The blue whale, giraffe, elephant seal, and more are among the largest animal species in the world. Each species possesses unique characteristics that contribute to a vibrant and fascinating natural world. We invite you to explore the largest animals on Earth today through the article below.
The Largest Animals in the World
Our natural world is home to many different species of animals, large and small. Below are 15 of the largest animals in the world, categorized by type such as mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians.
1. The Largest Fish Species
The blue whale is a marine mammal belonging to the baleen whale suborder. It measures approximately 25 – 27 m in length (the longest blue whale known to date is 33.5 m) and weighs around 210 tons or more. The tongue of a blue whale weighs about 2.7 tons, roughly equivalent to the average size of an Asian elephant, and its heart weighs about 600 kg, the largest known among all animal species. Not only is its heart the size of a Mini Cooper, but it also weighs as much.
The blue whale primarily feeds on small creatures like krill, collectively known as mollusks. During the summer, blue whales eat extensively, consuming an astonishing amount of food each day, around 3.6 tons (7,900 pounds) or more. The daily caloric intake required for an adult blue whale is approximately 1.5 million calories.
2. The Heaviest Land Animal in the World
The African elephant is the largest land animal in the world. Male elephants can reach lengths of 6 – 7.5 m, with a shoulder height of 3.3 m, and weigh up to 6 tons. Female elephants are relatively smaller, measuring about 5.4 – 6.9 m in length, 2.7 m in shoulder height, and weighing around 3 tons. Adult African elephants generally have no natural predators due to their large size, although young calves can be vulnerable to attacks from lions and crocodiles, and occasionally from leopards and hyenas.
3. The Tallest Land Animal in the World
The giraffe is a hoofed mammal native to Africa and is the tallest land animal in the world. It stands between 5 – 6 m tall and has an average weight of 1,600 kg for males and 830 kg for females. Giraffes have an extremely long neck, which can exceed 2 m, making up nearly half of their height.
4. The Largest Marine Predator
The southern elephant seal is the largest marine predator today. While females weigh between 400 – 900 kg and measure 2.6 – 3 m in length, males weigh between 2,200 and 4,000 kg and measure 4.5 – 5.8 m. The largest recorded male was measured at Possession Bay, South Georgia, on February 28, 1913, at 6.85 m and an estimated weight of 5,000 kg.
5. The Largest Terrestrial Carnivore
The largest terrestrial carnivores are the polar bear and Kodiak bear, a subspecies of brown bear. Due to their similar body sizes, it is unclear which species is larger. For both species, shoulder height can exceed 1.6 m, and total length can reach up to 3.05 m. The heaviest recorded weights for polar and brown bears are 1,003 kg and 1,135 kg, respectively.
6. The Largest Reptile in the World
The saltwater crocodile is the largest reptile. It inhabits environments from northern Australia through Southeast Asia to the eastern coast of India. An adult male saltwater crocodile typically weighs between 409 to 1,000 kg, with a normal length of 4.1 – 5.5 m. Saltwater crocodiles are apex predators, capable of attacking nearly any animal that enters their territory, both in water and on land.
7. The Largest Amphibian
The Chinese giant salamander is the largest amphibian in the world, reaching lengths of 180 cm. This species inhabits freshwater streams in rocky mountainous areas of China and is critically endangered due to habitat loss from pollution. It is considered a delicacy and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
8. The Giant Rabbit
The Flemish Giant is a domesticated rabbit breed originating from the Flemish region. It was first bred as early as the 16th century around the city of Ghent, Belgium. This breed can weigh up to 12.7 kg.
9. The Largest Bat
The largest bat is the giant golden-crowned flying fox, a fruit-eating bat that is critically endangered and hails from the rainforests of the Philippines. It can weigh up to 1.5 kg, measure 55 cm in body length, and have a wingspan of nearly 1.8 m.
10. The Largest Rodent
The largest rodent is the capybara, native to most tropical and temperate regions of South America east of the Andes Mountains. Adult capybaras can reach lengths of 1.5 m and a shoulder height of 0.9 m, weighing up to 105.4 kg. They are highly social animals and can be found in large groups of about 100, although they typically live in smaller groups of 10-20.
11. The Largest Bony Fish
The largest bony fish is the ocean sunfish, widely distributed. It resembles a fish head with a tail, and its main body is flattened. Adult sunfish typically measure 1.8 m in length, with a span of 2.5 m between fins, and average around 1,000 kg, although one has been recorded at 3.3 m in length, 4.2 m fin span, and weighing up to 2,300 kg.
12. The Largest Lizard/Snake
The largest living member of this giant reptile family is the green anaconda found in Central and South America. The confirmed maximum size is 7.5 m and weighs around 250 kg. The reticulated python of Southeast Asia is slimmer but longer, with reports of individuals measuring up to 9.7 m.
13. The Largest Bird Species
The largest bird species is the ostrich, originating from the plains of Africa and Arabia. An adult male ostrich can reach a height of 2.8 meters and weigh over 156 kilograms. Ostrich eggs weigh up to 1.4 kilograms and are the largest eggs in the world today. They can run at speeds of up to 97.5 km/h, making them the fastest birds on land and the fastest two-legged animals in the world.
14. The Heaviest Flying Bird in the World
The Dalmatian pelican inhabits regions from southeastern Europe to India and China in swamps and shallow lakes. This is the largest species of pelican, averaging 160 to 180 cm in length, weighing between 11 to 15 kg, with a wingspan exceeding 3 meters. With an average weight of 11.5 kg, it is the heaviest flying bird in the world.
15. The Largest Crustacean Species in the World
The Japanese spider crab is a marine crab found in the waters surrounding Japan. It has the longest leg span among crustaceans, reaching up to 3.8 meters and weighing up to 19 kg. In its natural habitat, the Japanese spider crab feeds on shellfish and carrion, and can live for up to 100 years.
