10 Largest Animals in the World

10 Largest Animals in the World

Elephant? The hippo? The rhinoceros? None of these animals appear in this article, despite the fact that they are huge. Neither the elephant seal, the bison, or the polar bear. Not even the giraffe. Any other ideas or do you give up now?

If you’ve ever wondered what the largest animals in the world are, read on. Probably, more than one will surprise you, and many of those you expected to find here are not. We advance, yes, that all, except one, are aquatic.

We also indicate that in this list we compile them according to their length because if we took into account the weight, the classification would be a little different.

10. Orca – nine meters

We start in reverse order. In tenth place, with up to nine meters in length and five tons in weight, the killer whale. It belongs to the dolphin family, being the largest species of it.

Also known as the killer whale, in its English translation as “killer whole”, it is famous for its aggressiveness with other cetaceans, even larger ones, such as various types of whales. With humans, however, no attacks have been reported to date.

They live in groups, of up to 40, and are known to be able to coordinate hunting tactics, surrounding and stunning their prey. Due to these communication skills and “teamwork,” they are considered very intelligent animals, as well as great swimmers, capable of reaching 50 kilometers per hour.

They live in all the world’s oceans, although they prefer warm and cold waters.

9. Anaconda – 10 meters

The largest snake in the world is the anaconda, although there is some discussion as to whether it is the reticulated python. However, we consider it the largest anaconda because of its greater weight.

These huge reptiles can measure up to 10 meters, although they usually have an average size of about five or six. Its weight can reach 150 kilos. There are a large number of people who claim to have found “monstrous” and colossal specimens, from 15 to 30 meters even, but there is no proven data, so they are local legends.

The anaconda is a constrictor snake, which kills and eats its prey by suffocation, not venomous bites.

They inhabit the Amazon rainforest in South America, mainly in rivers, although they also frequent trees.

8. Whale shark – 12 meters

We return from fresh water to salt water. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world. The largest specimen ever recorded measured 12 meters and weighed 21.5 tons, although these are usually average measurements. More or less, the dimensions of a standard bus.

Harmless to humans, which is not in their diet, it is distinguished from other species of sharks by the size of its mouth and its teeth. Its mouth is very wide, up to a meter and a half, and its teeth, up to three millimeters, do not look as menacing as their peers. However, let’s not be fooled: they have several rows of up to 300 teeth. They mainly feed on smaller fish, which they hunt in large numbers.

They are found in oceans all over the world, although their main location is the Philippines. Although, it is difficult to spot any. It is also considered one of the oldest animals since it could have been on Earth for nearly 60 million years.

7. Gray whale – 15 meters

The gray whale is one of the best-known types of whale and the third largest. It reaches 15 meters and 20 tons.

They live in very small groups, from 3 to 5 members. They feed mainly on crustaceans (krill) from the bottom of the sea.

Among its most interesting characteristics is the fact that it is one of the mammals that travels the longest distance throughout its life, from northern Mexico in winter to giving birth to its young in the Bering Sea in summer.

It inhabits the seas of the North Pacific Ocean, between America and Asia.

6. Giant squid – 18 meters

Its average is usually 12 meters, like whale sharks, however, giant squid specimens of 18 meters have been found. Its weight ranges between 120 and 350 kilos, the largest of them reaching 750.

As curiosities of the largest mollusk on the planet, it holds the record for having the largest eyes in the animal world: up to 25 centimeters.

Its large size and super-predator status have made it a myth for many sailors: the best known is the Scandinavian legend of the Kraken, a gigantic creature that shattered ships with its embrace.

They live in all the world’s oceans, although it is rare to find them in tropical or polar waters.

5. Sperm whale – 20 meters

Sperm whales can measure between 15 and 20 meters. They weigh up to 40 tons, twice as much as gray whales.

They also belong to the family of whales, although they are easily distinguished from the rest of the species by their nose and the corpulence of their front part. As a curiosity, they can descend to 1,000 meters to hunt. Even more, up to 3 kilometers from the surface. They are, together with the pilot whales and the elephant seals, the marine mammals that dive the deepest.

One of the reasons why they usually make these deep dives is to hunt. One of their favorite prey is a giant squid. Both are top predators in the area where they live and squid remains have been found inside sperm whales. Also, their tentacle marks and scars, suggest that the two engage in intense underwater battles.

They are found in oceans around the world, although they prefer temperate and tropical waters. It is an endangered species.

4. Fin Whale or Fin Whale – 20 meters

With a similar size, around 18 and 20 meters27 in the case of the largest recorded, fin whales or fin whales can reach 48 tons. It is even suggested that more.

As a particularity, it is the most symmetrical kind of whale, in addition to having a striking dorsal fin – which gives it its nickname – and pectoral fins.

They also inhabit all the world’s oceans, although they prefer the tropics and, above all, the coldest and most polar waters, where food abounds. It is one of the animal species in danger of extinction, due to poaching during the past decades, which, however, seems to be recovering.

3. Blue whale – 27 meters

The blue whale has, like all species, several subspecies. In any case, it is the largest animal on the planet, not only in the present but in all known times, even above the largest dinosaurs.

It has an average size of between 24 and 27 meters, although specimens of 30 meters have been recorded. Its weight is between 100 and 120 tons, well above the rest of the whales, although there is data of a female that reached 170 tons. Only its tongue can weigh between 2.7 tons, like an elephant.

With these measurements, we can get a slight idea of ​​its magnitude. Can there be any animal that is its predator? It is known that there have been attacks by killer whales, in groups, and experts believe that they can kill them. However, the blue whale is an animal that is rarely hunted. Also in danger of extinction, it inhabits all the oceans.

2. Lion’s mane jellyfish -37 meters

After the gigantic figures of the body of the blue whale, any animal next to it is insignificant. If we value size, understood as length and weight, there is no doubt that no living being can overshadow it. However, based on length alone, there are two animals that are ahead.

One of them is a jellyfish. Named for its tangled appearance, its bell is “only” two meters long, but with its tentacles, it reaches 37 meters. It inhabits the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

1. Bootlace” worm – 55 meters

We come to the end of the list. Yes, the longest animal in the world is a worm. Named for its appearance, this curious type of worm is only five to 10 millimeters wide, but the longest record dates it up to 55 meters long. How is it possible that it stretches so much and is, at the same time, so thin?

It is considered a fragile animal, but it defends itself from predators through a neurotoxin found in its mucus.

It inhabits the seas of England, as well as the shores of beaches and rocks.

Where to see animals on television?

If you are interested in the subject of animals, not just the largest ones, and you want to know more, Movistar+ has a whole series of documentaries available, Siete Mundos, un Planeta. Produced by the BBC, more than 1,500 people have participated in its work and have traveled to more than 40 countries, including Spain, spread over all continents.

The images are unpublished and of high quality. Not in vain, they have taken more than five years in its production to achieve such a result.

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