Natural History

Largest and heaviest animals

The largest extant animal, as well as the largest animal to ever exist, is the blue whale. The maximum recorded weight was 190 tonnes for a specimen measuring 27.6 metres (91 ft), whereas longer ones, up to 33.6 metres (110 ft), have been recorded but not weighed. It is estimated that this individual could have a mass of 250 tonnes or more. The longest non-colonial animal is the lion's mane jellyfish (120 ft, 36.6 m). While controversial, estimates for the weight of the sauropod Bruhathkayosaurus suggest it was around 110–170 tons, with the highest estimate being 240 tons, if scaled with Patagotitan, although actual fossil remains no longer exist, and that estimation is based on described dimensions in 1987. Similarly, the extinct whale Perucetus was initially estimated in 2023 to have a mass of 85 to 340 t (94–375 short tons; 84–335 long tons). However, more recent studies suggest this whale was much smaller than previous estimates, with a 2024 study putting its weight at 60 to 113 tonnes, while a 2025 study further downsized its weight to 35 to 40 tonnes. In April 2024, Ichthyotitan severnensis was established as a valid shastasaurid taxon and is considered both the largest marine reptile ever discovered and the largest macropredator ever discovered. The Lilstock specimen was estimated to be around 26 metres (85 ft) whilst the Aust specimen was an even more impressive 30 to 35 metres (98 to 115 ft) in length (however, the Aust specimen or 'Aust Colossus' may not belong to Ichthyotitan). While no weight estimates have been made as of yet, Ichthyotitan would have easily rivalled or surpassed the blue whale. The upper estimates of weight for these prehistoric animals would have easily rivaled or exceeded the largest rorquals and sauropods. However, an as-yet undescribed shastasaurid, informally referred to as 'Aust Colossus', may have exceeded Ichthyotitan in size, potentially making it the largest known marine reptile. It has been estimated at approximately 30 metres in length, which would surpass the blue whale; however, the authors note that this estimate is highly speculative. The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest living land animal. A native of various open habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, males weigh about 6 tonnes (13,000 lb) on average. The largest elephant ever recorded was shot in Angola in 1974.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸Friends of Animals
• ▸Hamilton Hamilton
• ▸Capsicum

Uncatalogued shelf

Text from Wikipedia; plate via Wikimedia Commons. Text CC BY-SA 4.0; plate freely licensed (see Commons). Source record. Images and catalogue data are reproduced from open-access collections.