What is the heaviest mammal on Earth? The largest land mammal in the world What is the largest animal on earth

When hearing the word “giant,” most people imagine either huge diplodocus or a mammoth from the Ice Age. Another option is not excluded - eucalyptus and baobab trees. However, there are still many creatures whose size may pleasantly (and not so pleasantly) 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's a list of notable animals, from dog-sized rabbits to human-sized crabs. Feel tiny with the largest inhabitants of the world!

Female hippopotamus during evening rest

Looking at these funny creatures (which, by the way, are one of the most aggressive mammals in the world: more people suffer from them than from crocodiles and sharks), it is difficult to believe that their closest relatives are sea whales. Although they have come to land, hippos are still completely devoted to the aquatic environment, as evidenced by the etymology of their Greek name - “river horse”.

Male gorilla at rest

This gorilla species is on the verge of extinction. The humanly intelligent primate lives only in a small area of ​​Africa, where deforestation and poaching have made life a struggle for survival. The eastern gorilla is the largest member of the great ape species.

The largest breed of rabbit is the Flanders

Domestic Flanders rabbit and collie

About the size of an average dog, this breed of game rabbit can impress foodies and furry lovers alike. 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 has it been possible to prove the existence of giant squids, since they rarely appear on the surface. Many oceanologists are confident that the legendary Kraken is a representative of this subspecies of cephalopods. Until the end of the 20th century, the only evidence of its existence were plate-sized sucker marks on the bodies of sperm whales. However, in 2004, Japanese researchers managed to photograph a living giant squid in its habitat.

"Flying" stingray in shallow water

This majestic stingray, nicknamed the “sea devil,” can have a “wingspan” of up to eight meters. Moreover, the manta ray can easily jump several meters out of the water. Unfortunately, this beautiful sight can only be observed on the open sea and only during the breeding season.

Old white shark on the hunt

This sea monster is the largest and most aggressive fish alive (it's good that megalodons are extinct). Moreover, it has no natural enemies other than killer whales and people.

Capybara is a peaceful rodent animal

Rodent takes sunbaths

This cute 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 during the hunt

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

The head and structure of the front part of the body of the 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”.

The trace left by the movement of such a carcass is the best signal to turn back

This species of reptile is the largest living one. The saltwater 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 teeth swimming towards you, you better run away.

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 deforested and polluted. Acerodon is peaceful and feeds exclusively on fruits.

Komodo dragon digests lunch

These legendary "dragons" are the largest lizards in the world. They are known for their gluttony: in one meal they can eat almost as much as their own weight. However, there is also a downside to their appetite: the metabolism of monitor lizards is so slow that the monitor lizard only needs to eat once a month.

Cassowary comb is considered an aphrodisiac

These are the largest birds outside of Africa. Despite their peaceful disposition, cassowaries can attack people during the current period or if the bird feels a threat to its offspring.

Killer whale chasing a fur seal

In fact, killer whales are not whales. They are the largest representatives of the dolphin family. They have high intelligence and live in large families.

Female sperm whale with 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 champion among arthropods. This type of crab lives off the coast of Japan. It is known for its size (can weigh up to 20 kg), taste (gourmets around the world line up for its phalanges) and longevity (there are individuals that live for a century).

Female elephant scaring off intruders

It’s scary to imagine, but these mammals can weigh up to 5 tons. And given their aggressiveness and size, elephant seals can easily be called the largest carnivores on land (although they hunt marine life, fortunately for us).

Pelican before flying for fish

This pelican species 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 two-legged 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 of land animals.

Huge fish at the New Mexico Aquarium

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

Salamander in Beijing Zoo

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

A bear is looking for food in the polar winter

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

Male scaring off 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 those living today there may be unknown giants, which we will definitely learn about.

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. The lifespan of the 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 the bird’s special feature is its very long beak. With such a beak, it is easy for a pelican to catch fish, but the bird spends most of its time with its head resting 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 a 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 given to marine bony fish, which have left their relatives far behind in size. The average individual weighs 1 ton and grows up to 2.5 meters wide. This sea animal received its name because of the unusual shape of its body - 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. It might remind the average person of a 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 to 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 considered an endangered species because they can only live in clean water. The deteriorating environmental situation in the world has a detrimental effect on the population of Chinese salamanders. Research by scientists gives a sad forecast - in the 21st century, these unique animals, reaching 180 cm in length, will completely disappear from the earth.

Coastal predator. 7 meters long and weighing up to 2 tons, the crocodile literally becomes a deadly carnivorous machine for unwary animals. In addition, saltwater crocodiles are able to trace animal behavior, such as migration routes, and also develop complex behavioral traits. Therefore, crocodiles become an object of cult among many peoples, causing trembling fear.

The 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 sea depths of 1,400 meters for prey - fish and cephalopods. The seal is constantly in the water, even in its sleep.

Polar bear

The largest land omnivorous predator that inhabits the earth in our time. 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 tallest mammal on the planet. Weighing 1 ton, an adult male giraffe reaches 6 meters in height. Representatives of this species are widespread in Africa. They are exclusively herbivores, and this growth allows them to forage for food in 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 remain until sexual maturity. At maturity, African elephants move into bachelor herds. And then they prefer a solitary lifestyle. In search of food, an adult elephant can walk up to 12 kilometers a day.

The largest animal in the world and it is also the largest mammal. The inhabitant of the oceans is ubiquitous. Its gigantic dimensions are amazing: a mass of 150 tons and a length of 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 leaves 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 - the 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 questioned, so archaeological excavations are planned to be resumed.

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 megalodon's jaws could bite through food weighing 10 tons.

The very best mammals - who are they? Mother Nature has many amazing mysteries and facts. It is only at first glance that it seems that you can learn about everything and know everything. No, it’s impossible, just like it’s impossible to read all the books. Because the more discoveries a person makes, the more new, much more complex tasks the Universe sets before him. The question of what is the largest mammal in the world is no longer relevant - every preschooler knows about this. But nevertheless, reading something new about an amazing creature - the blue whale - is always interesting.

So say the legends

In ancient times, when people sincerely believed that the edge of the earth existed, just as jealous and vengeful gods existed, when food was obtained by hunting and fishing, our distant ancestors treated nature and animals with great respect.

Knowing practically nothing about the representatives of the fauna, they came up with wonderful fairy tales, which, thanks to their amazing poetry, entered the golden fund of culture and art. The largest representative of mammals, often became the hero of these fairy tales. Often he was given the role of a kind of chthonic monster, which is of great importance in the structure of our world. For example, one of the Arab legends says that the whale Bahamut, plowing the ocean, holds the bull Kuyuta on his mighty back, which, in turn, supports a huge ruby ​​rock. There is an angel standing on this rock, and his responsibility is to monitor what is happening in the world.

Sea monsters

I would like to note that ancient navigators called a whale not only the largest mammal in the world, but, in general, any size of which inspired both panic horror and involuntary admiration.

There are several medieval treatises about the so-called hobby of which was capsizing ships and boats and devouring sailors. The same “horrors” were told about the whale, and a little later the peoples of Scandinavia had several interesting stories about “good” and “evil” sea giants. The evil ones, who hated sailors and fishermen, did nothing but sail the seas and oceans in search of people, and when they found them, they had no mercy... But the good ones, on the contrary, tried to protect the person, and, if possible, help bring the ship to safety. safe place.

Also of interest is the legend about how a certain Benedictine monk, traveling in search of sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, noticed a certain marvelous island. Having completed the prayer, the monk descended to what seemed to him to be the ground, built an altar there, and offered prayers to God. And after the monk, together with his team, had sailed a decent distance, the “island” began to stir and... just floated away. It is a noteworthy fact that among medieval Christian theologians the whale was considered a symbol of the “father of lies” himself, but Muslims are still confident that the largest mammal on Earth is one of the ten lucky ones living in paradise.

The most, the most, the most...

Modern scientists, who have long had no doubt that the blue whale is the titan of the animal world, recently discovered a real giant, whose weight is as much as 200 tons, and its size is more than thirty-four meters, which is equal to the height of a nine-story building. Surely such a huge thing seemed like a “mysterious island” to the unlucky monk? By the way, the heart of a whale weighs about a ton - 700 kilograms, and the tongue - 4000 kilograms.

Not only the largest mammal in the world, but also the most mysterious. Until now, scientists really know nothing about these amazing creatures, which, of course, only fuels interest in them. In particular, the paucity of information is explained by the fact that whales live in the open ocean, and it is quite difficult to observe their behavior.

However, not so long ago, a team of scientists managed to film the amazing moments of feeding these animals, as well as how they release their legendary fountains. As it turned out, by releasing a jet about fifteen meters high into the air, whales breathe. They feed near the water surface, and their main diet is krill - the smallest representative of the fauna. A funny paradox - the giant of the animal world eats “dwarfs”!.. In order to exist normally, whales need to eat about four million krill, therefore it is not surprising that they spend a lot of time hunting.

Interesting features

The largest mammal in the world has truly unique characteristics. For example, these massive, powerful creatures are surprisingly graceful and even graceful. Spectacularly diving into depths of more than a hundred meters, they can stay there for an hour or more, and swim at a speed of 42 kilometers per hour. The low, strange sounds they make underwater are approximately 188 decibels. For comparison: the most powerful aircraft “talk” with an intensity of 140 decibels.

Intelligent beings

Not long ago, researchers made an interesting discovery: it turns out that the largest mammal in the world is also one of the smartest. The intelligence of the blue whale inspires respect, but as for his speech, here all those who are engaged in observations simply shrug their shoulders. It is still impossible to decipher the "conversations" of blue whales, and what is now known is that their "singing" is much more complex, and, so to speak, meaningful, than was thought a few years ago. In the “speech” of whales there are many word-like elements that are very similar to human sentences. The surprising thing is that these “sentences” are constructed in such a way that you can hear informative phrases if you wish. Communicating, whales look for a spouse, lost children, notify the aquatic world of their presence, and warn the enemy of their readiness to attack.

And also?..

Everything is clear with whales, although, essentially speaking, almost nothing is clear. Huge, peaceful, mysterious, infinitely wise - they will always attract the minds of scientists and simply nature lovers. But it is hardly possible to solve the mystery of these amazing creatures. What other largest mammals are there in the world?

Probably, primacy should be given to the mighty one, whose dimensions reach 8 meters in length and 3.3 meters in height. The weight of this land titan is approximately 6 tons. This animal has no natural enemies, but small elephant calves, of course, are defenseless against hyenas, leopards, lions and crocodiles. But it should be taken into account that elephants jealously protect their children, and predators have practically no chance of feasting on a baby elephant... So the most dangerous enemy of elephants has been and will only be man.

The land elephant, in addition to the whale, has another waterfowl competitor - the southern one, which today is considered the largest carnivore. The size of these creatures reaches three meters, and their weight is 4000 kg.

The largest mammals are always of great interest to those who love and appreciate nature. Watching these creatures, it is impossible not to think that our world, if people wish, can become a real paradise on earth...

Some sea creatures are much larger than land animals. In this material we will look at the ten largest animals in size and weight that live in the world's oceans.

The length of an adult walrus is 4 m, and its body weight exceeds 2 tons. A distinctive feature of walruses is their huge, elongated upper fangs, which are called tusks. The tusks reach 1 m in length and are used by walruses during battles for females, as well as to facilitate climbing onto ice floes. Because of these tusks, walruses were given a scientific name, translated from Greek which means “walking on teeth.”

Despite their menacing appearance, walruses are very shy animals. While resting on land, they post sentries who closely monitor the situation and warn the entire herd of the danger. They are very sociable and constantly supporting each other animals. After the mating fever, when males can fight for the right to mate with a female, they all raise the young together and help with feeding.

Walruses live in the north, making rookeries on pack ice.

A huge seal, growing up to 6.5 m in length and reaching a weight of more than 4 tons. The elephant seal got its name from its trunk-shaped nose. The male elephant seal is distinguished by extremely aggressive behavior during the mating season, when, for the sake of mating, he is ready to trample and tear apart other rivals, not paying attention to anything. By gathering in groups and sorting out relationships among themselves, elephant seals can easily crush young calves or females, which are significantly smaller than males. Every year, during the mating period, a significant number of young animals die from strangulation and strangulation, and males die from wounds received earlier than from natural death.

Elephant seals live on the west coast of North America and Antarctica. The Antarctic (southern) elephant seal is significantly larger than its northern counterpart.

8. Saltwater crocodile

- not exactly a sea animal. It lives in the swamps and mangroves of the tropical region, but can sometimes travel by sea, covering distances of 600 km or more. Therefore, it can be seen, for example, off the coast of Japan, although it has never lived there and does not live there. The reasons for such long migrations are not fully known. According to some assumptions, saltwater crocodiles, which are solitary by nature, seek more secluded habitats; according to others, they seek regions richer in food. But whatever the reason, such guests in sea bays and bays terrify not only local residents, but also local predators. The crocodile easily displaces even sharks from their favorite coastal areas, which simply retreat, unable to do anything to oppose the impenetrable armor of the reptile.

This crocodile is the only reptile that grows more than 5 m in length. Adult saltwater crocodiles grow up to 7 m in length and reach a mass of 2 tons.

Adult killer whales are large marine predators. In captivity in aquariums we do not see record-breaking specimens, but in nature their length reaches 10 m and their weight exceeds 8 tons. Every day, adult killer whales require up to 150 kg. meat, and in search of it they spend most of their lives, attacking all living things that can satisfy their hunger. The killer whale has the nickname “killer whale” for a reason - it is the largest carnivore on the planet. They are at the top of the food chain, preying on others and large fish.

Killer whales are extremely intelligent animals. They make perfect use of their group skills when hunting. Cases of attacks on walruses and fur seals that tried to hide on a lonely ice floe are well known and documented. Accelerating towards the ice floe, they raise a high wave, which washes the poor victim into the water, where she is not destined to escape. Killer whales are also the only marine predators that can jump ashore and grab fur seals, their favorite prey.

Killer whales live everywhere, but prefer the cool waters of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. Most often they stay in the coastal strip.

Humpback whales grow up to 15 m, and the maximum recorded length was 18 m. Weight - 30 tons. It would seem that it should have a characteristic hump, but the main distinguishing feature of the humpback whale is its long pectoral fins and huge “warts” on its snout. The length of the fins can reach 34% of the body length. They play an important role in the life of the animal - they participate in thermoregulation, increase maneuverability and help in hunting. Humpback whales often hunt in groups, diving under a school of fish and surrounding it with small air bubbles. Surrounded by such a wall of bubbles, the fish gets lost and huddles into a dense lump, which is swallowed by humpback whales that suddenly appear from the depths.

The buckles of humpback whales and their striking of the surface with their tail and fins are known. They are even capable of jumping completely out of the water.

Humpback whales live throughout the world's oceans. They often approach the banks to feed.

It grows up to 20 m in length and reaches a weight of 30 tons. It is a slender whale and can reach speeds of 50 km/h. (according to other sources, its maximum speed is 25 km/h) in contrast to its “fat” relatives. The sei whale dives well, diving to a depth of up to 300 m and remaining under water for up to 20 minutes.

Sei whale was the most important commercial fishery after man practically destroyed the blue whale and fin whale. Currently, fishing for this whale is completely prohibited.

The sei whale lives in all oceans, preferring warm tropical waters.

The weight of an adult sperm whale reaches 50 tons, and its body length is 20 m. This is the largest representative of toothed whales - unlike baleen whales, they have teeth and hunt fish, cephalopods and, in rare cases, other marine mammals. The sperm whale is known for its huge head, which takes up 35% of its body length. The word “sperm whale” itself comes from “ cachola", which means "big head". On a huge head, the whale's mouth looks small, but this appearance is deceiving. One of his teeth weighs 1 kg.

The whale lives in all oceans, but avoids cold areas. It stays far from the shore, where there is great depth and their favorite prey lives - squid. The sperm whale also hunts huge giant squid. Fights with them “reward” the whale with characteristic scars from the suckers of these mollusks.

The record length of the bowhead whale was 22 m and its weight was 150 tons. This weight is comparable to the weight of the animal that took first place in our top list, but it is seriously inferior to it in length. But the bowhead whale holds the record for life expectancy. With an average life expectancy of 40 years, according to some scientists, this whale can live up to 211 years. Among vertebrates, this is an absolute record, although it was recently discovered that the polar shark lives even longer - up to an unimaginable 512 years.

The bowhead whale spends its entire life in the cold polar waters of the Northern Hemisphere, retreating south from the growing ice in the winter and returning back in the spring. If a whale becomes trapped in ice, it breaks it with its huge body.

Adult individuals reach a length of 27 m and a weight of more than 70 tons. These giants have chosen the open ocean, rarely approaching the shores. They prefer solitude, although sometimes small groups of 4-6 whales are found. Despite their enormous length, fin whales are quite flexible and “slender”. They swim faster and dive deeper than many other cetaceans. The maximum recorded speed of the fin whale is 50 km/h, and its diving depth exceeds 250 m. Its speed allows it to feed not only on stationary krill, but also on small schooling fish.

After uncontrolled fishing for fin whales in the middle of the 20th century. The hunting of this whale was completely prohibited. In 2006, Iceland again allowed hunting for it. The current estimate of the number of fin whales is 50-55 thousand individuals.

Not only the largest modern animal, but also the largest that has ever lived on our planet. The maximum length of this giant is 33 meters, and its weight can exceed 150 tons. They live 80-90 years, and the oldest known blue whale was 110 years old. Like other cetaceans, it feeds exclusively on plankton, consuming 1 ton of it every day.

Uncontrolled fishing for the blue whale has almost completely destroyed it. In the 1960s, its population was estimated at only 5,000 individuals. Timely measures taken to protect the whale have yielded results and scientists currently estimate the number at 10,000 animals, which is already enough not to worry about the safety of the species.

The blue whale lives throughout the world's oceans.