Gigantic Animals Who Aren’t As Dangerous As They Look – Surprisingly Gentle Giants
People often assume that bigger animals are more dangerous, but that's not necessarily the case. While some large species can be risky, many of the world’s biggest creatures are surprisingly gentle.
From enormous sharks to giant birds and massive reptiles, these gentle giants might look intimidating, but they’re usually harmless to humans. Don’t let their size fool you—they’re more likely to peacefully pass by than to pose any threat. Here’s a look at some of the friendliest colossal animals from across the globe.
How Manta Rays Eat Their Prey
Manta rays are some of the largest animals in the ocean, with wingspans that can grow up to 29 feet. Even though they're huge, they pose no danger to humans. These gentle creatures are filter feeders, meaning they eat tiny plankton to survive.
Unlike other rays, manta rays don’t have a stinger, so there's no risk of injury when you're near them. According to NOAA Fisheries, when a manta ray curls its cephalic fins into an "O" shape and opens its mouth wide, it’s getting ready to eat—using its fins to guide plankton straight into its mouth.
Giraffes Barely Sleep
National Geographic says giraffes are the tallest land animals on the planet, with males growing up to 18 feet tall and females up to 14 feet. Their necks alone can be over six feet long and weigh about 600 pounds.
Though giraffes are usually seen as gentle giants, they can protect themselves if needed. When threatened, they can run fast or deliver a strong kick. And when it comes to sleep, they barely need any—less than 30 minutes in a whole day!
Maine Coons Are Pretty Pricey
According to PetsKB, Maine Coon cats aren't considered dangerous. "Although large, they are gentle-natured and pose minimal physical threat to people." However, like any animal, they might act aggressively if they’re mistreated.
Maine Coons are the biggest cat breed, usually reaching about 3.3 feet in length and weighing up to 18 pounds. If you're thinking about adopting one of these impressive cats, the typical cost is around one thousand dollars.
Goliath Birdeater Bites Aren't The Worst Thing In The World
This animal might not seem large compared to others in the animal kingdom, but it's definitely one of the biggest spiders ever. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Goliath birdeater is a type of tarantula that weighs about six ounces and can grow up to 11 inches long.
It’s known as an ambush predator, meaning it prefers to wait for prey to come near instead of chasing it. While it does have a venomous bite, the pain is generally described as being slightly less intense than a wasp sting.
Ocean Sunfish Have A Unique Look
Ocean sunfish, also known as molas, are huge, flat, silver-colored fish with small mouths and big eyes. Weighing about five thousand pounds, they are the heaviest bony fish in the world.
Even with their size, ThoughtCo. explains that ocean sunfish are basically harmless to people. In fact, they're probably more scared of us than we are of them. The Monterey Bay Aquarium says their diet mostly includes gelatinous zooplankton like jellies, salps, squid, fish, algae, and crustaceans.
Sand Tiger Sharks Use Electrical Currents To Survive
At first glance, a sand tiger shark might seem intimidating, but according to National Geographic, they are actually "a docile, non-aggressive species." Despite their sharp, pointed teeth, they are not a threat to humans.
Sand tiger sharks can reach lengths of up to 10.5 feet and weigh around 350 pounds. They have the ability to sense electrical currents from nearby prey when they are just a foot away, and their diet mainly consists of bony fish, lobsters, squid, and other marine creatures.
Try Not To Stare At The Mouth Of A Basking Shark
The basking shark ranks as the second-largest fish in the ocean, just after the whale shark, and despite its massive size and wide mouth, it's actually very gentle. Its appearance might be alarming, but this species poses no threat to humans.
Basking sharks can grow up to 40 feet long and are usually seen swimming close to the surface with their mouths wide open. They're filter feeders, which means they feed on tiny plankton rather than larger sea creatures. Oceana reports that these sharks can filter as much as four million pounds of water per hour while feeding.
Whale Sharks Are Very Playful
Whale sharks are the largest shark species on the planet—and surprisingly, also among the most gentle. These massive creatures can grow up to 40 feet long and are known for their calm, playful nature. It's not uncommon for divers to swim peacefully alongside young whale sharks.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, these filter feeders survive on plankton and must travel vast distances to find enough food to support their size. If you're unsure whether you're swimming with a whale shark, just look for their signature white spots—they're a dead giveaway.
Leatherback Sea Turtles Don't Have A Hard Shell
The leatherback sea turtle stands out from other turtles thanks to its soft, scale-free shell. Instead of a hard shell, it has a thick, rubbery skin—hence the name "leatherback." According to NOAA Fisheries, it's the largest turtle species in the world, growing up to six or seven feet in length.
Sea turtles, including leatherbacks, are rarely a danger to humans. Since they don't have strong chewing plates, they stick to soft-bodied prey like jellyfish and salps, making them gentle giants of the ocean.
Why People Should Appreciate Vultures
Vultures often have a menacing reputation, but they're actually quite harmless. Brian McCracken from Pets on Mom explains that "they have no incentive to attack humans" and "are incredibly effective at clearing human and animal waste from our towns, villages, and roads."
These birds only feed on animals that have already died, and their primary defense is projectile vomiting. Without vultures, roadkill would be widespread, and both communities and ecosystems would face challenges from the buildup of animal waste.
The Mekong Giant Catfish Population Has Significantly Decreased
According to the World Wildlife Foundation, the Mekong giant catfish holds the title of the largest freshwater fish on the planet, primarily found along the Mekong River. To reproduce, these fish must travel long distances. They can grow up to nearly 10 feet in length and weigh over 661 pounds.
These giant fish pose minimal danger to humans, as they lack teeth and mostly feed on zooplankton, though they may occasionally consume each other. Sadly, over 90 percent of their population has vanished, leaving only a few hundred remaining.
Chinese Giant Salamanders Are The Biggest Amphibians Alive
This unique-looking amphibian is called a Chinese giant salamander. It's capable of growing up to six feet in length and weighs about 110 pounds, making it the biggest amphibian in the world.
Being this size may give the impression that the Chinese giant salamander is dangerous, but they are actually pretty gentle. According to the San Diego Zoo, they only eat organisms found in freshwater ecosystems including small fish, frogs, worms, snails, crayfish, crabs, and even smaller salamanders.
Giant African Millipedes Smell And Taste In An Unusual Way
One of the biggest millipedes in the world is an archispirostreptus gigas, also known as a giant African millipede or shongololo. While the name millipede translates to "thousand-feet," this one only has about 300-400 legs.
The San Diego Zoo calls this millipede a gentle giant because their weak jaws cannot bite. Instead, they will coil into a ball and secrete a foul-smelling liquid from their pores. Also, giant African millipedes can taste and smell with all parts of their body.
Giant Isopods Don't Have Much Of An Appetite
According to the Aquarium of the Pacific, giant isopods are one of the largest crustaceans. Their enormous size is due to a phenomenon called deep sea gigantism, which means they are growing larger being at the bottom of the ocean.
They are bottom-feeders and are practically harmless to living beings, although they do have dozens of sharp claws on their underside. Giant isopods usually measure between 7.5 and 14.2 inches and can go a long time without eating. For example, a giant isopod in Japan went five years without eating.
Great Danes Are The True Gentle Giants
While Great Danes are one of the largest dog breeds, it doesn't really play into their temperament. According to Hillspet, Great Danes are gentle giants who are "moderately playful, affectionate, and good with other children and animals."
It's important to note that if a Great Dane isn't treated well, they do have the capacity to become aggressive towards others. This breed can weigh up to 200 pounds, be as tall as 34 inches, and has origins in Germany.
Blue Whales Are Almost The Size Of The US Space Shuttle
There is only one animal with the title of biggest animal on earth and that belongs to the blue whale. Oceana says they measure at least 110-feet long and weigh about 209 tons, which is only slightly smaller than the United States Space Shuttle.
While these creatures are extremely massive, they are in no way predatory. Blue whales filter feed for tiny krill and have rarely harmed humans. Most live between 80 and 90 years and are the loudest animals on the planet with sounds that can be heard by other blue whales for up to a thousand miles away.
Japanese Spider Crabs Can't Swim
The Dallas World Aquarium says that the Japanese spider crab gets its name because of its striking resemblance to an actual spider. They are one of the largest living arthropods with leg spans of up to 12 feet and can weigh up to 44 pounds.
While they may have a ferocious appearance, the Japanese spider crab has a gentle and calm disposition. These creatures actually can't swim and spend their time crawling around the sea bed looking for food.
How The Coconut Crab Got Its Name
Coconut crabs got their name because of their eating habits. Britannica states that these large crabs can use their massive pincers to crack open coconuts. They can exert a force as strong as 742 pounds.
While they have a lot of strength in their pincers, coconut crabs are relatively harmless to humans. These crustaceans have a superior sense of smell, which they use to locate their food. They're especially attracted to the smells of rotting meat, bananas, and of course coconuts.
How To Distinguish A Male Flemish Giant Rabbit From A Female
The Flemish giant rabbit is about the size of a small dog; weighing up to 22 pounds and at most 2.5-feet long. These rabbits love to cuddle and come in seven different colors.
The Maryland Zoo states that Flemish giant rabbits make for wonderful pets, especially for small children. Also, males and females have different shaped heads. Males have a broader head and the females have a large flap of skin under their chin to keep their offspring warm.
Giant Oarfish Are Also Known As Sea Serpents
According to Britannica, the giant oarfish is a thin species of fish that grows over 56-feet long and weighs about 660 pounds. They are usually found toward the bottom of the ocean, hence their nickname of "the sea serpent."
National Geographic states that giant oarfish usually eat giant plankton and aren't dangerous to others. In some ancient myths and legends, it's commonly believed that this type of bony fish can bring natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. After the 2011 Fukushima disaster, over a dozen of them washed up on the shore.
Frilled Sharks Have Rarely Been Encountered By Humans
According to Oceana, the frilled shark lives in the deepest parts of the sea and gets its name from the gill slits on the side of its face. They can measure up to seven-feet long and have a swimming style similar to an eel or serpent.
Since they are rarely seen by humans, they don't pose any threat to them. Their prey is a different story. They are considered to be active predators and may lunge and swallow their food whole.
Atlantic Wolffish Are The Lone Wolves Of The Sea
Something unique about the Atlantic wolffish is their teeth. They have multiple rows of teeth and many of them are always sticking out of their mouth. The largest fish of this species measured about five-feet long and weighed almost 40 pounds.
NOAA Fisheries says Atlantic wolffish are non-predatory creatures and primarily feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as scallops, hermit crabs, and sea urchins. Most live a pretty sedentary lifestyle and spend most of their time alone.
Why Humans Shouldn't Fear Gharials
Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute states that the gharial is one of the largest species of crocodiles in the world. Most grow up to 20-feet long and they have a distinct elongated and narrow snout.
Although the gharial may look vicious, it rarely gets physical with humans. This is because of their weak leg muscles that prevent them from walking on land. Also, they have very few teeth and weak jaw muscles, so they mostly eat fish and insects.
Hercules Beetles Are The Bodybuilders Of The Insect World
Hercules beetles have some pretty impressive physical characteristics. According to a biological journal by Rodger Kram, they have the capacity to carry up to 850 times their body mass. Also, they are one of the largest flying insects in the world, reaching up to seven inches in length.
Don't be fooled by their appearance because the Hercules beetle doesn't pose a threat to humans. Some even keep them as pets. These insects mainly feast on fruit including peaches, pears, apples, and grapes.
Giant Tortoises Are So Friendly
According to Reptile Gardens, there are some types of giant turtles and tortoises that will bite defensively, but these gentle creatures almost never harm humans. Those who take care of them should be warned because they can accidentally bite off a finger when they are feeding.
Giant tortoises are the largest living species of tortoise in the world and can be found on the Galápagos Islands, the Aldabra Atoll, and Fregate Island. The largest one weighed 919 pounds. They grow to be so gigantic because of environmental factors called island gigantism.
