Our TOP of the most gigantic animals in the world continues - the giraffe. This is the tallest land animal on the planet. The African artiodactyl mammal grows up to 5-6 meters in height. The average weight of males is 1600 kilograms, females - 830 kilograms. The giraffe has an extraordinary Long neck– more than 2 meters in length. Almost half the vertical height of individuals. And this is the result of disproportionate lengthening of the cervical spine.The largest carnivores in the world
The largest carnivore on the planet that lives to this day is the southern elephant seal, simply a seal. The size of females and males varies greatly, and this difference is greater than that of any other mammal. 
Males are 5-6 times heavier than females. The average weight of males is 2200-4000 kilograms, while females are only 400-900 kilograms. Length – up to three meters.
The largest carnivorous land animals
At this point in the ranking of the largest animals in the world are the Kodiak bear (a type of brown bear) and the white polar bear. The sizes of the individuals are approximately the same and scientists still find it difficult to answer which bear is larger. 
The height of the animals starts from 1.6 meters, the total length is about 3 meters. The heaviest individuals that were recorded weighed 1003 kilograms (polar bear) and 1135 kilograms (brown bear).
The largest reptile in the world
This is the saltwater crocodile. That's why he was included in the list of the largest animals in the world. The reptile can be seen in suitable habitats ranging from the east coast of India and Southeast Asia to Northern Australia. 
The weight of an adult male reaches 1000 kilograms, and the length ranges from 4 to 5.5 meters. Mature males can grow even larger. By the way, this species of reptile is the only one in existence whose size regularly exceeds 4.8 meters. The saltwater crocodile is a predator that attacks almost any animal in its vicinity (both in water and on land).
The largest amphibian in the world
Chinese giant salamander is the largest amphibian in the world. Its length is at least 180 centimeters. However, today quite often the salamander does not live to this size. The animal lives in rocky mountain lakes and flows in China. 
Their numbers are declining catastrophically due to environmental pollution and over-capture (salamander meat is considered a delicacy, and the animal is also used in Chinese traditional medicine).
The largest hare (rabbit)
The Flemish giant occupies a worthy position in the ranking of the largest animals in the world. This is an old breed of domesticated rabbit that was bred in the Flemish region. They began to be propagated in the 16th century near the Belgian city of Ghent.Giant rabbit eats up its owners' budget
Such a mutant rabbit can weigh up to 13 kilograms and is as big as a large dog.
The largest bats in the world
Giant golden-crowned flying fox. For those who are afraid of mice, this is a real flying horror. Individuals grow up to 55 cm in length, the wingspan can reach 1.8 meters. The weight of a bat is about 1.5 kilograms. 
It is worth noting that the simple large flying fox loses in mass and length, but wins in wingspan.
The largest rodent in the world
Capybara or guinea pig considered the largest rodent in the world. This miracle of nature lives in temperate or tropical parts of the east South America and Andes. Individuals live mainly near water.Capybara - giant guinea pig
Adult capybaras grow up to 1.5 meters in length, up to a meter in height, and weigh about 105 kilograms. A huge guinea pig, by the way, easily gets along with people.
The largest bony fish in the world
Meeting one while swimming means getting shocked. Ocean sunfish have a bony rather than cartilaginous skeleton. The largest bony fish resembles the head of a fish with a tail, where the main part is slightly smoothed from the side. 
The oceanic specimen is 1.8 meters long, and from fin to fin, even more so, up to 2.5 meters. The fisherman's dream weight is 1000 kilograms. By the way, there were even more impressive specimens - up to 3.3 meters in length, weighing up to 2,300 kilograms.
The biggest snake
This is green anaconda. And therefore it takes pride of place with the TOP of the largest animals on the planet. 
Maximum size, which was recorded, is 7.5 meters in length and 250 kilograms in weight. However, there are rumors about larger individuals.
The biggest bird in the world
The largest bird in the world cannot fly. The ostrich is an inhabitant of the plains of Arabia and Africa. Male individuals grow up to 2.8 meters and weigh from 150 kilograms. 
An egg laid by an ostrich is worth a lot. It weighs about 1.5 kilograms and is the largest egg in the world. By the way, ostriches run at a speed of about 100 kilometers per hour. And this fact makes it the fastest bird in the world and the fastest two-legged animal on the planet.
The largest living animal in the world
This is definitely a blue whale. He is marine mammals. The length of the individual reaches 30 meters, the weight of the monster is about 180 tons. And with such parameters, the blue whale can proudly bear the title of “the largest animal in the world” that has ever lived. 
The mammal's tongue alone weighs about 2.7 tons. The size can be compared to the size of an average Indian elephant. Heart blue whale weighs about 600 kilograms. And it is the largest in the world. For comparison, the heart is comparable to a MiniCooper car in size and weight.
But animals can differ not only in physical size, but also in mental parameters. For example, among domestic animals, the smartest, no matter how surprising it may seem, are pigs.
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Humanity has always been tormented by the eternal question - what are the largest animals on Earth? Before the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries, when people began to go out into the open sea with enviable regularity, either an elephant or a hippopotamus were considered such.
When man began to actively explore the ocean, he met cetaceans, which were clearly superior to any land animal. And, in the end, when paleontology began to develop, people learned that in ancient times there were animals on Earth of such a size that they could easily “put a whale and a hippopotamus in their belt.”
The largest animal in the world
The largest animal in the history of the Earth
Amphicelia is a herbivorous dinosaur that lived in Africa 145-160 million years ago. It moved on four legs, had a height of up to 8 meters, and a length from head to tail of up to 45 meters. Approximate weight – 180 tons. It fed on deciduous treetops during the Jurassic period.
The largest animal of our time
The largest sea animal
Largest animal weight
All three positions are occupied by the Blue Whale. As you can see, the whale is the very, very, very... It is the largest animal and mammal over the last 90 million years. Lives in all known oceans except the northern ones. It got its name from the characteristic blue tint on its back. It can weigh up to 170 tons and reach a length of 30 meters. It feeds on plankton and tiny marine organisms.
The largest land animal and the animal with the largest ears
The African elephant is a large land herbivore of modern times. The largest specimen was registered in Angola in 1990 - height was 2 meters, weight - 13 tons. Typically, elephants of this type have a solid color gray color, live in the African savanna, where they feed on the local bushes.
As you probably already understood, the African elephant is also the animal with the largest ears. If we take the ears as a circle, the radius will be approximately 40 cm.
The biggest dangerous animal
The giant anaconda lives in the jungles of South America and can reach a weight of 300 kg and a length of 7 meters. It feeds on a wide variety of jungle “residents” - from monkeys to jaguars. The color varies from dark gray to mottled green.
Largest pet
Asian elephant - used in agriculture, tourism in the Indian Peninsula and South Asia. He's a little smaller in size its African counterpart is about 1.5 meters tall and weighs up to 5 tons. It feeds on reed plants.
The largest cat animal
African lion - lives on the African continent. Lives in “prides”: one male plus several females. Lions can reach up to 2.5 meters in length (including tail), and weigh up to 250 kg. It feeds exclusively on other mammals, mainly artiodactyls (antelope). It has a thick mane of yellow-brown color.
Largest flying animal
African great bustard- males reach a length of up to 1.2 m, weight can be 20 kg. It feeds on snakes and small rodents. The body is gray in color and the wings are brown.
The biggest small animals
The capybara is the largest living rodent. The body has a length of up to 1.35 m, and the weight reaches more than 60 kg. It feeds on grain crops. Lives in the northern part of South America.
The highest speed of an animal
Cheetah - lives on the African continent. Has a long elongated body, a long tail, helping to “steer” when running. The highest recorded speed is 60 km/h. However, such a race lasts relatively short, no more than a minute. The color has yellow color, with small black spots. An exceptional predator, hunts small artiodactyls (roe deer).
Animals not included in the Top 10 that we can’t help but talk about:
The animal with the biggest eyes
The Philippine tarsier is the animal with the largest eyes in terms of the ratio of eyeballs to total body weight. Body length reaches 10 cm, weight - 134 grams. The eyes can rotate 360 degrees. Leads night image life. It has a dark brown color and feeds on insects. Lives in the Philippine Islands.
Animal with the biggest brain
Sperm whale - its brain weighs about 8 kg. Body length - up to 20 m, weight - 39 tons. Lives in all warm oceans, feeds on cephalopods ( giant squid – main enemy). The skin of the sperm whale is the color of prunes.
Animal with the biggest teeth
Narwhal - amazing inhabitant northern seas. The only representative of its species. Their large horn is a strongly grown incisor tooth from the upper jaw row. The length of the horn-tooth reaches up to 3 m. The body has a length of 4.5 m, weight can reach 900 kg. It feeds on fish and crustaceans.
The longest living animals
Greenland shark - can live up to 400 years. Reaches a length of up to 3 m, weight can be up to 1000 kg. Feeds on fish. The skin has a characteristic dark blue tint. Lives in the exceptionally cold waters around the island of Greenland.
The animal with the biggest horns
Watussi bull - the length of its horns can reach 2.5 meters. Lives on the African continent. Body length - 170 cm, weight - 800 kg. It feeds mainly on rough food, for example, unrefined cereals. The color is dark brown.
Largest animal statue
Statue of the Cat of Raval - installed in Barcelona, Spain. It has no special connection to historical events; it is the exclusive fantasy of the sculptor Fernando Botero. Dimensions: height - 2.5 m, length - 7 m, weight - 2 tons. This cat monument is made of metal, painted brown with a golden tint.
Our planet is inhabited by an endless variety of living creatures that differ from each other in weight, size and habitat. Some representatives of one species or another inspire genuine delight with their incredible size. Giant creatures truly arouse special interest not only among scientists, but also among ordinary people. Who are these animals and what sizes do they reach later in the article.
At the end of the article we have prepared a surprise 🎁 - an exciting test to test your attentiveness 😃
Modern giant animals
A representative of an arthropod species. The span of its paws reaches 4 meters, and its weight is 20 kg. The spider crab lives at a depth of 400 - 500 meters, rising higher only to reproduce. They leave their larvae in shallow water - about one and a half million, but a maximum of 10 - 15% of them survive. Lifespan Japanese crab exceeds 100 years.
Of the currently living flying birds, the pelican is recognized as the largest. With a length of 180 cm and a weight of 15 kg. The pelican has an interesting plumage - like white curls. But special feature birds have a very long beak. With such a beak it is easy for a pelican to catch fish, but most The bird spends time with its head on its shoulders due to the heavy load on its neck.
But among flightless birds, the ostrich takes honorable first place. With its heaviness - up to 156 kg, the ostrich is considered the fastest biped on earth - it is capable of reaching speeds of up to 97 km/h. The ostrich has very long legs and neck. Information about the primitiveness of this bird is not made up. The brain size is comparable to walnut, which causes a low level of intelligence.
Anaconda and Reticulated Python
These two representatives of the world fauna are placed in the same place for the following reasons: the python is longer than the anaconda, but inferior in weight. For comparison, the maximum recorded length of an anaconda is 7.5 meters, and that of a python is 9.5 meters.
Common sunfish
This is the name of the sea bone fish, which has left its relatives far behind in size. The average individual weighs 1 ton and grows up to 2.5 meters wide. This sea animal got its name because unusual shape the body is round, with torn edges.
This huge rodent, weighing 105 kilograms, can grow up to 1.35 meters in length and up to 60cm in height. Funny heavy animals lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle and look like guinea pigs. There is an opinion that capybaras are the kindest creatures on the planet and one cannot but agree with this. Although they do not cause affection, they get along well not only with people, but also with pets - dogs, cats.
Kalong or giant flying fox
A member of the fruit bat family. An ordinary person might be reminded bat. But this is only due to the method of attachment to the branches. The kalong's muzzle is very similar to a dog or fox. Kalongs feed on fruits and usually surround plantations in flocks, causing damage agriculture. The wingspan reaches one and a half meters.
Flanders
Descendant of the Patagonian hare. The breed was developed in the late 17th century in Belgium and is still used for both livestock and domestic use. The Guinness Book of Records records the largest representative of this breed. Its weight is 12 kg. The average individual grows to 8–9 kg. Due to its size, the hare looks awkward and disproportionate, which seems quite cute. Flanders are often kept as pets.
Chinese giant salamander
Amphibians are recognized as an endangered species, since they can live exclusively in clean water. The deteriorating environmental situation in the world has a detrimental effect on the population of Chinese salamanders. Research scientists give a sad forecast - in the 21st century, these unique animals, reaching 180 cm in length, will completely disappear from the earth.
Coastal predator. With a length of 7 meters and a weight of up to 2 tons, the crocodile becomes literally a deadly carnivorous machine for gaping animals. In addition, combed crocodiles are able to trace animal behavior, such as migration routes, as well as develop complex behavioral traits. Therefore, crocodiles become the subject of worship among many peoples, causing tremulous fear.
A subspecies of the seal family is distinguished by its enormous weight - up to 5 tons, and length: females - up to 3.5 meters, males - up to 6.5 meters. Large creatures can dive to a depth of 1400 meters for prey - fish and cephalopods. The seal is constantly in the water, even in its sleep.
Polar bear
Largest land omnivorous predator who inhabits the earth today. The largest predatory animal weighs 1 ton. Male individuals usually weigh at least 500 kg. It mainly feeds on marine animals, which it catches from under the ice.
Giraffe
The most tall mammal on the planet. Weighing 1 ton, an adult male giraffe reaches 6 meters in height. Widespread representatives of this species were obtained in Africa. These are exclusively herbivorous animals, such growth allows them to get food on trees. The giraffe seems to be leisurely, but this is a myth. These mammals are capable of moving at a speed of 55 km/h, and over short distances they can easily leave a racehorse behind. Due to its long legs, the giraffe can only walk on hard surfaces, so ponds or swampy areas are a restricted area for it.
Savannah elephant
The largest land animal. The recorded weight record is 12.2 tons. The diet of the savannah elephant is exclusively plant-based. It is noteworthy that an adult male needs to eat up to 300 kg of leaves and grass per day. They prefer a nomadic lifestyle. The most experienced female becomes the leader of the herd. Males in the herd are up to sexually mature age. At the onset of maturity, African elephants move into bachelor herds. And then they prefer a solitary lifestyle. In search of food, an adult elephant is able to walk up to 12 kilometers a day.
The largest animal in the world and he is also the largest mammal. The inhabitant of the oceans is ubiquitous. His giant size are amazing: weight 150 tons and length up to 33 meters. It is not surprising that even photographs are not able to fully convey the greatness of this creature. The blue whale feeds on plankton and rarely goes beyond the coastal zone.
Prehistoric giants
Thanks to archaeological excavations, paleontologists have been able to provide information about giant individuals that lived millions of years ago. The next selection is just about these creatures.
This dinosaur is considered the largest animal in the world, living 150 million years ago BC. It reached 48 meters, which is much larger than the size of the living leader of the giants - blue whale. Archaeologists have only been able to excavate and identify parts of the spine of this majestic reptile. Currently, the existence of this species is being questioned, therefore archaeological excavations plan to resume.
The progenitor of modern boas is much longer - up to 13 meters and weighing 1 ton. Lived 60 million years ago.
An apex predator shark that lives in the ocean. Only the tooth of this 48-ton monster would hardly fit in the hands of a person. It is believed that the jaws of megalodon could bite food weighing 10 tons.
The largest animals on earth are record-breaking animals that have reached the maximum parameters among their species in terms of mass, height or length. In this list you will find the names of the largest animals and learn a lot of interesting things about the largest animals on earth.
10. Capybara
Capybara (other name: capybara) is the largest representative of the Rodent order. The word capybara in the Indian language means “lord of the grass.” An adult capybara reaches a length of up to 135 cm, with a height at the withers of up to 60 cm. A capybara weighs up to 65 kg, females are larger than males.
9. Tiger
Tiger is the most large predator from the Feline family. The largest tigers are the Bengal and Amur tigers. The dimensions of these big cats can reach up to 3 meters in length, excluding the length of the tail. The weight of a tiger can reach up to 300 kg. The height at the withers is up to 115 cm.
Weight records are known for these tiger species. U bengal tiger the maximum weight was 388 kg, and Amur tiger– 384 kg. The word tiger means "sharp" and "fast".
8. Polar bear
The polar bear (other names: polar bear, northern bear, umka) is a large predator from the Bear family. The only one of the largest land predators on the planet that is prone to tracking and hunting humans, considering them as equal prey. Polar bear can reach a body length of 3 meters and weigh 1 ton. Height at the withers is up to 150 cm. Females are smaller than males.
7. Big red kangaroo
Great red kangaroo (other name: red gigantic kangaroo) is the largest kangaroo. Adult males reach a length of 1.5 meters and a body weight of 85 kg. The length of the tail is about 1 meter. Sometimes the height of especially large males is up to 2 meters. Females are smaller than males.
6. Gorilla
Gorillas are the most great monkeys, representatives from the order Primates. In adult males, the height can reach up to 2 meters, and the shoulder width is 1 meter. The weight of males reaches 250 kg or more. Females are almost 2 times smaller than males.
5. Giraffe
The giraffe is a mammal from the order Artiodactyls, which is the tallest animal on the planet. The length of the neck of these animals is 1/3 of the length of the entire body. The male grows up to 6 meters in height and weighs about 1000 kg. Females are slightly smaller than males in size.
4. Hippopotamus
Common hippopotamus, or hippopotamus - large land mammal from the order Artiodactyls. A weight of 3 tons is not uncommon for this animal, because its weight can reach 4.5 tons. The height of a hippopotamus is up to 165 cm. The body length of an adult usually reaches 3 meters, but can reach up to 5 meters.
3. White rhinoceros
The white rhinoceros is a huge mammal, a member of the Rhinoceros family. Old males reach a body weight of 5 tons. Rhinos usually weigh 2-2.5 tons. Their body length is 4 meters and height is 2 meters.
2. Savannah elephant
The savannah elephant is an animal from the African elephant genus. The savannah elephant is the largest animal and the largest land mammal. The body length of these elephants reaches 7 meters, and the height is 3.5 meters. The average body weight of a word is 7 tons, but can reach up to 12 tons. Males are slightly larger than females.
1. Blue whale
The blue whale, or blue whale, is the largest animal on Earth in terms of mass and length that has ever lived. The blue whale is also the largest whale of all Cetaceans and the largest mammal.
The size of the blue whale is quite impressive. It’s not for nothing that the blue whale is currently the largest animal on Earth. These giants reach a length of 30 meters and weigh more than 150 tons. And despite its size, the blue whale easily turns over on its back, as you can see in the photo below.
Females are slightly larger than males. The largest female blue whale was 33 meters long and weighed 190 tons, and the largest male weighed 180 tons and had a body length of 31 meters.
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