The largest animal living on earth. The largest animals on the planet earth

At the word "giant" most people represent either huge diplodocus or a mammoth from " ice age". Another option is not excluded - eucalyptus and baobabs. However, there are many more creatures whose size may pleasantly (and not so) surprise you. Oddly enough, huge living organisms exist not only in fairy tales and the prehistoric past, but also share the planet with us right now! Here is a list of notable animals ranging from dog-sized rabbits to human-sized crabs. Feel tiny with the most large inhabitants peace!

Female hippopotamus during evening rest

Looking at these funny creatures (which, by the way, are among the most aggressive mammals in the world: more people suffer from them than from crocodiles and sharks), it's hard to believe that their closest relatives are sea whales. Although landed, hippos are still undividedly devoted aquatic environment, as evidenced by the etymology of their Greek name - "river horse".

Male gorilla on a halt

This species of gorilla is on the verge of extinction. Humanly intelligent primate lives only in a small area in Africa, where deforestation and poaching have made his life a struggle for survival. The eastern gorilla is the largest representative of the species of higher primates.

The largest breed of rabbit is the Flanders.

Flandre domestic rabbit and collie

This breed of game rabbit is about the size of an average dog and can impress both gourmets and furry lovers. The largest rabbit was first bred in the Middle Ages near the Belgian city of Ghent.

Octopus in an early 19th century engraving

Only recently it was possible to prove the existence of giant squids, since they rarely appear on the surface. Many oceanographers believe that legendary kraken and there is a representative of this subspecies of cephalopods. Until the end of the 20th century, the only evidence of its existence was the imprints of plate-sized suction cups on the bodies of sperm whales. However, in 2004, Japanese researchers managed to photograph a living giant squid in his habitat.

"Flying" stingray in shallow water

This majestic slope, nicknamed " sea ​​devil", can have a wingspan of up to eight meters. Moreover, a manta can easily jump several meters out of the water. Unfortunately, this beautiful sight can only be observed on the high seas and only during the breeding season.

Old White shark on the hunt

This sea ​​monster is the largest and most aggressive fish alive today (it's good that megalodons are extinct). Moreover, she has no natural enemies except for killer whales and humans.

Capybara is a peaceful rodent animal

Rodent sunbathing

This sweet creature feels comfortable at home and is increasingly becoming a pet. The capybara is the largest rodent. They live in families or even groups in South America.

Anaconda while hunting

This snake is the largest in the world and even has its own horror franchise. Large individuals can reach eight meters in length. Some types of pythons can surpass the anaconda in size, but do not overtake it in thickness.

The head and structure of the anterior part of the body of a perch

As the name suggests, this perch lives in the Nile River and is the largest freshwater fish. Its length can reach the height of an adult. Its other name is "water elephant".

A trace from the movement of such a carcass is the best signal to turn back

This species of reptile is the largest of the living. Salted crocodile can be found in the Indian Ocean off the coast. This monster is known for its aggressiveness, so if you see two rows of prongs swimming towards you, you better get out of your way.

flying fox on vacation

Unfortunately, this large bat is on the verge of extinction due to the fact that its habitats in the Philippines are being cut down and polluted. Acerodon is peaceful and feeds exclusively on fruits.

Komodo dragon digesting lunch

These legendary "dragons" are the largest lizards in the world. Known for their gluttony: at one meal, they can eat almost as much as they weigh themselves. However, there is a downside to their appetite: the metabolism of monitor lizards is so slow that it is enough for a monitor lizard to eat once a month.

Cassowary comb is considered an aphrodisiac

They are the largest birds outside of Africa. Despite their peaceful disposition, cassowaries can attack people during the current period or if the bird feels threatened by its offspring.

Killer whale while chasing a fur seal

Actually, killer whales are not whales. They are the largest members of the dolphin family. They are highly intelligent and live in large families.

A female sperm whale with a calf

These huge whales are the largest predators on the planet. In addition, sperm whales have the largest brain. However, this does not save them from whalers.

Crab at Tokyo Aquarium

A true arthropod champion. This type of crab lives off the coast of Japan. It is known for its size (it can weigh up to 20 kg), taste (gourmets around the world queue up for its phalanges) and longevity (there are individuals that have lived for a century).

Elephant female scaring away intruders

It's scary to imagine, but these mammals can reach 5 tons of weight. And given their aggressiveness and size, elephant seals can safely be called the largest carnivores on land (although they prey on marine life, to our happiness).

Pelican before flying for fish

This species of pelican is the largest flying bird. Lives on the territory of the Eurasian continent.

Emu during mating season

The comical but dangerous and aggressive bird is known to be the largest in the world. It can accelerate to 70 km / h, which allows ostriches to win in two categories: the fastest bipedal creature and the fastest flightless bird.

Giraffe in one of the US zoos

Everyone is well aware of these amazing and cute creatures. Despite its good nature, the giraffe can run fast and fight back even lions. This mammal is the tallest land animal.

Huge fish at the New Mexico Aquarium

This inhabitant of the oceans is the largest representative bony fish(those who do not have cartilage, but full-fledged bones).

Salamander at the Beijing Zoo

The Chinese have put the fate of this type of lizard in danger of extinction, as they value its meat for taste and use internal organs in traditional medicine.

The bear is looking for food in the polar winter

Despite the apparent "plushiness", polar bears are strong and vicious predators that can tear a person apart in a matter of seconds. They say that there is no escape from him, except for a shameful flight.

Male, scaring away trespassers

The largest land creature. Representatives of this species have no enemies who could attack it with impunity (except for people who destroy elephants on an industrial scale). Its weight can reach 12 tons.

Young whale playing with a school of fish

Perhaps, over time, new species of living beings will acquire monstrous proportions. And among the living there may be unknown giants, which we will definitely find out about.

Let's take a look at the giants that still roam the Earth.

15. Giant flying fox ≈ 1.5 kg

The largest bat on earth. These bats live in the Philippines. The body size of a fox is about 55 cm, weight is 1.5 kg, but the wingspan is very solid - up to 1.8 meters.

14. Belgian flandre giant - up to 25 kg

A domesticated form of a hare (rabbit). The main selection was carried out in the meat-skin direction, which left an imprint on its size. This is the largest breed of rabbits. Their average weight is 10-12 kg, the maximum recorded is 25 kg.

13. Chinese giant salamander ≈ 70 kg

The largest amphibian on earth. The length of the salamander reaches 180 cm. These amazing creatures live in China, where their meat is revered as a delicacy, so few salamanders grow to their maximum size.

12. Capybara ≈ 105 kg

Most big rodent on the ground. These cute animals live in South America. Adult capybaras grow up to 1.5 meters in length, and in weight they can gain up to 105 kg. By the way, these rodents are happy to live next to a person.

11. Giant green anaconda ≈ 250 kg

This close relative of the python, on Earth. She lives in the tropics South America. The maximum recorded body length is more than 7.5 meters, and the weight is 250 kilograms. The Asian python surpasses the anaconda in length, which is 9.7 meters, but loses in weight.

10. Polar bear ≈ 500 kg

To find the largest bear in the world you need to go to the Arctic. There, among the snow and ice, majestic polar bears live - a living embodiment of the formidable forces of nature.

The Inuit call polar bears "nanuk", which means "respected".

At birth, a newborn polar bear cub weighs only 700 grams. And the milk that he eats is superior in fat content to the milk of other types of bears. Two months after birth, the bear cub weighs 10 kg.

Until a year and a half, a caring mother accompanies him everywhere. And at the age of two, when many human children still have difficulty walking and soiling diapers, a young polar bear is already gaining its normal weight and is capable of picking up a bearded seal, a ringed seal, or even a person if he is not careful enough.

Even for the world's largest bear, finding food can be a challenge. Less than two percent of polar bear hunts are successful, so half of their lives are spent looking for food.

9. Salted crocodile ≈ 590 kg

Most of the largest animals are not peaceful in nature. But even among them, combed crocodiles stand out for their aggressiveness and bloodthirstiness. even got into the Guinness Book of Records for the fact that, together with relatives, he ate a thousand Japanese soldiers during World War II.

But it is unlikely that combed crocodiles can be counted among the allies, because they would have just as much enjoyed eating Russian, American and any other soldiers.

8. Giraffe ≈ 800 kg

Among the largest animals in the world, giraffes immediately stand out with their long necks. Thanks to her, they are the tallest land creatures on the planet. The neck is 1/3 the length of the animal's body and, at the same time, consists of only seven cervical vertebrae, like in most other mammals.

About giraffes, we can safely say that they have a big heart. It weighs 12 kilograms, and creates pressure that would terrify any hypertensive patient. What will the body go to so that the blood can reach the brain.

Giraffes are also famous for their long tongues. Only they need him not for gossip, but in order to eat leaves from the very tall trees in the African savanna. In length, this organ reaches as much as 45 centimeters.

7. Hippo ≈ up to 4.5 tons

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to the third largest land animal in the world. But hippos don't really like to walk on the ground. They are semi-aquatic mammals, that is, they spend most of their day in rivers and lakes. This is how they keep their hairless body moisturized under the scorching African sun. If the hippopotamus does not have the opportunity to plunge into cool water, its skin cracks.

Female hippos began to give birth underwater long before it was fashion trend in the human world. By the way, hippos are one of the few mammals whose cubs can suck their mother's milk while underwater.

In most European languages, the hippopotamus is called the "hippo". This word came from the Latin language (and there, in turn, from Greek) and in translation means "river horse." Of course, this massive creature cannot be compared with, but in the water it is very fast and agile.

6. Southern elephant seal ≈ 2.2 tons

Among the largest animals of our planet, there are two elephants at once, and one of them is terrestrial, and the second is marine.

This seal got its name for a leather bag on its nose, which, during anxiety or during mating fights, swells up, turning into a large ball.

5. White rhino ≈ 2.3 tons

The old joke about the rhinoceros is that it has poor eyesight, but at such a large size, this is no longer its problem. Indeed, these giants do not particularly rely on sight. And even hearing plays a secondary role. But the sense of smell in white rhinos is very well developed. So don't approach it from the windward side.

By the way, unlike their small counterparts, black rhinos, whites usually run away when they see a person. But Black is attacking.

Due to the uncontrolled extermination of white rhinos, the northern subspecies has disappeared. This happened quite recently, in 2018, when the last male named Sudan died. So now we can only admire the photo of these largest animals in the world.

But the southern population still exists. But the question is: for how long?

4. African bush elephant ≈ 7 tons

Before you is a seven-ton answer to the question of what is the largest animal among terrestrial creatures. Due to its size and body weight, the elephant got into the Guinness Book of Records as the largest land mammal. Among the savannah elephants there are also their own heavyweights. So, in Angola in 1974, an elephant weighing 12.2 tons was shot dead.

Like their smaller counterparts, African elephants can use their trunks (which have over 40,000 muscles) to lift anything up to 180kg. Unfortunately, the largest land animal does not boast the largest population. 25,000 elephants die each year due to poaching.

3. Great whale shark ≈ 20 tons

It seems strange that - this is not the most terrible representative of the shark species. She doesn't even hunt whales, contrary to her name. Unlike most of its predatory counterparts, the great whale shark is content with plankton for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Floats this one sea ​​giant not very fast, and almost does not pay attention to people passing by. This allows divers to ride on the back of a whale shark if they wish.

In videos of the world's largest animals, you can often see people swimming with whale sharks.

2. Sperm whale ≈ 40 tons

One of better ways to recognize a sperm whale in the ocean - by its massive head. The sperm whales have the most big brain of all living things on Earth, it weighs up to 7.8 kg.

However, the fact that their heads are filled with spermaceti makes the biology of these creatures so fascinating. It is the spermaceti sac that accounts for 90% of the weight of the sperm whale's head.

Scientists suggest that it is spermaceti that helps these huge toothed whales dive and emerge from the depths. There must be something that keeps all 40 tons of sperm whale afloat!

1. Blue whale ≈ 150 tons

The largest animal on Earth is a majestic, carnivorous sea ​​creature, which weighs a whopping 150 tons and reaches a length of 33 meters. And this is still on average, since the whalers met both 180-ton and even 190-ton whales.

The heart of a blue whale is one and a half meters in size, weighs about 180 kilograms, and its aorta is wide enough for a baby to swim through it.

However, despite their gigantic size, blue whales are not dangerous to humans. They do not attack swimmers and feed on krill, small crustaceans, cephalopods and fish.

But a man for a blue whale is the most dangerous adversary. Due to active whaling and severe pollution of the seas, the largest animal in the world almost disappeared. In 1693, only 5 thousand individuals remained. And although now the population of the blue whale has grown to 10 thousand individuals, it is still on the verge of extinction.

Our world is truly amazing. It is full of beings big and small, low and high. Today we offer you an extraordinary interesting selection. It contains photographs of the fifteen largest animals in the world, broken down into different categories such as mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, etc. Some of these animals are real giants!

1. The largest animal in the world is the blue (or blue) whale.
The blue whale, also called the blue whale or vomit (Balaenoptera musculus), is marine mammals, which belongs to the order of cetaceans to the suborder of baleen whales. At 30 meters (98 ft) long and 180 metric tons or more in weight, it is the largest of the known to science animals that have ever lived on our planet. The tongue of a blue whale can weigh up to about 2.7 tons (5,952 pounds), which is about the same weight as a medium-sized whale. Asian elephant. Heart blue whale weighs about 600 kilograms (1,300 pounds) and is the largest such organ of any living being. The heart of a blue whale is not only the size of a small car, but it also weighs about the same as the mentioned car. And the lung capacity of a blue whale exceeds 3,000 liters.

2. The blue whale is thought to feed almost exclusively on small shrimp-like creatures known as krill.

3. The basis of the diet of the blue whale is plankton. Thanks to its filtering apparatus, which consists of whalebone plates, for summer months a blue whale can ingest a whopping 3.6 metric tons (7,900 pounds) or more daily.

4. This means that it can eat up to 40 million krill per day, while the daily calorie requirement of an adult blue whale is in the region of 1.5 million. kcal.

6. The largest land animal in the world: African elephant. The African elephant is the largest land animal. Male African elephants are 6 to 7.5 meters (19.7 to 24.6 ft) long, 3.3 m (10.8 ft) tall at the withers, and can weigh up to 6 tons (13,000 lb). Female African elephants are much smaller, averaging 5.4 to 6.9 m (17.7 to 22.6 ft) long, 2.7 meters (8.9 ft) high at the withers, and weighing up to reach 3 tons (6600 pounds). Adult African elephants generally have no enemies in their natural environment habitat because of its extremely large sizes, but baby elephants (especially newborns) are one of the favorite prey species for the bloodthirsty attacks of lions or crocodiles, and are also often attacked by leopards or hyenas. According to the latest data, in wild nature The population of African elephants is from 500 to 600 thousand individuals.

7. The tallest land animal in the world: the giraffe.

The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African mammal from the order artiodactyl families giraffe. It is the tallest land animal in the world. its height averages 5–6 meters (16–20 ft). Male giraffes have an average weight of 1,600 kilograms (3,500 lb), while females can weigh around 830 kilograms (1,800 lb). A distinguishing characteristic of the giraffe is its very long neck, which can reach over 2 meters (6 ft 7 in) in length. Actually, the neck accounts for almost half of the vertical height of the animal. Long neck is the result of a disproportionate lengthening of the cervical vertebrae, and not an increase in the number of vertebrae, of which the giraffe, like almost all other mammals, has only seven

8. largest predator in the world: Southern sea ​​Elephant.
The southern elephant seal is the largest carnivore on our planet. The size of the southern elephant seal is evidence of extreme sexual dimorphism, the most significant of any mammal, as male southern elephant seals are typically five to six times heavier than females. While females can average 400 to 900 kilograms (880 to 2,000 lb) and be 2.6 to 3 meters (8.5 to 9.8 ft) long, southern elephant seal males average approximately 2,200 to 4,000 kg (4,900 to 8,800 lb) and can reach 4.5 to 5.8 meters (15 to 19 ft) in length. The record-breaking southern elephant seal, shot at Possession Bay, South Georgia on February 28, 1913, measured 6.85 meters (22.5 feet) in length and is estimated to have weighed approximately 5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds).
Southern marines can dive multiple times while hunting, staying submerged for more than twenty minutes each time, tracking their prey, squid and fish, at depths of 400 to 1,000 meters (1,300 to 3,300 ft). The documented record for the longest time underwater for a juvenile elephant seal was approximately two hours. The maximum depth to which southern elephant seals can dive is over 1,400 meters (4,600 ft).

9. The largest land predator in the world: Polar bear and Kodiak bear.

The world's largest terrestrial predators are white polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and the Kodiak brown bear, (Ursus ARCTOS). If everything is more or less clear with the white polar bear, then the Kodiak bear is less known.

10. Kodiak is a subspecies of brown bears that are found on Kodiak Island and other islands of the Kodiak archipelago off the southern coast of Alaska. Since the polar white bear and the Kodiak brown bear have approximately the same body size, it is not clear which of them actually ranks first in size. In both species, the height at the withers is over 1.6 meters (5.2 ft), and the total body length can reach 3.05 m (10.0 ft). Absolute weight record for polar and brown bear amounted to 1003 kg (2210 pounds) and 1135 kg (2500 pounds) respectively.

11. The largest reptile in the world: Saltwater (combed or spongy) crocodile.
The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the largest living reptile in the world. The habitat of combed crocodiles is from Northern Australia to Southeast Asia and the east coast of India. An adult male saltwater crocodile can weigh between 409 and 1,000 kilograms (900–2,200 lb) and is typically 4.1 to 5.5 meters (13–18 ft) long. However, males can exceed 6 meters (20 ft) in length and sometimes weigh over 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Saltwater crocodile is the only crocodile species that regularly reaches a length of 4.8 m (16 ft) and even exceeds this mark. The saltwater crocodile is an active predator that feeds mainly on insects, mollusks, amphibians, crustaceans, small reptiles and fish. However, it attacks almost any animal that is in its territory, either in water or on land. The crocodile always drags the victim, which he watches over on land, into the water, where it is more difficult for her to resist him.

12. The largest amphibian in the world: the Chinese giant salamander.
The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is the largest salamander in the world. Individual individuals of the Chinese giant salamander can reach a length of 180 centimeters (6 feet), although at present such giants are extremely rare. This species is endemic mountain rivers and lakes in China. One of the conditions necessary for the survival of the Chinese giant salamander is clean and very cold water.

13. To date, this species is considered endangered due to habitat destruction, pollution environment and targeted destruction, as giant amphibian meat is considered a delicacy and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

14. Largest rabbit / hare in the world: "Belgian flandre". The Belgian Flemish is an ancient breed of domesticated rabbit that originates from the Flemish region.

15. They were first bred back in the sixteenth century in the vicinity of the city of Ghent, Belgium. Belgian Flemish rabbits can weigh up to 12.7 kilograms (28 pounds).

16. The largest bat in the world: the giant golden flying fox. In the photo: a giant golden flying fox. Spectacled flying fox.

The largest of all bat species is the giant golden flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), an endangered species bats from rainforest Philippines, which is part of the fruit bat family. The basis of the diet of giant golden flying foxes is fruits. Giant golden flying foxes can have a maximum weight of 1.5 kg (3.3 lb), they can be up to 55 centimeters (22 in) long and have a wingspan of nearly 1.8 meters (5.9 ft). The giant flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) is inferior to the golden flying fox in terms of body weight and length, but is ahead of it in wingspan. Scientists have recorded individuals with a wingspan ranging from 1.83 meters (6.0 feet) to 2 meters (6.6 feet).

17. The largest rodent in the world: capybara.
The largest of the existing rodents is the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), a species that is found along the shores of various reservoirs in tropical and temperate parts of Central and South America, east of the Andes - from Panama to Uruguay to northeast Argentina. One of the main conditions for the existence of capybaras is the presence of a nearby reservoir.

18. The largest specimens of capybaras can reach 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) in length and 0.9 meters (3.0 feet) in height at the withers. They can weigh up to 105.4 kg (232 lb). This is a very active species. Capybaras are social animals that live in groups of up to a hundred individuals, but the average number of one colony is 10-20 individuals on average.

19. Largest bony fish in the world: common moonfish (sunfish, headfish).

Osteichthyes, also called "bony fish", are a taxonomic group of fish that have bony, not cartilaginous, skeletons. The vast majority of fish belong to the species Osteichthyes. This is an extremely diverse and numerous group, which consists of more than 29,000 species. This is the most numerous class of vertebrates that currently exists.

20. The largest representative of bony fish is the widespread common moonfish (sunfish, fishhead) or Mola Mola. She has an extremely strange body shape - it is laterally compressed, very high and short, which gives the fish an outlandish appearance and a shape similar to a disk. In fact, it does not have a body as such - a sunfish is literally a "head with a tail." A mature Common Fishhead has an average length of 1.8 meters (5.9 ft), a width from fin to fin of up to 2.5 meters (8.2 ft), and an average weight of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb). However, scientists have recorded individuals that can be up to 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) long and 4.2 meters (14 feet) across. The weight of such giants can reach 2,300 kilograms (5,100 pounds).

21. largest lizard/ snake in the world: giant green anaconda.

The giant anaconda, sometimes also called the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), is a species of snake in the boa subfamily. It lives in the tropical part of South America east of the Andes, Paraguay, Northern Bolivia, French Guiana. The maximum recorded body length is 7.5 meters (25 feet), and the maximum recorded weight reaches 250 kilograms (550 pounds), although there are rumors of much larger green anacondas. reticulated python(Python reticulatus) from Southeast Asia is longer in body length but thinner, and members of this species are reported to reach a maximum of 9.7 meters (32 ft) in length.

22. The world's largest bird: ostrich.

ostrich, most large bird on our planet (Struthio Camelus), is found on the territory of the plains of Africa and Arabia. scientific name ostrich in Greek means "camel sparrow". A large male ostrich can reach a height of 2.8 meters (9.2 feet), and weigh over 156 kilograms (345 pounds). Ostrich eggs can weigh up to 1.4 kilograms (3 lb) and are the largest bird eggs in the world. modern world. Ostriches can run at a top speed of up to 97.5 km/h (60.6 mph), making the ostrich the fastest bird on earth and the fastest bipedal creature in the world.

The Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is a member of the Pelican family. The habitat of curly pelicans is a significant area from Southeast Europe to India and China. Dalmatian pelicans inhabit swamps and shallow lakes. It is the largest of the pelicans, averaging 160-180 centimeters (63-70 inches) in length, and weighing 11-15 kilograms (24-33 pounds). The wingspan of the curly pelican is just over 3 meters (10 ft). An average weight of 11.5 kilograms (25 lb) makes the Dalmatian Pelican the heaviest flying bird. Although a large male bustard or swan may exceed the pelican in maximum weight.

24. The largest arthropod in the world: Japanese spider crab.

The Japanese spider crab is a type of marine crab that lives in the waters off the coast of Japan. In the span of the first pair of legs, it reaches 3.8 meters (12 feet), and can weigh up to 41 pounds (19 kilograms).

26. In its natural habitat, japanese crab-spider It feeds on shellfish and animal carcasses and can live up to 100 years.

In this article, we invite you on a fascinating tour of the list of the 25 largest living things on Earth, ranging from giants by microscopic standards - viruses, bacteria and amoebae to the largest invertebrates, insects, amphibians, birds, reptiles, fish, mammals, plants and mushrooms.

1. The largest known virus (1.5 microns in length)

One can argue for a long time whether viruses are actually living organisms - some biologists say yes, others are not so sure. However, there is no doubt that Pithovirus a real giant among viruses known to science (about 1.5 microns in length), 50 percent more than the nearest record holder - Pandoravirus. Perhaps you thought that a pathogen of such a size as Pithovirus capable of infecting large animals such as elephants, hippos or even humans. But do not worry, the virus only infects amoebas, which are not much larger than itself.

2. The world's largest bacterium (more than 0.5 mm in length)

Thiomargarita namibiensis- translated from Latin means "Namibian sulfur pearl". The bacterium got its name because of the sulfur granules included in the cytoplasm, giving it a brilliant appearance. Size thiomargarita namibiensis is more than half a millimeter wide, which makes it possible to see it with the naked eye. Thiomargarita namibiensis absolutely harmless to humans and animals, as it is a lithotroph (organisms that use inorganic substances as oxidizable substrates (electron donors)).

3. The largest amoeba on the planet (3 mm long)

The largest amoeba belongs to the genus Chaos. Of course, she is much smaller than the monstrous amoebas from comics and sci-fi movies. But still, this is a real giant among amoebas, which is easy to see with the naked eye. Another feature of the world's largest amoeba is the ability to digest small multicellular organisms, bacteria and protists.

4. The heaviest beetle (85-110 g)

Despite the fact that the goliath is not the longest beetle in the world, nevertheless, given their mass (some individuals weigh more than 100 g), they certainly live up to their name. The goliath beetle, in terms of mass and size, is comparable to an adult gerbil mouse, as you have already seen by looking at the photo above.

5. The largest spider (body weight up to 175 g)

Theraphosa Blonda or goliath tarantula is the largest spider in the world, native to the rainforests of South America. Considering the legs, the body length of the goliath tarantula can reach up to 28 cm, and weight up to 175 g. The life expectancy of female giant spiders in the wild is up to 25 years, and puberty occurs at 3 years. Males were less fortunate, despite the fact that they are not eaten by the female after the act of mating, like other types of spiders, their life expectancy is much shorter - from 3 to 6 years.

6. The largest worm (average length 60-90 cm)

If you have a strong dislike for worms, then you may be alarmed by the fact that there are more than half a dozen species of giant worms - the largest of which is the African giant worm, up to 1.5 m long. Despite the size comparable to the average snake, giant earthworms are just as harmless as their smaller counterparts. They like to burrow deep into the mud, stay away from humans (and other animals), quietly eating rotten leaves and other decaying organic matter.

7. The largest amphibian (body weight up to 3 kg)

"Goliath" is a popular name for the largest fauna of its kind (see #4 and #5). The goliath frog lives in west-central Africa. The average weight of a goliath frog is about 2.5 kg, which is much less than the mass Beelzebufo ampinga(about 5 kg) - the largest frog that lived on Earth during the late Cretaceous period.

8. The largest arthropod (3-4 m including legs)

The Japanese spider crab is truly a huge and extremely long-legged animal. The front legs of this representative of arthropods reach a length of up to 2 m, and the body is up to 45 cm. The motley, orange-white color of the exoskeleton serves as an excellent disguise from large marine predators. Like most others strange creatures, the Japanese spider crab is a valuable delicacy in Japan, but in Lately, rarely found on restaurant menus due to pressure from conservationists.

9. The largest flowering plant (diameter up to 1 m)

Luckily for all of us, Rafflesia Arnold's habitat is limited to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. You definitely won't meet her in the neighbor's garden. :)

10. The largest sponge on the planet (up to 2 m in diameter)

Except that giant sea sponge (Xestospongia muta) the largest of its kind, it holds the record for the longest lifespan among invertebrates, with some individuals living over 1,000 years. Like other types of sponges, xestospongia muta feeds by filtering small organisms from sea ​​water.

11. The largest jellyfish (up to 37 m in length)

With a dome diameter of about 2 m and tentacles over 30 m, hairy cyanoea is comparable in length to a blue whale (see item #22). Despite such a gigantic size, the tentacles of these jellyfish do not represent mortal danger for humans (only pain and skin rash). The hairy cyanide also serves an important ecological function, providing various types of fish and crustaceans with shelter under a huge dome.

Interestingly, the hairy cyanide is a favorite food source for the other giant on this list, the leatherback turtle (see #17)

12. The largest flying bird (adult males weigh up to 20 kg)

Considering the huge (by the standards of birds) body weight - up to 20 kg, the African great bustard goes against the laws of aerodynamics. It is not the most graceful bird in the world when it comes to flight. In fact, the African great bustard spends a significant part of its life on land in southern Africa, clucking loudly and devouring almost everything that moves. She uses flight only in cases of extreme danger.

In this respect, the African great bustard is no different from the even larger pterosaurs, the flying reptiles of the Mesozoic era.

13. The largest representative of protists (over 45 m in length)

Many people mistakenly believe that there are only four categories of life - bacteria, plants, fungi and animals - but let's not forget primitive eukaryotic organisms such as chromists. Most likely you will be surprised by the fact that all algae are protists. The largest representative of protists is Macrocystis pyrifera- a type of brown algae from the family Laminaria, which is able to grow more than 45 m in length, providing a reliable refuge for many marine organisms.

14. The largest non-flying bird (up to 270 cm in height and weighing up to 156 kg)

If taken globally, then the ostrich is not only the largest non-flying bird, but in general the largest bird living on Earth today. The maximum recorded height of an ostrich is 2.7 m and a mass of 156 kg. It may seem incredible, but relatively recently (about 200-300 years ago) on the island of Madagascar, a bird species lived - the Madagascar epiornis, in comparison with which an ostrich would seem like a chicken. These birds could reach 3-5 m in height and up to 500 kg in weight, which is comparable to the size of birds of the Dromornis genus that lived on the planet during the Late Miocene.

15. The largest snake (weight - 97.5 kg)

Compared to other organisms on this list, size classification of snakes is much more difficult. Even professional naturalists tend to overestimate the size of the snakes they have observed in the wild, since it is almost impossible to transport large specimens for detailed study. At the same time, most scientists agree that the anaconda is the largest snake planets. The largest anaconda caught was 521 cm long and weighed 97.5 kg.

16. The largest representative of bivalves (over 200 kg)

Giant tridacna - the most great view from the class of bivalves, found in the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The maximum weight of the giant tridacnana is more than 200 kg, and the shell length can exceed 1 m. Despite its formidable reputation, the giant mollusk closes its shell only in case of danger, and its size is not enough to swallow an adult.

17. The largest turtle (weight over 500 kg)

Leatherback turtle - large species sea ​​turtles living in tropical latitudes. These turtles are strikingly different from their relatives. The leatherback turtle shell is made up of small bony plates and is not attached to the skeleton as in other species. In addition to body structure, distinctive feature leatherback turtles is their gigantic size- the mass of an adult can exceed 500 kg.

18. The largest reptile (weight up to 1000 kg)

By the standards of dinosaurs, when the largest reptile weighed 100 tons, the combed crocodile is just a small lizard. However, in the world modern reptiles These crocodiles are real giants. The body length of an adult saltwater crocodile varies from 3.5 to 6 m, and its weight is from 200 to 1000 kg.

19. Largest fish (maximum weight 2235 kg)

The peculiar appearance of the common sunfish makes it one of the strangest inhabitants of the ocean. But these fish are known not only for their eccentric appearance, but also for their gigantic size. The record of the caught specimens of an ordinary sunfish, had a length of 4.26 m and a mass of 2235 kg.

20. The largest land mammal (average weight 5 tons)

A mammal from the genus of African elephants, as well as the largest land animal. The average weight of a female is 3 tons, and a male - 6 tons. An adult bush elephant is able to eat about 200 kg of vegetation daily and drink up to 200 liters of water.

21. The largest shark (over 12 m in length)

Oddly enough, but the largest animals in the world's oceans usually feed on microscopic organisms. Like the blue whale (see next paragraph), the whale shark's diet consists primarily of plankton, small squid and fish. As for the size of the whale shark, it is not possible to give exact numbers here. There are various sources claiming that caught giant individuals over 20 m in length and weighing up to 40 tons. Given the tendency of many fishermen to exaggerate, one cannot be 100% sure of these data. Apparently, the more real size of the whale shark is 12-14 m in length.

22. The largest marine animal (200 tons)

In fact, the blue whale is not only the largest marine animal, but apparently the largest animal in the history of life on Earth, dinosaurs or other reptiles weighing 200 tons are not yet known to science. Like the whale shark (see previous paragraph), The blue whale feeds on microscopic plankton, filtering countless gallons of sea water through the dense plates of whalebone. Natural scientists estimate that an adult blue whale consumes 3-4 tons of krill every day.

23. The largest mushroom (600 tons)

Perhaps, in your understanding, the most big mushroom has a leg as thick as a post and a hat the size of a house roof, but in reality everything looks different. The record holder mushroom, or rather a colony of mushrooms, which has a common mycelium and functions as a single organism, is located in the forests of Oregon, USA and belongs to the genus honey agaric. The colony covers an area of ​​2000 acres and has a total mass of about 600 tons. Age giant mushroom, according to botanists, is more than 2400 years old.

24. The largest single tree (about 1000 tons)

The giant sequoia is a tree, truly gigantic in size. Barrel height giant sequoia reaches 100 m, with a diameter of 10-12 m, and the estimated mass of the largest trees is about 1000 tons. They also belong to the most ancient organisms on the planet, the rings of one tree in the Northwest of the United States indicated an age of 3500 years.

25. Largest tree colony (6000 tons)

Like a colony of fungi (see item 23), the largest colony of Aspen poplar "Pando", located in Utah, USA, has a common root system and the same genes. Simply put, all the trees in the colony are clones descended from a common ancestor about 80,000 years ago. Unfortunately, at present, Pando is in a bad state, slowly fading away from drought, disease and insect infestation. Botanists are desperate to fix the problem, so hopefully this colony can thrive for at least another 80,000 years.

Our world is full of amazing animals, big and small, short and tall. In this article, we will look at the 15 largest animals in the world, classified into various categories such as mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, etc.

The largest living animal is the blue whale

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal. With 30 meters in length and 180 tons or more in weight, it is the largest known animal ever. The Blue Whale's tongue weighs approximately 2.7 tons, about the size of an average Indian elephant, and its heart weighs approximately 600 kg and is the largest known from any animal. Not only is the heart of a blue whale comparable in size to a Mini Cooper car, but it is also comparable in weight.

Heaviest land animal in the world: African elephant

The African Elephant is the largest living animal on earth. With males reaching 6 - 7.5 meters in length and 3.3 meters in height, and weighing 6 tons. Female elephants are much smaller, reaching 5.4 - 6.9 meters in length, 2.7 meters in height, with a weight of 3 tons. In an adult African elephant in general there are no natural enemies due to its large size, but cubs (especially newborns) are vulnerable to attack by lion and crocodile, and (rarely) by attack by leopard and hyena.

Tallest land animal in the world: Giraffe

The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African artiodactyl mammal and the tallest land animal. It reaches 5-6 meters in height and has an average weight of 1,600 kg for males and 830 kg for females. The giraffe has an extremely elongated neck, reaching over 2 m in length, accounting for almost half of the animal's vertical height. The long neck results from a disproportionate lengthening of the cervical spine.

The world's largest carnivores: the southern elephant seal

The southern elephant seal is the largest carnivore living today. The size of these seals varies greatly between males and females, perhaps more than any other mammal. Males are usually five to six times heavier than females. While the average weight of females is 400 - 900 kilograms, and the length is from 2.6 to 3 meters, males usually weigh from 2,200 to 4,000 kilograms.

The largest land carnivores in the world: White polar bear and Kodiak bear

The largest land carnivores are the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and the Kodiak bear, a subspecies of the brown bear. Since their body sizes are approximately the same, it is not clear which bear is definitively larger. Their height exceeds 1.6 meters, and the total length reaches 3 meters. The heaviest polar and brown bears recorded weighed 1.003 kg and 1.135 kg, respectively.

The largest reptile in the world: Saltwater crocodile

The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the largest living reptile. It can be found in suitable habitats from Northern Australia to Southeast Asia and the east coast of India. The weight of an adult male saltwater crocodile is 409 - 1,000 kilograms, and the length usually ranges from 4.1 to 5.5 meters. However, mature males can exceed 6 meters and weigh more than 1,000 kilograms. This variety is the only one in existence that regularly reaches and exceeds 4.8 meters in length. The saltwater crocodile is exceptionally predatory, capable of attacking almost any animal that intrudes into its territory, whether in water or on land. Featured interesting facts you will also find a lot of interesting information about alligators.

The largest amphibian in the world: Chinese giant salamander

Chinese giant salamander(Andrias davidianus) is the largest salamander in the world, reaching a length of 180 cm. Although they rarely reach that size today, as they are often eaten. Found in rocky mountain streams and lakes in China, the salamander is critically endangered by habitat loss, pollution and overexploitation as its meat is considered a delicacy and used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Biggest Rabbit/Hare in the World: Flemish Giant

The Flemish Giant is an old breed of domesticated rabbit originating from the Flemish region. They were bred as early as the 16th century around the city of Ghent, Belgium. Rabbits can weigh up to 12.7 kg

The Biggest Bats in the World: The Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox

The largest bat species is the giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), an endangered fruit bat from the Philippine rainforest that is part of the megabat family. Maximum size is believed to be approaching 1.5 kg. weight, and 55 cm in length, and the wingspan can be almost 1.8 meters. The common large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) is smaller in body weight and length, but exceeds the golden-crowned species in wingspan. Instances reached a span of up to two meters.

The largest rodent in the world: Capybara, or guinea pig

The largest rodent is the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), an inhabitant of most tropical and temperate parts of eastern South America and the Andes, living near water. Adult capybaras can reach 1.5 meters in length and 0.9 meters in height with a maximum weight of 105.4 kilograms. This is a very social variety and easily gets along with a person.

World's largest bony fish: Ocean sunfish

Osteichthyes, or bony fish, are a taxonomic group of fish that have a bony, as opposed to cartilaginous, skeleton. They are an extremely diverse and rich group of fish, with over 29,000 species, and the largest class of vertebrates in existence.

The largest bony fish is the widespread ocean sunfish (Mola mola). It resembles the head of a fish with a tail, and its main part is flattened from the side. In a mature ocean sunfish average length- 1.8 meters, length from fin to fin 2.5 meters and an average weight of 1,000 kilograms. There were fish up to 3.3 meters in length, weighing up to 2,300 kg.

Biggest snake: Green Anaconda

The world's most massive reptile - Green Anaconda(Eunectes murinus). The maximum recorded size is 7.5 meters in length and 250 kg in weight, although rumors of more large anacondas widespread. The python (Python reticulatus) of Southeast Asia is longer but much lighter, reaching as much as 9.7 meters in length.

The largest bird in the world: Ostrich

The largest bird is the ostrich (Struthio camelus), an inhabitant of the plains of Africa and Arabia. A large male ostrich can reach a height of 2.8m, weighing over 156kg. The eggs laid by an ostrich can weigh up to 1.4 kg and are the largest eggs in the world. They may also run maximum speeds at approximately 97.5 km/h, which makes the ostrich also the fastest bird on earth and the fastest bipedal animal in the world.

World's Heaviest Flying Bird: Dalmatian Pelican

The Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is a member of the pelican family. Distributed from southeastern Europe to India and China in swamps and shallow lakes. It is the largest of the pelicans, averaging 160-180 cm in length, 11-15 kg in weight and just over 3 m in wingspan. Dalmatian pelicans are the world's heaviest flying bird species on average, though big bustards males and swans can exceed the pelican in maximum weight.

World's largest arthropod: Japanese spider crab

The Japanese spider crab is a species of sea crab that lives in the waters around Japan. Its length is greater than that of any arthropod, reaching up to 3.8 meters and weighing up to 19 kg. In its natural habitat, the Japanese spider crab feeds on shellfish and can live for 100 years.