Top 60 Biggest Animals in the World (Ranked in Order)

Nature is astounding in its variety, and that seems all truer when we look at the different sizes and natures of living things. In the animal world, there are animals with hearts greater than a car’s size or can make noises louder than jet engines. There are also animals who can’t even be seen without being put under a microscope. For today, though, we’ll be looking at the large animals. We’ll be talking about the top 60 biggest animals in the world, all ranked in order.

To make that list, we’ll not only be looking at their lengths but also their body mass and will be taking the average size of their species into consideration. So, without further delay, let’s look at the list

Top 60 Biggest Animals in the World Ranked

60) Aldabra Giant Tortoise

Scientific name	Aldabrachelys gigantea
Size	3 – 4 ft
Weight	150 – 250 kg
Lifespan	80 – 255 years
Diet	Vegetation

Aldabra Giant Tortoise is one of the largest tortoise species in the world, endemic only to Aldabra Atoll Islands in Seychelles. These herbivorous tortoises are quite small in number and listed as a Vulnerable species in IUCN’s Red List.

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59) Galapagos Tortoise

Scientific name	Chelonoidis niger
Size	4 – 4.10 feet
Weight	200 – 300 kg
Lifespan	100 – 150 years
Diet	Vegetation

The largest species of tortoise are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. The Galapagos Tortoises are believed to show gigantism as the closest relatives of this species are almost 100 times smaller than their current average size.

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58) Green Sea Turtle

Scientific name	Chelonia mydas
Size	5 ft
Weight	68 – 190 kg
Lifespan	Over 70 years
Diet	Juveniles are carnivorous and adults are omnivorous

Green Sea Turtles are the only herbivorous turtle species. They are also one of the largest turtles and one of the biggest animals in the world. Their paddle-like limbs are called flippers and these help them moving in the water smoothly.

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57) Leatherback Sea Turtle

Scientific name	Dermochelys coriacea
Size	5.9 – 7.2 ft
Weight	250 – 700 kg
Lifespan	45 – 50 years or more
Diet	Jellyfish, cnidarians, tunicates, cephalopods, crustaceans, fish, sea urchins, snails

Leatherback Sea Turtles are the largest turtle species in the world. They can travel long distances and prefer to stay in the water, the female turtles only coming to the shore to lay eggs. These turtles are also the only species not to have hard shells and scales.

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56) Andean Condor

Scientific name	Vultur gryphus
Size	Wingspan: 8.8 – 10 ft  Length: 3.3 – 4.2 ft
Weight	7.7 – 15 kg
Lifespan	Over 70 years
Diet	Decaying flesh of rotting animals

Andean Condors are inhabitants of South America, along the Andes Mountains range. These vultures are scavengers in nature and have the longest wingspan among the raptors. Currently, there are quite a small number of Andean condors left in the world, making them one of the Near Threatened species.

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55) Dalmatian Pelican

Scientific name	Pelecanus crispus
Size	Wingspan: 11.5 ft Length: 5 – 6 ft
Weight	7 – 9.5 kg
Lifespan	35 – 54 years
Diet	Common carp, European perch, eels, mullets, common rudds, pike, other fish, amphibians, worms, small water birds, crustaceans

Though some largest specimens of swans rival the length and weight of the Dalmatian Pelican, these pelicans are noted to be the largest freshwater bird in the world. They are also the largest in the pelican family. The Dalmatian pelicans have a harsh birdcall which becomes sharper and clearer during their mating season.

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54) Common Ostrich

Scientific name	Struthio camelus
Size	Height: Male: 6.8 – 9 ft; Female: 5.5 – 6.5 ft Wingspan: 6.5 ft
Weight	63 – 140 kg
Lifespan	50 – 75 years
Diet	Vegetation, insects

The Common Ostriches are known for being the largest bird species still alive and their flightless nature. They are native to the continent of Africa. The common ostriches are also the fastest birds on land, having an average speed of 34 mph with short bursts of 43 mph.

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53) Komodo Dragon

Scientific name	Varanus komodoensis
Size	Male: 8.5 ft; Female: 7.5 ft
Weight	Male: 79 – 91 kg; Female: 68 – 73 kg
Lifespan	30 years
Diet	All kinds of meat, animal carcass, small lizards, snakes, birds, insects

The largest lizard in the world is the Komodo Dragon. They are endemic to only a few Indonesian islands. These lizards are venomous and secrete toxic proteins and anticoagulants from their lower jaw.

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52) Elk

Scientific name	Cervus canadensis
Size	0.75 to 1.5 meters
Weight	Males: 178 to 497 kilograms Females: 171 to 292 kilograms
Lifespan	10 to 13 years in the wild, but they can live up to 20 years or more in captivity.
Diet	Native grasses, tree bark in winter, forbs and tree sprouts.

Elk have adapted well to countries where they have been introduced, including Argentina and New Zealand.

While once believed to be a subspecies of the European red deer, genetic studies starting in 1998 established that elk (Cervus canadensis) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) are distinct species.

The morphological differences, such as a wider rump patch and paler-hued antlers, distinguish elk from their European counterparts.

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51) Clydesdale Horse

Scientific name	Equus ferus caballus
Size	162 to 183 cm (16.0 to 18.0 hands)
Weight	820 to 910 kg (1800 to 2000 lb), with some mature males being larger and weighing up to 1000 kg (2200 lb).
Lifespan	20-30 years
Diet	Hay, grains, and other feeds

Clydesdales have a rich history and were initially bred in Scotland by mating Flemish stallions with local mares in the 18th century. Shire blood was later introduced in the 19th century, influencing the breed’s characteristics.

They are not only known for their strength and utility in agriculture but have gained fame as show horses and parade horses.

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50) Polar Bear

Scientific name	Ursus maritimus
Size	Male: 4.2 ft  Female: 5.9 – 7.8 ft
Weight	Male: 450 kg  Female: 150 – 250 kg
Lifespan	25 – 30 years
Diet	Arctic fox, seals

Native to the Arctic circle, Polar Bears are the only species of bears to be considered as marine animals. They have a hypercarnivorous diet and are very aggressive. Because of climate change and habitat loss, they are currently a Vulnerable species, according to IUCN.

Note: Here, we are taking Grizzly Bear, Pandas and other Black bears in this point.

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49) Moose

Scientific name	Alces alces
Size	Adult moose is somewhere between 1.4 to 2.1 meters
Weight	Males: 380 to 700 kg (838 to 1,543 lb) Females: 200 to 490 kg (441 to 1,080 lb)
Lifespan	The lifespan of a moose is around 15 to 25 years in the wild.
Diet	Terrestrial and aquatic vegetation, including forbs, non-grasses, and fresh shoots from trees like willow and birch.

The moose is the tallest land mammal in North America, surpassing even the American buffalo in terms of height.

It’s an excellent swimmer and is capable of diving over 5.5 meters (18 ft) to reach plants on lake bottoms, making it the only deer species that can feed underwater.

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48) Black Rhinoceros

Scientific name	Diceros bicornis
Size	9 – 12 feet
Weight	800 – 1,400 kg
Lifespan	35 – 50 years
Diet	Vegetation

The name of the Black Rhinoceroses can be misleading since they are not actually black, but brown or gray in color. They are natives of Africa, inhabiting many countries of the continent. Black rhinos have pointed or hooked lips, leading to their name, hook-lipped rhinoceros.

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47) Giraffe

Scientific name	Giraffa sp.
Size	14.1 – 18.7 ft
Weight	828 – 1,192 kg
Lifespan	25 years
Diet	Vegetation (also chews old bones)

Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world, their height being a byproduct of their long necks. They prefer to stay in groups and are quite fast, running at the speed up to 35 mph. The spots of their bodies are unique to each individual and have blood vessels under which help them regulate body temperature.

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46) Siberian Tiger

Scientific name	Panthera tigris tigris
Size	Males: 195 cm (77 in) Females: 174 cm (69 in)
Weight	Males: 180 to 306 kg Females: 100 to 167 kg
Lifespan	16 to 18 years in the wild, while in captivity, they may live up to 25 years.
Diet	Manchurian wapiti, Siberian musk deer, long-tailed goral, moose, Siberian roe deer, sika deer, and wild boar.

The Siberian tiger is genetically close to the now-extinct Caspian tiger, and a phylogeographic study suggests that their common ancestor colonized Central Asia from eastern China, moving towards Siberia to establish the Siberian tiger population in the Russian Far East.

Historically, Siberian tigers were found throughout the Korean Peninsula and parts of North-Eastern China, but today, their population is concentrated mainly in the Sikhote-Alin mountain region in the Russian Far East.

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45) Javan Rhinoceros

Scientific name	Rhinoceros sondaicus
Size	Height: 4.6 – 5.6 ft  Length: 6.5 – 13 ft
Weight	900 – 2,300 kg
Lifespan	30 – 45 years
Diet	Vegetation

While every rhino species is facing decreasing numbers, no one is more affected than the Javan Rhinoceros. These natives of Southeast Asia are currently very few in numbers and listed as Critically Endangered. They share the same genus with the Indian rhino but their horns and overall size are smaller than their relatives.

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44) Indian Rhinoceros

Scientific name	Rhinoceros unicornis
Size	Height: Male: 5.2 – 6.2 ft; Female: 4.9 – 5.5 ft Length: Male: 12 ft; Female: 10 – 11 ft
Weight	Male: 2,200 kg; Female: 1,600 kg
Lifespan	35 – 45 years
Diet	Vegetation

Indian Rhinoceroses are natives of the Indian subcontinent and are one of the biggest animals in the world. They are famous for their single, large horn. But due to poaching and the threat of habitat loss, their numbers are decreasing, leading them to be considered a Vulnerable species.

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43) White Rhinoceros

Scientific name	Ceratotherium simum
Size	Male: 12 – 13 ft; Female: 11 – 12 ft
Weight	Male: 2,300 kg; Female: 1,700 kg
Lifespan	40 – 50 years
Diet	Vegetation

White Rhinoceros are the largest living rhinoceros species and the one of the largest mammals in the world. They are currently declared Near Threatened by IUCN. White rhinos aren’t actually white, instead their name comes from the word “weit” which means wide in Afrikaans (Germanic language) and indicates the large mouth of the animal.

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42) Slender-Snouted Crocodile

Scientific name	Mecistops cataphractus
Size	7.7 – 13 ft
Weight	50 – 230 kg
Lifespan	More than 50 years
Diet	Fish, invertebrates, large animals

Another Critically Endangered animal, the Slender-Snouted Crocodiles inhabit the West African countries. Their snouts are lean and very long which they use to hunt fish and small aquatic creatures from water. 

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41) Gaur

Scientific name	Bos gaurus
Size	Height: Male: 6.2 ft  Female: 5.6 ft Length: 8.2 – 10.10 ft
Weight	Male: 588 – 1,500 kg  Female: 440 – 1,000 kg
Lifespan	30 years
Diet	Vegetation

Another nickname for the Gaur is the Indian Bison. They are the largest bovine species and are found in South and Southeast Asia. Gaur are not only very large but they are also among the heaviest mammals in the world, only below elephants, rhinos are giraffes. 

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40) Hippopotamus

Scientific name	Hippopotamus amphibius
Size	Height: 4.9 – 5.4 ft  Length: 6.8 – 16.5 ft
Weight	1,300 – 3,200 kg
Lifespan	40 – 50 years
Diet	Vegetation

Thanks to their semi-aquatic nature, Hippopotamuses are often called river horses. These African natives are one of the biggest animals in the world. They are very aggressive and at times known to fight brutally amongst each other. Though they spend a considerable time in water, they can’t actually swim or float.

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39) Lion’s Mane Jellyfish

Scientific name	Cyanea capillata
Size	Diameter: 50 in – 6 ft 7 in Length: 100 – 120 ft
Weight	91 – 218 kg
Lifespan	12 months
Diet	Fish, zooplanktons, smaller jellyfish, sea creatures

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish is a huge species of jellyfishes whose total length reaches up to an astounding 120 ft, which is longer than a blue whale! This deep sea jellyfish has about 1,200 tentacles in clusters. The jellyfish is not only large but it’s also very dangerous. A single sting of its tentacles causes immense pain.

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38) Giant Sunfish

Scientific name	Mola alexandrini
Size	11 ft
Weight	2,700 kg
Lifespan	More than 10 years
Diet	Jellyfish, brittle stars, small fish, planktons, algae, salps, mollusks

Giant Sunfish is a species of the Mola genus and often confused with the Ocean Sunfish. They are huge in size and are possibly the largest bony fish. These fish often stay closer to the surface to raise their temperature before diving back into cooler water.

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37) Giant Oceanic Manta Ray

Scientific name	Mobula birostris
Size	15 – 30 ft
Weight	1,600 – 3,000 kg
Lifespan	More than 40 years
Diet	copepods, mysids, shrimp, euphausiids, decapod larvae, fish

Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is currently an Endangered species and the largest ray in the world. They are found all over the world and all types of waters including tropical, subtropical and temperate.

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36) Green Anaconda

Scientific name	Eunectes murinus
Size	Length: 9 – 21 ft Diameter: 12 in
Weight	30 – 250 kg
Lifespan	10 – 20 years
Diet	All sorts of large prey

The Green Anaconda is the heaviest and one of the largest snakes in the world. They are a boa species and native to South America. Green anaconda eats a variety of animals, including reptiles, birds and big mammals. They subdue their prey by constriction.

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35) Reticulated Python

Scientific name	Malayopython reticulatus
Size	4.11 – 22.10 ft
Weight	1 – 75 kg
Lifespan	12 – 20 years
Diet	Mammals, birds

There is another snake species among the biggest animals in the world and that is the Reticulated Python. These pythons are the longest and one of the heaviest snakes in the world, falling only behind the green anaconda in weight. They are also constrictors and eat a variety of animals.

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34) American Alligator

Scientific name	Alligator mississippiensis
Size	Male: 10 – 15 ft  Female: 8.5 ft
Weight	91-230 kg
Lifespan	30 – 50 years
Diet	All sorts of prey

American Alligators are quite an intelligent bunch as they have been observed using lures to hunt birds. They are apex predators and prey on every kind of animal. Their genders are determined by temperature during their time in the egg. These alligators are huge and the largest reptiles of North America.

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33) Orinoco Crocodile

Scientific name	Crocodylus intermedius
Size	Male: 12 – 16 ft Female: 9 – 11 ft
Weight	93 – 225 kg
Lifespan	70 – 80 years
Diet	Aquatic prey, reptiles, domestic animals, birds, monkeys, deer, common caimans, smaller Orinoco crocodiles

While the American alligator is the biggest reptile of North America, for South America the spot is taken by the Orinoco Crocodile. These Critically Endangered crocodiles hunt all sorts of prey, the primary being large predatory fish. They might be capable hunters but their biggest threat remains humans.

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32) False Gharial

Scientific name	Tomistoma schlegelii
Size	Male: 12 – 16 ft Female: 10 – 13 ft
Weight	420 – 590 kg
Lifespan	60 – 80 years
Diet	Fish, small aquatic animals, all sorts of terrestrial animals

False Gharials are called so because of their physical resemblance to the gharials, their relatives. They are found in Southeast Asia where they prefer to live in mud holes, swamps, lakes and flooded forests. They are capable predators and prey on both terrestrial and aquatic animals.

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31) Gharial

Scientific name	Gavialis gangeticus
Size	Male: 9 – 20 ft Female: 8.5 – 15 ft
Weight	160 – 977 kg
Lifespan	30 – 50 years
Diet	Fish, insects, frogs, snakes, turtles, birds, mammals, dead animals

Gharials are the Critically Endangered relatives of crocodiles, found in Southeast Asia. They get their name from the bulbous growth on the tips of the snouts of male gharials which resembles the round pots known as “ghara” in Hindi. Gharials are very dedicated parents and protective towards their young.

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30) Southern Elephant Seal

Scientific name	Mirounga leonina
Size	Male: 16 – 20 ft Female: 10 ft
Weight	Male: 2,200 – 4,000 kg Female: 400 – 900 kg
Lifespan	21 years
Diet	Squids, fish

Southern Elephant Seals are huge creatures and among the biggest animals in the world. They are very social in nature and prefer to stay in groups. The seals are carnivorous and eat mainly squids and fish. They get their name from the proboscis of the males, which resemble an elephant’s trunk.

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29) Colossal Squid

Scientific name	Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni
Size	It has maximum estimated total length of 9–10 meters (30–33 feet)
Weight	600–700 kilograms (1,300–1,500 pounds)
Lifespan	NA
Diet	Chaetognatha, large fish like the Patagonian toothfish, and smaller squid in the deep ocean.

The colossal squid has the largest eyes of any known creature, with an estimated diameter of 27 cm (11 in). Its eyes are adapted to overcome visual complications in the pelagic zone, allowing it to detect predator movement beyond 120 meters, potentially outpacing the sonar range of sperm whales, one of its main predators.

Their eyes glow in the dark, facilitated by long, rectangular light-producing photophores located next to the lens. Symbiotic bacteria within these photophores luminesce through a chemical reaction, contributing to the squid’s unique visual adaptations.

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28) American Crocodile

Scientific name	Crocodylus acutus
Size	Male: 13 – 16 ft Female: 9.8 ft
Weight	Male: 400 – 500 kg Female: 170 kg
Lifespan	47 – 70 years
Diet	All kinds of aquatic and terrestrial prey

American Crocodiles are carnivorous and opportunistic predators. They prey on all sorts of prey within their reach. These crocodiles are also comfortable in a large variety of habitats, including freshwater, swamp and even saltwater, though juvenile crocodiles can’t endure saltwater. According to IUCN, they are currently a Vulnerable species.

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27) Black Caiman

Scientific name	Melanosuchus niger
Size	16 – 20 ft
Weight	350 – 1,100 kg
Lifespan	50 – 80 years
Diet	All sorts of aquatic and terrestrial prey

Black Caiman are South American natives who are at the top of the food chain. These apex predators have no natural predators for themselves and thus prey on all kinds of animals, no matter how big. They prefer to be warm and like to bask in the sun with mouths open.

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26) Goblin Shark

Scientific name	Mitsukurina owstoni
Size	The goblin shark typically reaches a mature length of 3 to 6 meters (10 to 20 feet)
Weight	210 kg (460 lb). An individual, heavily pregnant, was reported to weigh 800 kg at 4.7 meters.
Lifespan	Around 16 years, with a potential lifespan of up to 60 years.
Diet	Teleost fishes like rattails and dragonfishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans.

The goblin shark is often referred to as a “living fossil” due to its lineage dating back approximately 125 million years, making it the only extant representative of the family Mitsukurinidae.

It exhibits a unique feeding mechanism known as “slingshot feeding.” The protrusion of the jaws is assisted by elastic ligaments, and the lower jaw undergoes complex movements, allowing the goblin shark to capture prey efficiently, compensating for its relatively poor swimming ability.

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25) Nile Crocodile

Scientific name	Crocodylus niloticus
Size	Male: 11 – 16.5 ft; Female: 7 – 13 ft
Weight	Male: 150 – 750 kg; Female: 40 – 250 kg
Lifespan	50 – 60 years
Diet	All sorts of prey

Nile Crocodiles are the second largest living crocodile in the world, after the Saltwater Crocodile. They are also the largest freshwater predator in the African continent. These crocodiles are extremely dangerous and cause a huge number of human deaths every year.

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24) Steller’s Sea Lion

Scientific name	Eumetopias jubatus
Size	Males: 2.82–3.25 meters Females: 2.3–2.9 meters
Weight	Males: 450–1,120 kg Females: 240–350 kg
Lifespan	Around 20-30 years
Diet	Walleye pollock, Atka mackerel, halibut, herring, capelin, flatfish, Pacific cod, rockfish, sculpins, salmon, and cephalopods.

Steller sea lions showcase adaptability in their diet, adjusting to locally abundant prey species, and even entering estuaries to feed on brackish-water fish like sturgeon.

They communicate both in air and underwater with distinctive vocalizations, crucial for mother-pup pairs in crowded breeding areas. Mothers and pups use specific calls, resembling names, to identify each other in the sea lion crowd, highlighting a unique social aspect of their communication.

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23) Giant Squid

Scientific name	Architeuthis dux
Size	Male: 33 ft  Female: 39 – 43 ft
Weight	Male: 150 kg  Female: 275 kg
Lifespan	5 years
Diet	Deep sea fish, squids

Among all these large vertebrates, the Giant Squid takes its place as one of the biggest animals in the world. It is also the biggest invertebrate in the world. Along with the colossal squids, giant squids have the largest eyes out of all animals, which help them see in the deeper parts of the ocean.

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22) African Elephant Seal

Scientific name	The northern elephant seal is Mirounga angustirostris, while the southern elephant seal is Mirounga leonina.
Size	Elephant seals are impressively large, with males reaching lengths of up to 6 meters (20 feet) in the southern species and up to 4.8 meters (16 feet) in the northern species.
Weight	Male: 5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds) in the southern species Male: 2,500 kilograms (5,500 pounds) in the case of northern elephant seals.
Lifespan	Northern elephant seal: 9 years Southern elephant seal: 21 years
Diet	Elephant seals have a diverse diet that includes skates, rays, squid, octopuses, eels, small sharks, and large fish

Elephant seals come equipped with an extraordinary internal thermostat, a physiological adaptation that helps conserve energy and prevent heat loss. By smartly orchestrating the flow of blood through their arteries and veins, these seals stay cozy and comfortable even in the chilly depths of the ocean.

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21) Great White Shark

Scientific name	Carcharodon carcharias
Size	Male: 11 – 13 ft Female: 15 – 16 ft
Weight	522 – 1,111 kg
Lifespan	70 years
Diet	Tuna, rays, sharks, whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, fur seals, sea lions, sea turtles, sea otters, sea birds

Though “Jaws” have made them famous as frightening creatures, Great White Sharks are in reality quite temperate and rarely prey on humans. Though they have about 300 teeth and their fallen teeth are replaced by new plates; they don’t chew their food. They also prefer to live in warm water.

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20) African Forest Elephant

Scientific name	Loxodonta cyclotis
Size	Length: 10 – 13 ft Height: 6 – 10 ft
Weight	2 – 7 tonnes
Lifespan	60 – 70 years
Diet	Vegetation

African Forest Elephants are the smallest living elephant species. They live in the deep rainforests of Africa and are difficult to come by. Because of their primary diet of fruits, they play an important role in spreading seeds around the forest and are known as the “mega-gardener of the forest.” Sadly, they are also Critically Endangered.

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19) Beluga Whale

Scientific name	Delphinapterus leucas
Size	Male: 11 – 18 ft Female: 10 – 13.5 ft
Weight	Male: 1,100 – 1,600 kg Female: 700 – 1,200 kg
Lifespan	30 years
Diet	Arctic cods, rose fish, Greenland halibut, northern shrimp, Coho salmon, capelin, smelt, flounder, herring, crabs, soles, sculpins, squids, clams, octopuses, sea snails, bristle worms

Beluga Whale is a beautiful species of whales, noted for their pure white color. They are very vocal and known as “sea canaries“. They have some fierce predators in polar bears and killer whales.

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18) Saltwater Crocodile

Scientific name	Crocodylus porosus
Size	Male: 20 – 21 ft Female: 9 – 11 ft
Weight	Male: 1,000 – 1,300 kg Female: 76 – 200 kg
Lifespan	70 – 80 years
Diet	Fish, turtles, goannas, snakes, cattle, birds, buffalos, wild boar, mud crabs

Saltwater Crocodiles are the largest living reptile and have the strongest bite in the world. They have been on this planet for a very long time, going back as far as the dinosaurs. These crocodiles are apex predators and will prey on anything in their reach. While they might hunt underwater, they will only feed above the surface.

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17) Long-finned pilot whale

Scientific name	Globicephala melas
Size	Males: 7.6 meters (25 feet) Females: 6 meters (20 feet)
Weight	Males: 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) Females: 2,500 kg (5,500 lb)
Lifespan	45 to 60 years
Diet	Various species of squid, octopus, crustaceans, and fish, including Lanternfish, Atlantic herring, Silver hake, Atlantic mackerel, and Spiny dogfish.

Long-finned pilot whales are recognized for their extensive social behavior, often forming small long-term social units consisting of around 8-12 individuals.

It possesses a unique vocal repertoire, producing various sounds, including echolocation clicks for bio-sonar. Recent studies indicate that a significant portion of their vocalizations consists of repeated sequences, particularly during socializing behaviors, such as lobtailing and spyhopping.

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16) Orca (Killer Whale)

Scientific name	Orcinus orca
Size	Males: 20 – 26 ft Female: 16 – 23 ft
Weight	Male: 6 tonnes Female: 3 – 4 tonnes
Lifespan	Males: 10 – 30 years (in captivity) Female: 50 – 80 years
Diet	Fish, cephalopods, mammals, seabirds, sea turtles

Though Orcas are famous as killer whales, they are not actually whales, rather dolphins. Orcas are not only one of the biggest animals in the world, they are also the most widespread mammal on the planet. They also have the second largest brain out of all marine mammals. 

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15) Asian Elephant

Scientific name	Elephas maximus
Size	Length: 18 – 21 ft  Height: 8 – 9 ft
Weight	3 – 5 tonnes
Lifespan	60 – 80 years
Diet	Vegetation

Asian Elephants are the second largest of the three living elephant species and smaller only to the African bush elephant. Apart from the size, there are some differences between the Asian elephant and its African counterparts. For example, the ears of the Asian elephants are smaller and they have one extra toenail on each foot.

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14) African Bush Elephant

Scientific name	Loxodonta africana
Size	Length: 24 ft  Height: 13 ft
Weight	3 – 6 tonnes
Lifespan	70 – 75 years
Diet	Vegetation

The African Bush Elephant is the largest elephant species and one of the biggest animals in the world. They are also known as African Savannah Elephants. These elephants are the largest terrestrial animals in the world. Regrettably, they are now an Endangered species because of poaching and habitat destruction.

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13) Basking Shark

Scientific name	Cetorhinus maximus
Size	23 – 36 ft
Weight	16 tonnes
Lifespan	50 years
Diet	Zooplanktons, copepods, very small fish

Armed with a frightening set of teeth, Basking Sharks are the second largest fish in the world. Despite their appearance, they are mild-mannered creatures and are not predatory. They are filter feeders and their diet primarily consists of zooplanktons and tiny fish.

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12) Whale Shark

Scientific name	Rhincodon typus
Size	26 – 59 ft
Weight	14 tonnes
Lifespan	80 – 130 years
Diet	Copepods, krills, fish, fish eggs, squids, crabs

The position of the largest fish in the world is taken by the Whale Shark. Like their smaller shark friend, they are also filter feeders. While their name contains two different animals, they are in fact a shark, not a whale. 

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11) Gray Whale

Scientific name	Eschrichtius robustus
Size	42 – 49 ft
Weight	41 tonnes
Lifespan	55 – 70 years
Diet	Benthic crustaceans, amphipods, isopods

Whales are undoubtedly the biggest creatures out there and from here on, the list completely consists of whales. Gray Whales are one of those large animals. Like all whales, they are also bottom feeders. Adult male gray whales are slightly smaller than adult females.

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10) Humpback Whale

Scientific name	Megaptera novaeangliae
Size	46 – 60 ft
Weight	36 – 40 tonnes
Lifespan	80 – 90 years
Diet	Krill, herring, capelin, sand lances, Atlantic mackerel

The name of Humpback Whales comes from the distinctive hump at the front of their small dorsal fins. The geographical distribution of these whales are wide and ranges around the world. They also migrate very long distances.

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9) Bryde’s Whale

Scientific name	Balaenoptera brydei
Size	Males: About 12.9 meters (42 feet) Females: 13.3 meters (44 feet)
Weight	12 to 25 metric tons
Lifespan	50 to 70 years in the wild
Diet	Wide range of prey including fish (such as anchovies and sardines), planktonic crustaceans (euphausiids), and cephalopods.

Bryde’s whales are known for their erratic behavior compared to other baleen whales, often surfacing at irregular intervals and changing directions for unknown reasons.

Although not significantly targeted by historical commercial whaling, Bryde’s whales face threats from ship strikes and anthropogenic noise.

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8) Bowhead Whale

Scientific name	Balaena mysticetus
Size	49 – 62 ft
Weight	54 – 100 tonnes
Lifespan	Over 200 years
Diet	Copepods, amphipods, crustaceans

Bowhead Whales, true to their name, have huge heads. In fact, their skull takes up about a third of their body. They use their skulls to break sea ice. These whales also have the thickest blubber out of all whales. 

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7) North Atlantic Right Whale

Scientific name	Eubalaena glacialis
Size	43 – 52 ft
Weight	40 – 70 tonnes
Lifespan	70 years
Diet	Copepods, krills, pteropods, larval barnacles

North Atlantic Right Whales are the smallest of the three species of right whales. During the 1890s, these whales faced near extinction because of hunting by commercial whalers.

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6) Sei Whale

Scientific name	Balaenoptera borealis
Size	Male: 45 – 61 ft  Female: 49 – 64 ft
Weight	Male: 15 – 17 tonnes  Female: 18.5 tonnes
Lifespan	70 years
Diet	Copepods, krills, other zooplanktons, small fish

Sei Whale is another Baleen whale which is one of the biggest animals in the world. They can swim very fast, up to the speed of 34 mph. Sei whales have a distinct way of diving where they just sink below the surface without arching or displaying their flukes.

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5) Sperm Whale

Scientific name	Physeter macrocephalus
Size	Male: 49 – 62 ft  Female: 35 – 39 ft
Weight	Male: 41 – 53 tonnes  Female: 14 tonnes
Lifespan	70 years or more
Diet	Squids, octopuses, demersal rays, sharks

Sperm Whales have the biggest brain out of all living animals. They are also the largest toothed whales. Their name comes from the semi-liquid substance in their head which was initially believed to be sperms.

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4) Southern Right Whale

Scientific name	Eubalaena australis
Size	49 – 59 ft
Weight	80 – 90 metric tons
Lifespan	Over 100 years
Diet	Zooplanktons

Southern Right Whales inhibit the waters of the Southern Hemisphere. The calluses on their bodies are unique to each whale and act as identifiers. They are also very calm and slow in nature.

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3) North Pacific Right Whale

Scientific name	Eubalaena japonica
Size	49 – 60 ft
Weight	50 – 100 tonnes
Lifespan	70 years
Diet	Copepods, krills

The North Pacific Right Whales are an Endangered species of Baleen whales. They are huge in size and make a wide range of noises, dubbed as screams, moans, groans, pulses and belches by scientists.

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2) Fin Whale

Scientific name	Balaenoptera physalus
Size	61 – 66 ft
Weight	57 – 120 metric tons
Lifespan	94 – 140 years
Diet	Small fish, squids, copepods, krills

Fin Whales are also a species of Baleen whales and the second largest animal in the world. They are solitary in nature and prefer to roam alone. Their only known natural predator is the killer whale.

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1) Blue Whale

Scientific name	Balaenoptera musculus
Size	72.1 – 108 ft
Weight	83.5 – 100 tonnes
Lifespan	80 – 90 years
Diet	Krill

The biggest animal in the world is the Blue Whale. This deep sea whale is not only the biggest living animal but it is also the biggest animal ever to have lived on Earth. Just their tongues weigh as much as an elephant. Blue whales are also the loudest animal on this planet; their sounds are around 188 decibel which is louder than a jet engine.

There are some unbelievably huge animals we have in our planet. But very sadly, a lot of them are facing habitat loss and decreasing numbers. There are many species here that are either endangered or vulnerable, and some are even critically endangered. It’s unfortunate that humans are responsible for this. We must protect them to keep balance in our world. We’ll stop here for now. Go visit our website for more exciting contents like this.

References

Wikipedia, Animals Comparisons, The Nature Conservancy, Oceana, NOAA Fisheries, Ocean, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library, The Animal Files, Britannica, NT Government (Be Crocwise), Animal Spot, Kidadl, Animal Diversity Web, Australian Antarctic Program, LA Zoo, PetMD, The Peregrine Fund, The Dodo, Treehugger, WorldWildLife, Factins, NWF Blog, ZSL, Though Co.

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