What is the largest land animal. What is the largest animal in the world? Where does it live? The largest mammal from the order equids

Instruction

The extinct dinosaur Amphicelia is described from a fragment of a single dilapidated vertebra, so its size and the very existence of this dinosaur are in doubt. According to calculations, its length ranged from 40 to 62 meters, and its weight was up to 155 tons. Scientific: kingdom - animals, type - chordates, - reptiles, - lizards, infraorder - sauropods, family - diplopoids, genus - amphicoelias.

The blue whale is a marine modern animal, the length of which reaches 33 meters, and the mass can exceed 150 tons. Scientific classification: domain - eukaryotes, kingdom - animals, type - chordates, class - mammals, order -, family - minke whales, genus - minke whales, species - blue whale. It feeds on plankton filtered through a lamellar whalebone: the food is based on krill, less often larger crustaceans, small slave and. There are four subspecies blue whale- northern, southern, dwarf and Indian. They differ slightly in size and latitude. The blue whale is found throughout the world's oceans. Whales rarely gather in small groups, single individuals are more common. By 1960, thanks to whaling, the blue whale was on the verge of extinction. To date, their total number does not exceed 10,000 individuals. In the blue whale, females are much larger than males, it is believed that whales (vomited) were previously larger than modern individuals. Their eyesight and sense of smell are poor. Hearing and touch are well developed. The weight of the tongue is 4 tons, and the size of the pharynx is only 10 cm in diameter. The volume of the lungs exceeds 3 thousand liters. Large individuals have a blood volume of over 8 thousand liters. The heart of the blue whale is the largest in the entire animal kingdom and its weight is about one ton, and its pulse is 5-10 beats per minute. Females give birth once every 2 years, and the pregnancy lasts 11 months. However, population growth cannot compensate for its decline. A born baby weighs about 2-3 tons and reaches a length of 6-8 meters. The cub feeds on mother's milk for 7 months and grows up to 16 meters during this period. Whales reach physical maturity by the age of 15, and live up to 80-90 years.

In this article, we invite you to exciting excursion on the list of the 25 largest living creatures on Earth, ranging from giants by microcosm standards - viruses, bacteria and amoebas to the largest invertebrates, insects, amphibians, birds, reptiles, fish, mammals, plants and fungi.

1. The largest known virus (1.5 microns in length)

One can argue for a long time whether viruses are actually living organisms - some biologists say yes, others are not so sure. However, there is no doubt that Pithovirus real giant among known to science viruses (about 1.5 microns in length), 50 percent more than the nearest record holder - Pandoravirus. Perhaps you thought that a pathogen of such a size as Pithovirus capable of infecting large animals such as elephants, hippos or even humans. But do not worry, the virus only infects amoebas, which are not much larger than itself.

2. The world's largest bacterium (more than 0.5 mm in length)

Thiomargarita namibiensis- translated from Latin means "Namibian sulfur pearl". The bacterium got its name because of the sulfur granules included in the cytoplasm, giving it a brilliant appearance. Size thiomargarita namibiensis is more than half a millimeter wide, which makes it possible to see it with the naked eye. Thiomargarita namibiensis absolutely harmless to humans and animals, as it is a lithotroph (organisms that use inorganic substances as oxidizable substrates (electron donors)).

3. The largest amoeba on the planet (3 mm long)

The largest amoeba belongs to the genus Chaos. Of course, she is much smaller than the monstrous amoebas from comics and sci-fi movies. But still, this real giant among amoebas, which is easy to see with the naked eye. Another feature of the world's largest amoeba is the ability to digest small multicellular organisms, bacteria and protists.

4. The heaviest beetle (85-110 g)

Despite the fact that the goliath is not the longest beetle in the world, nevertheless, given their mass (some individuals weigh more than 100 g), they certainly live up to their name. The goliath beetle, in terms of mass and size, is comparable to an adult gerbil mouse, as you have already seen by looking at the photo above.

5. The largest spider (body weight up to 175 g)

Theraphosa Blonda or goliath tarantula is the largest spider in the world, originally from rainforest South America. Given the legs, the body length of the goliath tarantula can reach up to 28 cm, and weight up to 175 g. The life expectancy of female giant spiders in the wild is up to 25 years, and puberty occurs at 3 years. Males were less fortunate, despite the fact that they are not eaten by the female after the act of mating, like other types of spiders, their life expectancy is much shorter - from 3 to 6 years.

6. The largest worm (average length 60-90 cm)

If you have a strong dislike for worms, then you may be alarmed by the fact that there are more than half a dozen species. giant worms- the largest of which is the African giant worm, up to 1.5 m long. Despite the size comparable to the average snake, giant earthworms are just as harmless as their smaller counterparts. They like to burrow deep into the mud, stay away from humans (and other animals), quietly eating rotten leaves and other decaying organic matter.

7. The largest amphibian (body weight up to 3 kg)

"Goliath" is a popular name for the largest fauna of its kind (see #4 and #5). The goliath frog lives in west-central Africa. The average weight of a goliath frog is about 2.5 kg, which is much less than the mass Beelzebufo ampinga(about 5 kg) - the largest frog that lived on Earth during the late Cretaceous period.

8. The largest arthropod (3-4 m including legs)

The Japanese spider crab is truly a huge and extremely long-legged animal. The front legs of this representative of arthropods reach a length of up to 2 m, and the body is up to 45 cm. The motley, orange-white color of the exoskeleton serves as an excellent disguise from large marine predators. Like most other strange creatures, japanese spider crab is a valuable delicacy in Japan, but in Lately, rarely found on restaurant menus due to pressure from conservationists.

9. The largest flowering plant (diameter up to 1 m)

Luckily for all of us, Rafflesia Arnold's habitat is limited to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. You definitely won't meet her in the neighbor's garden. :)

10. The largest sponge on the planet (up to 2 m in diameter)

Besides being gigantic sea ​​sponge (Xestospongia muta) the largest of its kind, it holds the record for the longest lifespan among invertebrates, with some individuals living over 1,000 years. Like other types of sponges, xestospongia muta feeds by filtering small organisms from sea ​​water.

11. The largest jellyfish (up to 37 m in length)

With a dome diameter of about 2 m and tentacles over 30 m, hairy cyanoea is comparable in length to a blue whale (see item #22). Despite such a gigantic size, the tentacles of these jellyfish do not represent mortal danger for a person (only pain and a rash on the skin). The hairy cyanide also serves an important ecological function, providing various types of fish and crustaceans with shelter under a huge dome.

Interestingly, the hairy cyanide is a favorite food source for the other giant on this list, the leatherback turtle (see #17)

12. The largest flying bird (adult males weigh up to 20 kg)

Considering the huge (by the standards of birds) body weight - up to 20 kg, the African great bustard goes against the laws of aerodynamics. It is not the most graceful bird in the world when it comes to flight. In fact, the African great bustard spends a significant part of its life on land in southern Africa, clucking loudly and devouring almost everything that moves. She uses flight only in cases of extreme danger.

In this respect, the African great bustard is no different from the even larger pterosaurs, the flying reptiles of the Mesozoic era.

13. The largest representative of protists (over 45 m in length)

Many people mistakenly believe that there are only four categories of life - bacteria, plants, fungi and animals - but let's not forget primitive eukaryotic organisms such as chromists. Most likely you will be surprised by the fact that all algae are protists. The largest representative of protists is Macrocystis pyrifera- a type of brown algae from the family Laminaria, which is able to grow more than 45 m in length, providing a reliable refuge for many marine organisms.

14. The largest non-flying bird (up to 270 cm in height and weighing up to 156 kg)

If taken globally, then the ostrich is not only the largest non-flying bird, but also the most big bird of those currently living on earth. The maximum recorded height of an ostrich is 2.7 m and a mass of 156 kg. It may seem incredible, but relatively recently (about 200-300 years ago) on the island of Madagascar, a bird species lived - the Madagascar epiornis, in comparison with which an ostrich would seem like a chicken. These birds could reach 3-5 m in height and up to 500 kg in weight, which is comparable to the size of birds of the Dromornis genus that lived on the planet during the Late Miocene.

15. The largest snake (weight - 97.5 kg)

Compared to other organisms on this list, size classification of snakes is much more difficult. Even professional naturalists tend to overestimate the size of the snakes they have observed in the wild, since it is almost impossible to transport large specimens for detailed study. At the same time, most scientists agree that the anaconda is the largest snake planets. The largest anaconda caught was 521 cm long and weighed 97.5 kg.

16. The largest representative of bivalves (over 200 kg)

Giant tridacna - the most great view from the class bivalves found in the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The maximum mass of the giant tridacnana is more than 200 kg, and the length of the shell can exceed 1 m. Despite its formidable reputation, giant clam close its shell only in case of danger, and its size is not enough to swallow an adult.

17. The largest turtle (weight over 500 kg)

Leatherback turtle - large view sea ​​turtles living in tropical latitudes. These turtles are strikingly different from their relatives. The leatherback turtle shell is made up of small bony plates and is not attached to the skeleton as in other species. In addition to body structure, distinctive feature leatherback turtles is their gigantic size - the mass of an adult can exceed 500 kg.

18. The largest reptile (weight up to 1000 kg)

By the standards of dinosaurs, when the largest reptile weighed 100 tons, the combed crocodile is just a small lizard. However, in the world modern reptiles These crocodiles are real giants. The body length of an adult saltwater crocodile varies from 3.5 to 6 m, and its weight is from 200 to 1000 kg.

19. Largest fish (maximum weight 2235 kg)

The peculiar appearance of the common sunfish makes it one of the strangest inhabitants of the ocean. But these fish are known not only for their eccentric appearance, but also for their gigantic size. The record of the caught specimens of an ordinary sunfish, had a length of 4.26 m and a mass of 2235 kg.

20. The largest land mammal (average weight 5 tons)

A mammal from the genus of African elephants, as well as the largest land animal. The average weight of a female is 3 tons, and a male - 6 tons. An adult bush elephant is able to eat about 200 kg of vegetation daily and drink up to 200 liters of water.

21. The largest shark (over 12 m in length)

Oddly enough, but the largest animals in the world's oceans usually feed on microscopic organisms. Like the blue whale (see next paragraph), the whale shark's diet consists primarily of plankton, small squid and fish. As for the size of the whale shark, it is not possible to give exact numbers here. Exists various sources, claiming to have caught giant individuals over 20 m in length and weighing up to 40 tons. Given the tendency of many fishermen to exaggerate, one cannot be 100% sure of these data. Apparently more actual dimensions whale sharks are 12-14 m long.

22. The largest marine animal (200 tons)

In fact, the blue whale is not only the largest marine animal, but apparently the largest animal in the history of life on Earth, dinosaurs or other reptiles weighing 200 tons are not yet known to science. Like the whale shark (see previous paragraph), The blue whale feeds on microscopic plankton, filtering countless gallons of sea water through the dense plates of whalebone. Natural scientists estimate that an adult blue whale consumes 3-4 tons of krill every day.

23. The largest mushroom (600 tons)

Perhaps, in your understanding, the largest mushroom has a stem as thick as a post and a hat the size of the roof of a house, but in reality everything looks different. The record holder mushroom, or rather a colony of mushrooms, which has a common mycelium and functions as a single organism, is located in the forests of Oregon, USA and belongs to the genus honey agaric. The colony covers an area of ​​2000 acres and has total mass about 600 tons Age giant mushroom, according to botanists, is more than 2400 years old.

24. The largest single tree (about 1000 tons)

The giant sequoia is a tree, truly gigantic in size. Barrel height giant sequoia reaches 100 m, with a diameter of 10-12 m, and the estimated mass of the largest trees is about 1000 tons. They also belong to the most ancient organisms on the planet, the rings of one tree in the Northwest of the United States indicated an age of 3500 years.

25. Largest tree colony (6000 tons)

Like the fungus colony (see item 23), the largest colony of Aspen poplar "Pando", located in Utah, USA, has a common root system and the same genes. Simply put, all the trees in the colony are clones descended from a common ancestor about 80,000 years ago. Unfortunately, at present, Pando is in a bad state, slowly fading away from drought, disease and insect infestation. Botanists are desperate to fix the problem, so hopefully this colony can thrive for at least another 80,000 years.

Children are very inquisitive and often ask questions that are not easy to answer. A child, unlike an adult, has little interest in everyday problems. It is more important for him to know why the grass is green, where the clouds come from, why the giraffe has a long neck, and the elephant has a trunk where you can see the kangaroo and so on. And so many adults cannot answer all these difficult questions. Of course, for a serious businessman it is not so important to know all this, but in order to expand your own horizons, sometimes you can still get acquainted with some interesting facts. For example, what is the largest animal in the world, what is the smallest, where they live and what they look like.

What animals are the most on earth?

Everyone knows such a thing as the Red Book. This is a document in which very rare representatives of flora and fauna are recorded. You can often read about the rarest and endangered species of animals listed in the Red Book in a natural science textbook and in scientific and educational literature. But nowhere is there a list of those animals that are the most on earth.

As a rule, occupant animals, which outnumber other classes, are not at all large sizes. For example, a small crustacean animal, similar to a shrimp, no more than 5 centimeters long, which is the record holder for the largest number on earth - this Antarctic krill, an animal from the family (Engraulidae) euphausiidae. Krill are fairly common and can be found over a vast area from the Southern Ocean to the Antarctic Ocean.

What animals are the most in Australia?

If krill is the most common animal species worldwide, then the question arises, which animals lead the population in certain places, for example, in Australia?

This continent is home to many unique animals that you will not find in other parts of the planet Earth:

• koalas,
• Wombats,
• opossums,
• Platypuses and many other rare specimens.

But Australia is known to the whole world as kangaroo country. These are the largest individuals belonging to the order of marsupials, other representatives of this order are called wallabies. Kangaroos live only in Australia and in some places in South America.

The fact is that marsupials less adapted than other animals to the climate that has changed since the time of the dinosaurs. The reason for this is precisely that the bag creates the least favorable conditions for bearing cubs.

Where does the largest animal in the world live?

The biggest animal in the world does not live on land at all, but in water.

We are talking about a blue or blue whale:

• The length of an individual reaches 32 meters, and the weight varies from 2 to 3.5 tons;
• This animal from the order of cetaceans lives in almost all waters of the oceans. The blue whale feeds on Antarctic krill;
• The blue whale leads a solitary lifestyle;
• In terms of numbers, blue whales tend to decrease, but nevertheless, so far this species of animals does not cause the danger of complete extinction;
• The blue whale, despite its gigantic size, does not pose a danger to humans, it is smart and friendly enough;
• Despite its large size, the blue whale is not able to swallow a large object, as it has a very narrow throat. Interestingly, the largest object that this animal can swallow cannot exceed the diameter of a grapefruit.

The largest land animal

The blue whale, as it turned out, is not inferior to anyone in size, but this animal lives in the water, while on land, the title of the largest animal goes to the African elephant.

This mammal from the proboscis order reaches a height of up to 3.5 meters and weighs almost 7 tons. And the males are larger than the females. African elephants are not so common the globe like blue whales, their habitat is limited only to Africa, just south of the Sahara.

The record holder feeds exclusively on vegetation, eating several tens of kilograms of greenery per day. African elephants are friendly. Their number tends to decrease, and therefore this species of animals is listed in the Red Book of Russia.

The largest animal in Asia

The Indian elephant or Asian elephant is not much smaller than its African brother and is the largest animal in Asia.

The Indian Elephant, like the African Elephant, is vegetarian and quite friendly.

The elephant has several subspecies, which received their names according to the territory of their habitat:

1. Sri Lankan elephant who lives on the peninsula of Sri Lanka,
2. Sumatran elephant- found in Sumatra,
3. Bornean elephant- living on the island of Borneo.

The number of Asian elephants is decreasing every year, and therefore this species, like the African elephant, is listed in the Red Book of Russia. African and Asian elephants are slightly different in appearance.

A few main differences:

• Ear size - African elephants have larger ears, female Indian elephants lack tusks while female African elephants do;
• African elephants are grey-brown, while Asian elephants are darker;
• On the skin of Asian elephants there is a small hairline, African elephants have more folds.
• The African elephant has longer and thinner legs than the Asian elephant.

The smallest animal on earth

If the largest animal in the world was hard to miss, then small animals were not so easy to find:

1. The tiniest animal in the world lives in the warm regions of Thailand and bears the name pig-nosed bat. Belongs to the squad bats to the mind pig-nosed, no more than 3 centimeters long and weighing about 2 grams. The nose of this crumb is like a nickel of a piglet;
2. Kitty's bat is a rare animal, total individuals does not exceed 500, so this species is listed in the Red Book. She eats insects and like all bats leads night image life.

Living in a certain place, people get used to the flora and fauna that surrounds them. To a resident of the European continent, bananas growing on a bush, galloping kangaroos and camels seem outlandish. While a resident of Africa will never be able to meet a bear at home. But the human mind is inquisitive, and always strives for knowledge. Even if a person has not seen anyone bigger than a cow, he is still interested in what is the largest animal in the world, what it looks like and in what parts of the earth it is found.

Video about the "most-most" huge animals

In this video, zoologist Timur Prokazin will talk about the most gigantic creatures on the planet:

Our world is truly amazing. It is full of beings big and small, low and high. Today we offer you an extraordinary interesting selection. It contains photographs of the fifteen largest animals in the world, broken down into different categories such as mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, etc. Some of these animals are real giants!

1. The largest animal in the world is the blue (or blue) whale.
The blue whale, also called the blue whale or the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), is a marine mammal that belongs to the order Cetacea to the suborder Baleen whales. At 30 meters (98 feet) long and 180 metric tons or more in weight, it is the largest known animal to have ever lived on our planet. The tongue of a blue whale can weigh up to about 2.7 tons (5,952 pounds), which is about the same weight as a medium-sized whale. Asian elephant. Heart blue whale weighs about 600 kilograms (1,300 pounds) and is the largest such organ of any living being. The heart of a blue whale is not only the size of a small car, but it also weighs about the same as the mentioned car. And the lung capacity of a blue whale exceeds 3,000 liters.

2. The blue whale is thought to feed almost exclusively on small shrimp-like creatures known as krill.

3. The basis of the diet of the blue whale is plankton. Thanks to its filtering apparatus, which consists of whalebone plates, for summer months a blue whale can ingest a whopping 3.6 metric tons (7,900 pounds) or more daily.

4. This means that he can eat up to 40 million krill per day, despite the fact that daily requirement in calories of an adult blue whale is in the region of 1.5 million. kcal.

6. The largest land animal in the world: African elephant. The African elephant is the largest land animal. Male African elephants are 6 to 7.5 meters (19.7 to 24.6 ft) long, 3.3 m (10.8 ft) tall at the withers, and can weigh up to 6 tons (13,000 lb). Female African elephants are much smaller, averaging 5.4 to 6.9 m (17.7 to 22.6 ft) long, 2.7 meters (8.9 ft) high at the withers, and weighing up to reach 3 tons (6600 pounds). Adult African elephants generally have no enemies in their natural environment habitats due to their extremely large size, but baby elephants (especially newborns) are one of the favorite prey species for bloodthirsty attacks by lions or crocodiles, and are also often attacked by leopards or hyenas. According to the latest data, in the wild, the population of African elephants ranges from 500 to 600 thousand individuals.

7. The tallest land animal in the world: the giraffe.

The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African mammal from the order artiodactyl families giraffe. It is the tallest land animal in the world. its height averages 5–6 meters (16–20 ft). Male giraffes have an average weight of 1,600 kilograms (3,500 lb), while females can weigh around 830 kilograms (1,800 lb). Distinctive characteristic giraffe is a very long neck that can reach over 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) in length. In fact, the neck accounts for almost half vertical height animal. Long neck is the result of a disproportionate lengthening of the cervical vertebrae, and not an increase in the number of vertebrae, of which the giraffe, like almost all other mammals, has only seven

8. The largest predator in the world: the southern elephant seal.
The southern elephant seal is the largest carnivore on our planet. The size of the southern elephant seal is evidence of extreme sexual dimorphism, the most significant of any mammal, as male southern elephant seals are typically five to six times heavier than females. While females can average 400 to 900 kilograms (880 to 2,000 lb) and be 2.6 to 3 meters (8.5 to 9.8 ft) long, southern elephant seal males average approximately 2,200 to 4,000 kg (4,900 to 8,800 lb) and can reach 4.5 to 5.8 meters (15 to 19 ft) in length. Absolute record A southern elephant seal shot at Possession Bay, South Georgia on February 28, 1913, measured 6.85 meters (22.5 feet) in length and is estimated to have weighed approximately 5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds).
Southern marines can dive multiple times while hunting, staying submerged for more than twenty minutes each time, tracking their prey, squid and fish, at depths of 400 to 1,000 meters (1,300 to 3,300 ft). The documented record for the longest time underwater for a juvenile elephant seal was approximately two hours. Max Depth, on which southern sea ​​elephants, is over 1,400 meters (4,600 feet).

9. The largest land predator in the world: Polar bear and Kodiak bear.

The world's largest terrestrial predators are the white polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and the Kodiak brown bear (Ursus arctos). If everything is more or less clear with the white polar bear, then the Kodiak bear is less known.

10. Kodiak is a subspecies of brown bears that are found on Kodiak Island and other islands of the Kodiak archipelago off the southern coast of Alaska. Since the polar polar bear and the Kodiak brown bear have approximately the same body size, it is not clear which of them actually ranks first in size. In both species, the height at the withers is over 1.6 meters (5.2 ft), and the total body length can reach 3.05 m (10.0 ft). The absolute weight records for a polar bear and a brown bear were 1,003 kg (2,210 lb) and 1,135 kg (2,500 lb), respectively.

11. largest reptile in the world: Saltwater (combed or spongy) crocodile.
Saltwater crocodile(Crocodylus porosus), is the largest of all reptiles currently existing in the world. The habitat of combed crocodiles is the range from Northern Australia to South-East Asia and east coast of India. An adult male saltwater crocodile can weigh between 409 and 1,000 kilograms (900–2,200 lb) and is typically 4.1 to 5.5 meters (13–18 ft) long. However, males can exceed 6 meters (20 ft) in length and sometimes weigh over 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Saltwater crocodile is the only crocodile species that regularly reaches a length of 4.8 m (16 ft) and even exceeds this mark. The saltwater crocodile is an active predator that feeds mainly on insects, mollusks, amphibians, crustaceans, small reptiles and fish. However, it attacks almost any animal that is in its territory, either in water or on land. The crocodile always drags the victim, which he watches over on land, into the water, where it is more difficult for her to resist him.

12. The largest amphibian in the world: the Chinese giant salamander.
The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is the largest salamander in the world. Individual individuals of the Chinese giant salamander can reach a length of 180 centimeters (6 feet), although at present such giants are extremely rare. This species is endemic mountain rivers and lakes in China. One of the conditions necessary for the survival of the Chinese giant salamander is clean and very cold water.

13. To date, this species is considered endangered due to habitat destruction, pollution environment and targeted destruction, as giant amphibian meat is considered a delicacy and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

14. Largest rabbit / hare in the world: "Belgian flandre". The Belgian Flemish is an ancient breed of domesticated rabbit that originates from the Flemish region.

15. They were first bred back in the sixteenth century in the vicinity of the city of Ghent, Belgium. Belgian Flemish rabbits can weigh up to 12.7 kilograms (28 pounds).

16. The largest bat in the world: the giant golden flying fox. In the photo: a giant golden flying fox. Spectacled flying fox.

The largest of all bat species is the giant golden flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), an endangered species bats from the rainforests of the Philippines, which is part of the fruit bat family. The basis of the diet of giant golden flying foxes is fruits. The maximum weight of giant golden flying foxes can be 1.5 kg (3.3 lb), they can be up to 55 centimeters (22 in) long, and their wingspan can be nearly 1.8 meters (5.9 ft). Giant flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) giving way to golden flying fox in body weight and length, but ahead of her in wingspan. Scientists have recorded individuals with a wingspan ranging from 1.83 meters (6.0 feet) to 2 meters (6.6 feet).

17. The largest rodent in the world: capybara.
The largest of the existing rodents is the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), a species that is found along the shores of various reservoirs in tropical and temperate parts of Central and South America, east of the Andes - from Panama to Uruguay to northeast Argentina. One of the main conditions for the existence of capybaras is the presence of a nearby reservoir.

18. The largest specimens of capybaras can reach 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) in length and 0.9 meters (3.0 feet) in height at the withers. They can weigh up to 105.4 kg (232 lb). This is a very active species. Capybaras are social animals that live in groups of up to a hundred individuals, but the average number of one colony is 10-20 individuals on average.

19. Largest bony fish in the world: common moonfish (sunfish, headfish).

Osteichthyes, also called "bony fish", are a taxonomic group of fish that have bony, not cartilaginous, skeletons. The vast majority of fish belong to the species Osteichthyes. This is an extremely diverse and numerous group, which consists of more than 29,000 species. This is the most numerous class of vertebrates that currently exists.

20. The largest representative bony fish is the widespread common moonfish (sunfish, fishhead) or Mola Mola. She has an extremely strange body shape - it is laterally compressed, very high and short, which gives the fish an outlandish appearance and a shape similar to a disk. In fact, it does not have a body as such - a sunfish is literally a "head with a tail." A mature Common Fishhead has an average length of 1.8 meters (5.9 ft), a width from fin to fin of up to 2.5 meters (8.2 ft), and an average weight of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb). However, scientists have recorded individuals that can be up to 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) long and 4.2 meters (14 feet) across. The weight of such giants can reach 2,300 kilograms (5,100 pounds).

21. Largest lizard/snake in the world: giant green anaconda.

The giant anaconda, sometimes also called the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), is a species of snake in the boa subfamily. It lives in the tropical part of South America east of the Andes, Paraguay, Northern Bolivia, French Guiana. The maximum recorded body length is 7.5 meters (25 feet), and the maximum recorded weight reaches 250 kilograms (550 pounds), although there are rumors of much larger green anacondas. The reticulated python (Python reticulatus) from Southeast Asia is longer in body length but thinner, and members of this species have been reported to reach a maximum of 9.7 meters (32 ft) in length.

22. The world's largest bird: ostrich.

The ostrich, the largest bird on our planet (Struthio camelus), is found on the plains of Africa and Arabia. The scientific name of the ostrich in Greek means "camel sparrow". A large male ostrich can reach a height of 2.8 meters (9.2 feet), and weigh over 156 kilograms (345 pounds). Ostrich eggs can weigh up to 1.4 kilograms (3 lb) and are the largest bird eggs in the world. modern world. Ostriches can develop top speed up to 97.5 km/h (60.6 mph), making the ostrich the fastest bird on earth and the fastest bipedal creature in the world.

The Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is a member of the Pelican family. The habitat of curly pelicans is a significant area from Southeast Europe to India and China. Dalmatian pelicans inhabit swamps and shallow lakes. It is the largest of the pelicans, averaging 160-180 centimeters (63-70 inches) in length, and weighing 11-15 kilograms (24-33 pounds). The wingspan of the curly pelican is just over 3 meters (10 ft). An average weight of 11.5 kilograms (25 lb) makes the Dalmatian Pelican the heaviest flying bird. Although a large male bustard or swan may exceed the pelican in maximum weight.

24. The largest arthropod in the world: Japanese spider crab.

The Japanese spider crab is a type of sea crab that lives in the waters off the coast of Japan. In the span of the first pair of legs, it reaches 3.8 meters (12 feet), and can weigh up to 41 pounds (19 kilograms).

26. In its natural habitat, the Japanese spider crab feeds on shellfish and animal carcasses and can live up to 100 years.

At the word "giant" most people represent either huge diplodocus or a mammoth from the "Ice Age". Another option is not excluded - eucalyptus and baobabs. However, there are many more creatures whose size may pleasantly (and not so) 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 is a list of notable animals ranging from dog-sized rabbits to human-sized crabs. Feel tiny with the most large inhabitants peace!

Female hippopotamus during evening rest

Looking at these funny creatures (which, by the way, are among the most aggressive mammals in the world: more people suffer from them than from crocodiles and sharks), it's hard to believe that their closest relatives are sea whales. Although landed, hippos are still undividedly devoted aquatic environment, as evidenced by the etymology of their Greek name - "river horse".

Male gorilla on a halt

This species of gorilla is on the verge of extinction. Humanly intelligent primate lives only in a small area in Africa, where deforestation and poaching have made his life a struggle for survival. The eastern gorilla is the largest representative of the species of higher primates.

The largest breed of rabbit is the Flanders.

Flandre domestic rabbit and collie

This breed of game rabbit is about the size of an average dog and can impress both gourmets and furry lovers. 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 it was possible to prove the existence of giant squids, since they rarely appear on the surface. Many oceanologists are sure 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 was the imprints of plate-sized suction cups on the bodies of sperm whales. However, in 2004, Japanese researchers were able to photograph a live giant squid in its habitat.

"Flying" stingray in shallow water

This majestic slope, nicknamed " sea ​​devil", can have a wingspan of up to eight meters. Moreover, a manta can easily jump several meters out of the water. Unfortunately, this beautiful sight can only be observed on the high seas and only during the breeding season.

Old White shark on the hunt

This sea ​​monster is the largest and most aggressive fish alive today (it's good that megalodons are extinct). Moreover, she has no natural enemies except for killer whales and humans.

Capybara is a peaceful rodent animal

Rodent sunbathing

This sweet 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 while hunting

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

The head and structure of the anterior part of the body of a 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".

A trace from the movement of such a carcass is the best signal to turn back

This species of reptile is the largest of the living. Salted crocodile can be found in Indian Ocean off the coast. This monster is known for its aggressiveness, so if you see two rows of prongs swimming towards you, you better get out of your way.

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 cut down and polluted. Acerodon is peaceful and feeds exclusively on fruits.

Komodo dragon digesting lunch

These legendary "dragons" are the largest lizards in the world. Known for their voracity: at one meal they can eat almost as much as they weigh themselves. However, there is a downside to their appetite: the metabolism of monitor lizards is so slow that it is enough for a monitor lizard to eat once a month.

Cassowary comb is considered an aphrodisiac

This largest birds outside of Africa. Despite their peaceful disposition, cassowaries can attack people during the current period or if the bird feels threatened by its offspring.

Killer whale while chasing a fur seal

Actually, killer whales are not whales. They are the largest members of the dolphin family. Possess high intelligence and live in large families.

A female sperm whale with a calf

These huge whales are the biggest 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 arthropod champion. This type of crab lives off the coast of Japan. It is known for its size (it can weigh up to 20 kg), taste (gourmets around the world queue up for its phalanges) and longevity (there are individuals that have lived for a century).

Elephant female scaring away intruders

It's scary to imagine, but these mammals can reach 5 tons of weight. And given their aggressiveness and size, elephant seals can safely be called the largest carnivores on land (although they prey on marine life, to our happiness).

Pelican before flying for fish

This species of pelican 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 bipedal 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 land animal.

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 bones).

Salamander at the Beijing Zoo

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

The bear is looking for food in the polar winter

Despite the apparent "plush", polar bears- strong and vicious predators that can tear a person apart in a matter of seconds. They say that there is no escape from him, except for a shameful flight.

Male, scaring away trespassers

The largest land creature. Representatives of this species have no enemies who could attack it with impunity (except for people who destroy elephants in 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 the living there may be unknown giants, which we will definitely find out about.