This is a list of some of the greatest and worst who have ever lived (or are still alive)… [next page title=””] 5.
Largest Toothed Predator – Sperm Whale Sperm whale capsule.
Gabriel Barathieu’s photo.
Sperm whales are currently the largest toothed predators in the world.
They are also among the largest, if not the largest, of all toothed predators, growing up to 67 feet (20.5 meters) long and weighing up to 63 short tons (57 metric tons).
This makes them taller and heavier than most of the huge, prehistoric marine reptiles that grew up to 18 meters (59 feet) like Mosasaurus, and giant, ancient sharks like Megalodon that reached 56 feet (18 meters).
Fortunately, sperm whales do not eat humans and prefer to dine with giant squid, octopus, fish and other small creatures.
Artwork Citron / CC-BY-SA-3.0.
Not surprisingly, the colossal squid, prey to giant, toothed sperm whales, are the largest of all living invertebrates.
No mature adults have been caught yet, but based on analysis of small and immature specimens, scientists believe the colossal squid could grow to be up to 46 feet (14 meters) long and weigh up to 1,650 pounds (750 kilograms).
This makes them larger than the more famous giant squid, growing up to 13 meters (43 feet).
Now, are they the largest invertebrates in history?
But fossilized invertebrates are a little harder to find than vertebrates because they lack bones… [next page title=””] 3.
Biggest Land Hunter – Spinosaurus Spinosaurus skeleton.
Artwork by Bugboy52.40.
Of course, what is the list of the largest animals that do not have giant predators?
Spinosaurus was the largest land predator ever, even larger than Tyrannosaurus.
While no complete Spinosaurus skeletons have yet been found, scientists estimate they were 41 to 47 feet (12.6 to 14.3 meters) long and between 13.2 and 23.0 short tons (12 to 20.9 metric tons).
Largest Land Animal – Argentinosaurus Argentinosaurus skeleton.
Photo: Eva K.
The largest of all land animals was, of course, a dinosaur.
These gigantic herbivores are estimated to have reached lengths of between 98 and 115 feet (30 to 35 meters) and weights between 88–110 short tons (80–100 metric tons).
At these dimensions, Argentinosaurus (and other gigantic dinosaurs) pushed the limits of gravity.
Biggest Animal Ever – Blue Whale Blue whale from above.
NOAA Photo Library.
Remarkably, despite all the time before human evolution, we are fortunate enough to live alongside the largest and heaviest animal in all of Earth’s history, the blue whale.
Blue whales can grow up to 30 meters in length and can weigh over 200 short tons (180 metric tons), although some exceeding 33.5 meters (110 feet) in length have been unofficially measured and are believed to weigh even more. .
Another honorable mention… [next page title=””] Honorable Mention – African Bush Elephant African bush elephant in the Serengeti.
Ikiwaner’s photo.
The African bush elephant is currently the largest and heaviest land animal in existence.
They can grow up to 13 feet (4 meters) long at the shoulder and weigh up to 12,130 pounds (5.5 metric tons).
Unfortunately, they may not be able to reign as the largest and heaviest land animals due to the ivory trade and poaching.
Photo: Alan D.
Currently, the polar bear is the largest living land carnivore.
At 10 feet (3 meters) and 1,543 pounds (700 kilograms), it’s only a fraction of the size of Spinosaurus, but honestly if you expected a bear to compete with a dinosaur, you’d be sorely disappointed.