Content
- the blue whale
- the fin whale
- the giant squid
- Whale shark
- the white shark
- The elephant
- The giraffe
- the anaconda or anaconda
- the crocodile
- the polar bear
There are millions of animal species on our planet and, in fact, many are still unknown. Throughout history, humans have strived to discover all the secrets and all the wonders that planet Earth has to show us, and perhaps one of the things that has always surprised us the most are the large animals, those who think and feel a mixture of wonder and respect.
Therefore, in this article by the Animal Expert we will unveil the 10 biggest animals in the world. Keep reading and be amazed by the size and weight of these colossi that live with us.
the blue whale
THE Blue Whale or Balaenoptera musculus, not only is it the biggest animal in the ocean, but also is the biggest animal that inhabits Earth today. This marine mammal can measure up to 30 meters in length and weigh up to 150 tons, this is really surprising if we think about the blue whale's diet, as these whales feed mainly on krill.
Although it is known as a blue whale, its large and long body tends to have several shades ranging from dark blue to light gray. Unfortunately, these fantastic animals that vocalize under water to communicate with each other are in danger of extinction due to their indiscriminate hunting in some parts of the world.
the fin whale
Another of the world's animals that also inhabit the ocean is the fin whale or Balaenoptera physalus, in fact, is the second largest animal on our planet. This marine animal can measure up to 27 meters in length, with the largest specimens weighing more than 70 tons.
The Fin Whale is gray at the top and white at the bottom, feeding mainly on small fish, squid, crustaceans and krill. Due to the intensive hunting that existed for this animal during the 20th century, nowadays the Fin Whale is considered an endangered species.
the giant squid
There is a debate among scientists specializing in these animals about whether there is only one species of giant squid or Architeuthis or if there are up to 8 different species of this animal. These animals that usually inhabit the depths of the ocean are one of the 10 largest animals in the world, since according to scientific records the largest specimen ever found was a female giant squid measuring 18 meters and was found on the coast of Nova Zealand in the year 1887 and also a male 21 meters long with 275 kg.
Nowadays, the most common sizes registered in this marine animal are 10 meters for males and 14 meters for females. For all these reasons, the giant squid is considered one of the largest animals in the world.
Whale shark
Among the largest animals in the world there could not be missing a shark, specifically the Whale shark or rhincodon typus which is the biggest shark there is. This shark inhabits warm seas and oceans in tropical areas, but has also been seen in some cooler waters.
The whale shark's diet is based on krill, phytoplankton and wings, although it also usually eats small crustaceans. Locate your food through olfactory signals. This animal species is also considered a threatened species.
the white shark
O White shark or Carcharodon carcharias it is one of the largest animals in the world that inhabits the warm waters of almost all over the world. This animal that causes fear and admiration in many people, is considered one of the biggest fish in the world and at the same time is also considered the biggest predatory fish. It can usually measure up to 6 meters in length and weigh more than 2 tons. A curious fact about this animal is that females are always larger than males.
In the last decades, the fishing of this shark has increased and this makes that nowadays, although it is a species widely distributed all over the world, it is considered a vulnerable species, approaching more and more to the degree of threatened species.
The elephant
In the terrestrial plane of our planet we find the biggest animal that is the elephant or elephantidae, as it measures up to 3.5 meters in height and up to 7 meters in length, weighing between 4 and 7 tons. To get to weigh that much, these animals must ingest a minimum of 200 kg of leaves per day.
There are many curiosities about the elephant, such as the characteristics of its trunk with which it reaches the highest leaves of trees to feed and its long horns. Also, due to their physical attributes, elephants are well known for their excellent memory, in fact their brain can weigh up to 5 kg.
The giraffe
the giraffe or Giraffa camelopardalis is another of the largest land animals in the world, more for its height than for its weight, since they can reach almost 6 meters in height and weigh between 750 kg and 1.5 tons.
There are many curiosities about giraffes, such as the brown spots on their fur and their tongue, which can measure up to 50 cm. Furthermore, it is one of the most widespread African animals on the continent, that is, there is less concern about its existence in the immediate future.
the anaconda or anaconda
Another terrestrial animal that makes the list of the greatest animals in the world is a snake, we are talking about anaconda or Eunectes that can measure 8 meters or more and weigh almost 200 kg.
This giant snake lives mainly in the hydrographic basins of South America, more specifically in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil and Peru. It usually feeds on capybaras, birds, pigs, alligators and eggs of various animals.
the crocodile
Although there are 14 different species of crocodiles, there are some specimens that are really impressive in size. You crocodiles or crocodylid are large reptiles, in fact, the largest crocodile ever recorded was a marine specimen found in Australia and measured 8.5 meters in length and weighed more than 1.5 tons.
Currently, crocodiles are in a relatively stable position on a scale that measures the conservation status of the species. These reptiles live both in and out of water, so they feed on aquatic animals and those that come too close to the waters where they live.
the polar bear
O Polar Bear, white bear or Ursus Maritimus is another of the 10 biggest animals in the world. These bears can measure up to 3 meters in length and can weigh more than half a ton.
They are carnivorous animals and, therefore, the polar bear's diet is based on both fish and other animals that inhabit the pole, such as seals, walruses, among others. The white bear is currently considered to be in a vulnerable situation.