Is there anything more impressive than the size of the planet when compared to our tiny bodies? Not to get existential, but we really are just specks of sand on the beach of the planet Earth. Well, if that didn’t make you feel small then let’s go one step further. We decided to look around the planet for the largest animals that still live to this day. Some of these animals are peaceful, like lovable big dogs, and others are the kind of creature you wouldn’t want to run into in the dark. Buckle up, put on your safari hat, and get ready to see 12 of the largest animals on the planet Earth!
American Alligator
As we dig deeper into our list of large animals we will see them get bigger by an order of magnitude. So let’s start off relatively small with one of the largest known Alligators on the planet: the American Alligator. The American Alligator calls the southeastern portion of the United States its home and it has gained a large following due to its cold reptilian nature, gigantic toothy jaws, and mesmerizing speed in the water. Alligators typically eat small animals but they are ready and willing to take a bite out of a slow footed human. Don’t think you can outrun one of these like you would your pup at dog training schools, these ‘gators are fast.
American Alligator
Green Anaconda
Are you ready to be completely afraid of ever visiting South America? Good, because we are here to talk about the Green Anaconda. The Green Anaconda is the longest snake on the entire planet and the heaviest as well. This gigantic snake reaches 17 feet in length and can weigh upwards of 155 pounds. Though the weight doesn’t sound that impressive just try to imagine seeing one of these 17 feet long creatures slither by you while you are out for a walk in the woods. Green Anacondas are nocturnal species that spend the majority of their life around water. They can reach high speeds in the water but are rather slow on land. The Green Anaconda kills by constricting and suffocating its prey which can include jaguars, deer, caimans and more. No amount of cat health care can save a jaguar after a run in with an anaconda.
Green Anaconda
Southern Elephant Seal
You wouldn’t believe it just by looking at this cute creature, but the Southern Elephant Seal is actually the largest carnivore on the entire planet. Believe us: you don’t want to run an animal charity for these creatures unless you are comfortable with their raw danger. The Southern Elephant Seal has a huge split between male and female in terms of size with the male being six times larger than the female. The male seal weighs upwards of 9,000 pounds and is around 15 feet in length. Southern Elephant Seal’s dive to hunt their prey, which tends to be fish and squid, and they can hold their breath for upwards of two total hours at a depth of almost 5,000 feet. Magazines and movies might go out of their way to portray seals as lovable creatures but we suggest never allowing yourself to be within arms reach of one — it’s a deadly experience.
Southern Elephant Seal
Sperm Whale
The ocean has long been the last refuge for the largest animals on earth. An elementary education in the aquatic life of sea creatures will show why: the water helps diffuse weight which allows for creatures to grow larger and larger. The Sperm Whale is next up on our list of gigantic creatures but it will surprise you to know: this isn’t the largest whale on our list. The Sperm Whale is almost 70 feet long and it has no natural predators out in the ocean, though fights with giant squids are common. The Sperm Whale actually feeds on colossal and giant squids. This creature is known for the substance that it releases from its spout, called spermaceti, and has been poached for ages in order to make soap, machine oil, and candles.
Sperm Whale
Ocean Sunfish
The ocean is going to be our greatest source of large animals so it is fitting that we start off with a fairly safe one: the Ocean Sunfish. The Ocean Sunfish is the largest bony fish still alive in the world. This creature is well known for its flat body, giant head, and ridiculous size. The Ocean Sunfish weighs upwards of 2,200 pounds and is 8 feet in length. This creature dwarfs the fisherman that have, for years, tried to pull one of these bad boys aboard their boats.
Ocean Sunfish
Giraffe
Let’s talk about a creature that won’t terrify you if you run into it in the wild: the Giraffe. Known for their incredibly long necks, the Giraffe makes our list as the tallest creature on the planet. The Giraffe stands at around 20 feet tall and weighs in at over 3,500 pounds. Their elongated necks are used for feeding as well as fighting off predators. The violent way that the Giraffe will whip its head at an enemy is mesmerizing and scary all at the same time.
Giraffe
Orca
The Orca was made famous by movies like ‘Free Willy’ that attempted to showcase the giant mammal as man’s best friend in the ocean. Orcas are shown at various water park attractions, like Sea World, as creatures that love to show off for the crowd by jumping through hoops. This is a reckless picture of one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean. Orcas kill sharks, whales, and humans all at a whim. Orcas are so dangerous, in fact, that they make Great Whites look downright tame.
Orca
Brown Bear
If you ever find yourself out for a hike and you run into the great Brown Bear (Ursus Arctos) then you had better hope someone is looking out for you. The Brown Bear is one of the largest land carnivores on the planet and they are extremely dangerous. Being armed and ready for a Brown Bear won’t save you 9 times out of 10. The Brown Bear walks at 5 feet in height but when on its hind legs will stand upwards of 10 feet. This terrifying animal weighs almost 2,500 pounds.
Brown Bear
White Rhinoceros
Now we are going to spend some time talking about a rather sad story: that of the White Rhinoceros. Rhinos have long been hunted by poachers for their ivory horns in Africa and this has led to extinction on a massive scale. The White Rhino is one of only five species of rhino that still exist today and needless to say they are quite endangered. The White Rhino is slightly smaller than the hippo but no less dangerous as they are fast, strong, and large enough to do damage to anything in their path.
White Rhinoceros
Colossal Squid
The Colossal Squid is a creature borne from the nightmares of people with sea-phobia all over the world. The Colossal Squid for a long time wasn’t even verified to exist but now we know it as the largest squid in the ocean. These creatures are almost 50 feet in length and they weigh upwards of 1,700 pounds. The Colossal Squid has long limbs that are lined with three pointed hooks which make them excellent predators and able to fight pretty much anything in the ocean. The eye alone on this malicious looking creature is as big as the human head. The first Colossal Squid ever discovered was found in 1925 when a sperm whale surfaced with two tentacles from the squid still inside of its stomach.
Colossal Squid
African Bush Elephant
Now we are getting down to the real nitty gritty. Next up on our list is the African Bush Elephant. You can see this gigantic, dangerous creature in person if you take a cheap flight to the Savannah where these gigantic creatures roam free. The African Bush Elephant ranks on our list as the largest, and heaviest, living animal on land. This creature reaches a length of 25 feet and a height of 11 feet. The African Bush Elephant can weigh up to 13,000 pounds and is so large that it has no predators in the wild. The only time an African Bush Elephant knows fear is when its newborn calves are potentially in danger due to hyena, leopard, lion or crocodile attacks.
African Bush Elephant
Blue Whale
If you have an intense fear of the ocean, or are easily scared of large animals, then we highly suggest that you just stop reading now. Still here? The Blue Whale is the largest animal on the planet that we know of. The Blue Whale is around 100 feet long and over 200 tons in terms of weight. To get a true reference for this majestic animals size you need to imagine a professional NBA basketball court. The Blue Whale would be longer than that court. It can eat up to three school buses at a time without even unhinging its jaw. It’s huge. This creature roams the ocean’s depths and you would be hard pressed to ever run into one. The Blue Whale stays submerged for long periods of time which makes it hard to ever spot out in the wild. Imagine this: the tongue of the Blue Whale alone weighs over 6,000 pounds. Incredible! Despite this creature’s huge size it still insists on eating a diet of tiny creatures by the name of Krill. On a day to day basis a Blue Whale will eat upwards of 8,000 pounds of Krill. No amount of scuba training would put us in the water near one of these things, even if they are Krill eaters only.
