Animals, which belong to the biological kingdom Animalia, are multicellular eukaryotic organisms that feed on organic material. Although we’re still unsure of the exact number of their species that exist in the world, we’re pretty sure that they vary in size and weight. To determine the biggest animals in the world, a lot of factors, including mass, volume, area, length, and height, are put into consideration. That said, here’s the list of the top 10 biggest animals in the world.
List Of The Top 10 Biggest Animals In The World
1- Blue Whale
With a maximum height of about 91 feet and weight of about 190 tonnes (209.4 US tons), Blue Whale sits on the first position on our list of the top 10 biggest animals in the world. However, according to experts, the animal could have a mass, which is up to 250 tonnes. Despite being so massive, it’s interesting to know that the Blue Whale mostly consumes one of the smallest marine organisms in the world, Krill.
2- Fin Whale
Next on the list of the top 10 biggest animals in the world is Fin Whale. That’s because the giant animal, with the scientific name Balaenoptera physalus, has a height of about 90 ft and weighs up to 70 tons. Fin Whale feeds on different kinds of marine organisms, including fish, squid, small crustaceans, and krill.
3- Giant Squid
Sitting on the third position on the list of top 10 biggest animals in the world is the Giant Squid. The animal lives at a depth of about 3,281 feet, making it pretty difficult for people to observe them in their natural habitat. However, according to a few studies, a giant female Squid can weigh up to 606 pounds and can reach about 59 feet in length.
4- African Elephant
African Elephants are the heaviest of all terrestrial animals in the world. With a weight of about 7 tons, a height of about 11 feet, and up to 35 feet in length from tail to trunk, the giant animal sits on the fourth position on this list. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, there exist two species of the animal, including the savanna elephant and the forest elephant. Furthermore, both of them are regarded as vulnerable species.
5- Whale Shark
Whale shark, scientifically known as Rhincodon typus, is one of the top 10 biggest animals in the world. That’s because it has a length of about 40 ft and weighs up to 24 US tons. Despite their massive size, Whale Sharks mostly feed on the smallest marine organisms, including krill, algae, phytoplankton, and shellfish.
6- Giraffe
With a height of about 19 feet, Giraffe is the world’s tallest living animal. The animal can also weigh up to 1,653 pounds, making it one of the top 10 biggest animals in the world. Furthermore, according to recent research by scientists, there are about four species of the animal. They include Giraffa Camelopardalis (Northern giraffe), Giraffa giraffe (Southern giraffe), Giraffa tippelskirchi (Masai Giraffe), and Giraffa articulate (reticulated giraffe).
7- Ostrich
With a height of about 9 ft and a weight of about 344 pounds, the Ostrich occupies this position on our list of top 10 biggest animals in the world. It’s the biggest living bird and has the largest eyes of them all. Furthermore, one of the interesting things about Ostriches is that they have internally stored metabolic water, which helps them to survive for days without drinking water.
8- Giant Anaconda
Next on the list of the top 10 biggest animals in the world is the giant Anaconda. The animal, which is the longest and the heaviest of the snake species, weighs up to 440 pounds and has a length of about 26 feet. Furthermore, anaconda mostly feeds on tapirs, fish, birds, capybaras, deers, and alligators.
9- Saltwater Crocodile
With a weight of about 1,000 pounds and a length of about 21 feet, the saltwater crocodile occupies the ninth spot on the list of top 10 biggest animals in the world. The saltwater crocodiles are long-lived, meaning that they can survive up to 65 years. Apart from that, they are also great swimmers and are around three times faster than the fastest human swimmers.
10- Polar bear
Last, on the list of the top 10 biggest animals in the world, is the polar bear. That’s because it weighs about 2,205 pounds and has a height of about 10 feet when it stands on their hind legs. As a carnivore, polar bears feed on several organisms, including arctic foxes, fish, walruses, and seals. Furthermore, they are considered as vulnerable species by the IUCN because of the climate change in their sea ice habitat.
