The Largest (And Smallest) Creatures In The Animal Kingdom Are Sure To Impress You
You've probably heard the saying, "Don’t judge a book by its cover," and that couldn’t be more fitting for the animals highlighted here.
Just like humans, animals come in all shapes and sizes—but some stand out due to their weight. An animal’s mass plays a crucial role in its survival and is shaped by factors like diet, genetics, environment, and evolutionary background. Read on to discover which creature takes the crown as the heaviest—and which surprisingly claims the title of lightest.
Brown Bears Are Actually Considered Obese
Brown bears are capable of putting on significant fat—sometimes reaching levels considered obese—yet they don't develop diabetes. Averaging around 800 pounds, these bears bulk up the most during the summer months in preparation for hibernation.
Fish is a top favorite on their menu, and they’re expert hunters. In places like Alaska and Canada, brown bears can often be seen standing in rivers, skillfully catching fish with their paws or mouths. Alaska even holds a yearly contest where people vote for the bear they think has packed on the most weight for the season.
Elephant Seals Can Weigh Over 200 Ton
Brown bears can gain substantial amounts of fat—often reaching what would be considered obesity—yet they don't develop diabetes. Weighing in at an average of 800 pounds, they put on the most weight during summer as they prepare for their long winter hibernation.
Fish ranks high on their list of favorite foods, and they’re highly skilled at catching them. In regions like Alaska and Canada, it’s common to spot brown bears standing in rivers, expertly snatching fish with their paws or mouths. Alaska even hosts an annual competition where people vote for the bear they believe has gained the most weight that season.
Pigs Double Their Weight In One Week
Piglets start out tiny, weighing just about 2.5 pounds at birth—but they can double that weight in just a week! As they mature, adult pigs typically weigh between 300 and 700 pounds without being classified as overweight, though some can surpass 700 pounds.
Even at 100 pounds, a pig stands taller than a 40-pound dog and can reach up to two feet in height. The record for the largest pig ever goes to "Big Bill," who tipped the scales at a staggering 2,552 pounds and measured nine feet long!
Giraffes Carry Most of Their Weight in Their Necks
Giraffes hold the title of the tallest animals on the planet, reaching heights of up to 20 feet, largely due to their incredibly long necks. That neck alone can weigh around 600 pounds, contributing to their overall body weight of roughly 1,500 pounds. Even their heart is massive, stretching two feet in length and weighing about 25 pounds!
Surprisingly, giraffes have the same number of neck vertebrae as humans—just seven. The key difference is the length of each vertebra, which gives them their iconic, towering stature.
The Anaconda Is Heavier Than Six 10-Year-Olds
The green anaconda is the heaviest snake in the world, tipping the scales at up to 500 pounds! It can stretch as long as 30 feet—that's about the length of six 10-year-olds lined up head to toe. And even then, the anaconda would probably outweigh all six combined!
Just a word of caution—measuring one with kids isn’t exactly recommended. Anacondas are known cannibals and take down their prey by coiling around it, squeezing until it suffocates, and then swallowing it whole.
A Blue whale's Tongue Weighs As Much As An Elephant
And the winner is…the blue whale! It's the largest and heaviest creature on Earth. Just its tongue can weigh as much as 8,000 pounds—equivalent to a full-grown elephant! Its heart is enormous too, roughly the size of a car, and its heartbeat can be detected from two miles away.
Overall, a blue whale can weigh close to 200 tons—that’s the same as 23 elephants, 230 cows, or 1,800 average humans. It also holds the record for having the highest body fat percentage of any animal, whether on land or in the ocean.
African Elephants Are The Largest Animal That Walks On Earth
Elephants can reach weights of up to 12,000 pounds and stand about 11 feet tall. To maintain their massive bodies, they consume around 600 pounds of food daily—about four percent of their total body weight. Despite their intimidating size, elephants are herbivores, feeding exclusively on plants.
African elephants are distinguished by their large ears, which resemble the shape of the African continent, adding to their overall size. This ear shape also sets them apart from their Asian elephant relatives.
The Hummingbird Weighs Less Than A Penny
A U.S. penny weighs roughly 2.5 grams, which is about the same as a hummingbird. Interestingly, a hummingbird's egg is just 10 percent of its mother's weight but remains smaller than a jelly bean!
To fuel its rapid wing beats, the hummingbird must consume sugar equal to about half its body weight five to eight times daily. It gets this energy from flower nectar. In fact, nearly 30 percent of the bird’s weight comes from its powerful chest muscles.
A Camel May Not Look Fat But It Is
Contrary to common myths, camels don't store water in their humps—instead, their humps are packed with fat. In fact, a single hump can contain up to 80 pounds of fat, which camels use as an energy reserve when food is scarce.
Camels are true survival experts. Unlike many animals, they can endure long periods without food or water and can lose 20–25% of their body water without becoming dehydrated. Fully grown camels can weigh over 1,500 pounds and reach up to seven feet tall, hump included.
The World's Smallest Cat Comes From Singapore
The tiniest of all cats is the Singapura. Females typically weigh around four pounds, while males can reach about six pounds. Despite their small size and delicate appearance, Singapuras are surprisingly muscular and may not reach their full growth until they are around two years old.
This breed isn't very well known outside of its homeland. As the name suggests, Singapuras come from Singapore, where they’re so cherished that the government declared the breed a "national living treasure" back in 1991.
A Hippopotamus Can Eat 150 Pounds Of Grass A Day
The hippopotamus spends most of its day lounging in the water, emerging only at night to feed. After a full day of swimming, they consume around 150 pounds of grass to sustain their massive weight of 8,000 pounds—roughly equivalent to three small cars!
Even though they're enormous, hippos are exceptional swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes. To keep water out while submerged, they seal their ears and nostrils tightly.
The Ostrich Lays The Largest Egg In The World
Standing at 10 feet tall and weighing up to 400 pounds, the ostrich holds the title of the largest living bird. As a result, its eggs are also the largest in the world.
An average ostrich egg weighs around 3.5 pounds, but it can reach up to 5 pounds and measure 9 inches in length. Despite their size, the eggs account for just about one percent of the mother's body weight. During the breeding season, an ostrich typically lays between 30 to 50 eggs.
Gaur Is The Tallest Species Of Wild Cattle
The gaur is the largest species in the bovine family, known for being the tallest and strongest type of cattle on the planet, with some reaching nearly 2,000 pounds!
In India, gaurs are somewhat smaller than those found in Southeast Asia. Indian male gaurs typically weigh around 1,800 pounds, while females average 1,500 pounds. However, in places like China, gaurs can grow even larger, reaching up to 2,600 pounds.
A Leatherback Sea Turtle Is Heavier Than 11 Men
This is the world's largest turtle and it weighs as much as 2000 pounds while being only six feet long. The leatherback sea turtle is equipped with a thick layer of insulating fat and a unique blood system. This keeps their body warmer than the water surrounding them so that they can survive in very cold water.
The leatherback shell isn't hard like it looks. It's actually made of a leathery material that is soft and flexible.
The Rhinoceros Has A Big Body With A Small Brain
Can you imagine a 6-foot tall animal that weighs thousands of pounds running straight at you? Then don't spook them. Although the rhino has no natural predators, if they feel threatened they will charge towards whatever spooked them.
Relative to their heavyweight of 2200 pounds, rhinos have tiny brains that only weigh 400 – 600 grams. The white rhino is the biggest kind and can weigh as much as 7700 pounds, but still have the same small-sized brain.
The World's Smallest Monkey Fits Into The Palm Of Your Hand
The smallest monkey in the world is the Pygmy Marmoset, which weighs less than four ounces. You can find this money in rainforests in Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
This monkey's tail is longer than its whole body. The body, not including the tail, measures about six inches. Unlike other animals, the females are usually slightly larger than the males. Both sexes still only weigh 15 grams at birth!
