The Top 10 Biggest Animals
Here is a list of the top 10 biggest animals in the world, based on various aspects of size:
Blue Whale
- The Blue Whale is the largest animal on Earth. They can grow up to 100 feet (30 meters) in length and weigh as much as 200 tons (180 metric tonnes).
- Blue Whales are found in all of the world’s oceans, but they are most commonly found in the colder waters of the Arctic and Antarctic.
- Despite their enormous size, Blue Whales primarily feed on tiny shrimp-like animals called krill, which they filter out of the seawater using their baleen plates.
- They are also capable of diving to great depths, up to 2,000 feet (600 meters) or more, in search of food.
- Blue Whales are classified as an endangered species, with their populations having been severely depleted by hunting in the past.
African Elephant
- The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest land animal in Africa and one of the largest in the world.
- They are known for their large size, long trunks, and large ears.
- African elephants are native to sub-Saharan Africa and are found in 37 countries, primarily in savannas, grasslands, and forests.
- Adult males can weigh up to 6,000 kg (13,227 lbs) and stand up to 4 meters (13 feet) tall at the shoulder.
- Adult females are slightly smaller and can weigh up to 3,000 kg (6,614 lbs) and stand up to 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) tall.
- They have thick grey skin and long tusks that grow throughout their lives.
- African elephants are herbivores and eat a variety of plants, including grasses, fruit, and leaves.
- They need to eat a large amount of food, up to 300 pounds a day, to sustain their large body size.
Giraffe
- The giraffe is another large mammal that is native to Africa.
- It is the tallest land animal in the world, with males standing up to 6 meters (about 20 feet) tall, and females reaching up to 4.5 meters (about 15 feet) in height.
- Giraffes have very long neck which is made up of only seven vertebrae, which are elongated to allow them to reach leaves and branches that other animals can’t.
- This long neck also makes giraffes easily recognizable animals. They use their necks for fighting during mating season as well as a tool to reach food and leaves, they can eat leaves even from trees at a height of 18 feet.
Hippopotamus
- One of the biggest animals on land is the hippopotamus, or “hippo,” as it is commonly referred to.
- Hippos can grow to a length of 4 meters (13 feet) and a weight of 1,500 kilograms (3,307 pounds).
- They are herbivorous aquatic animals that spend most of their time in swamps, lakes, and rivers.
- Hippos have recognizable barrel-shaped bodies and enormous heads with pointed teeth.
- They are among the most dangerous animals in Africa because they have a reputation for being extremely territorial and violent.
- They are widespread across several African nations, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.
Polar Bear
- Adult polar bears can weigh up to 600 kg (1,323 lbs) and measure up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) long.
- They are found primarily in the Arctic region, in areas such as Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia.
- Polar bears have thick, white fur and a layer of blubber that helps them stay warm in the harsh Arctic climate.
- They are excellent swimmers and are known to swim long distances in the Arctic Ocean.
- They are carnivorous and their diet primarily consists of seals, which they hunt by waiting for them to come up through the holes in the ice.
Saltwater Crocodile
- The Indo-Pacific region’s coastlines are home to the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), a type of crocodile that lives in
- saltwater environments like estuaries, mangroves, and lagoons. They are sometimes referred to as salties, sea crocodiles, or estuarine crocodiles.
- Adult saltwater crocodiles can grow to a maximum length of 6 meters (20 feet) and a maximum weight of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lbs).
- They have the largest head with the strongest jaws of any reptile in the world, a long, thick tail, and a body that is strongly armoured.
- They have a rough, scaled hide that is either dark grey or brown in hue.
Ostrich
- Large and unable to fly, the ostrich (Struthio camelus) is a native of Africa.
- Adult males can grow to 2.8 meters (9 feet) in height and weigh up to 150 kilograms, making it the tallest and heaviest bird in the world (330 lbs).
- Although significantly smaller, adult females can weigh up to 100 kg (220 lbs).
- Ostriches are characterized by their long necks and legs, short heads, and big, spherical bodies.
- Their legs and cheeks are bare, and pink and they have black feathers.
- Ostriches have a fast running speed—up to 45 miles per hour—and can cover a lot of ground quickly.
Grizzly Bear
- A brown bear subspecies found in North America is the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis).
- They are also referred to as silvertip bears or North American brown bears.
- Primarily prevalent in Alaska and Canada, they can also be found in some areas of the continental United States, such as Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.
- Grizzly bears are big animals that can grow to be 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) long and weigh up to 600 kg (1,320 lbs).
- They are distinguished by the hump on their shoulders, the length of their claws, and the form of their face.
- Although they can also be blonde or black, they are often dark brown.
Giant Squid
- Last but not least is the giant squid (Architeuthis dux).
- It is a species of deep-ocean-dwelling squid that can grow to be extremely large.
- They are considered one of the largest invertebrates in the world, with some specimens measuring up to 43 feet (13 meters) in length and weighing up to 1,100 pounds (500 kg).
- Giant squids have a characteristic long cylindrical body with a distinctive head, large eyes, eight arms and two longer tentacles that are lined with hundreds of suckers.
- These tentacles are used to catch prey and help the giant squid move through the water.
- They also have a pair of fins located at the back of the body that help them swim.
- They are known to be deep-sea creatures and found at depths ranging from 330 to 9,800 feet (100-3,000 meters).
Whale Shark
- In tropical and warm oceans throughout the world, there is a species of shark called the whale shark (Rhincodon typus).
- They can reach a length of 40 feet (12 meters), weigh up to 20,000 pounds (9000 kg), and are the largest fish in the ocean.
- Whale sharks are characterized by their large size, broad flat head, and wide mouth.
- They have a pattern of white spots and vertical stripes on their grey or brown skin.
- They have a broad, flat head, with two small eyes and a wide mouth that can be up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide.
- They are filter feeders and mainly feed on plankton, small fish and macro-algae.