Top 20 Most Massive Animals of All Time

Top-20-Most-Terrifyingly-COLOSSAL-Animals-of-All-Time

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the largest animals currently living on Earth.

#20: Komodo Dragon
When most people think of reptiles, the first thing that may come to mind is something tiny like a frog or lizard. However, there are larger cold-blooded creatures roaming amongst us – including the intimidating Komodo dragon. In the wild, some adults can grow up to over 8 feet in length, and weigh up to 200 pounds. However, in captivity they become even more massive, with the greatest one measured at over ten feet long and coming in at over 330 pounds. They rule their domain with their intimidating mass, predating on everything from invertebrates to mammals. They can take on anything with ease — including humans. So, if you happen to see one on your travels, we recommend staying away and admiring from afar.

#19: Common Ostrich
They may not be the most intimidating, but that doesn’t diminish just how big they really are. While each type is huge in their own right, the common ostrich takes the cake. The females alone can be taller than the average man. The males are staggeringly huge, with some growing up to 9 feet tall. Their lengthy legs have been ideal for surviving the harsh South African terrain and the various predators that live there. When they kick into high gear, they can get their speed up to 40 miles per hour, even if it’s just for a short burst while making their escape. You can tell just by looking at them why they hold the reputation of being the largest living dinosaur.

#18: Liger
Despite all we know about nature, it still has a way of surprising us. There are several examples of cats interbreeding with other feline species, creating new ones that go on to thrive. Out of these, the biggest by far is the liger – a combination of a male lion and a female tiger. Considering they both have an impressive stature, it makes sense that their offspring would be even more immense. Males grow up to be almost 12 feet long. The current largest, non-obese liger weighs over 900 pounds— and even he pales in comparison to the previous champ, who was 1,213. Luckily, unlike their parents, you won’t have to worry about running into them in the wild, as they only exist in captivity.

#17: Eastern Gorilla
While some may think humans are the largest primates, the truth is that we don’t come close. That distinction goes to none other than the eastern gorilla. Silverbacks in particular are known for their stature, with the tallest recorded one coming in at over 6 feet 4 inches. Height isn’t the only thing they bring to the table. Weighing hundreds of pounds, these dominant males lead their familial groups with ease. While they don’t fight each other often, when they do, their monumental size plays to their advantage. Even their warning moves, such as beating their chest, are enough to ward off foes. It’s clear that they’re one of the most intimidating beasts not only within the rainforest, but the animal kingdom as a whole.

#16: White Rhinoceros
There may only be a few left, but their sheer mass is a constant reminder of the power they held at their peak. The white rhinoceros is the largest of the five rhino species, and only ranks behind a few kinds of elephants as the largest living land animal. Females weigh well over 3,000 pounds, with the bulls getting up to over 5,000. While the cows aren’t as heavy, they make up for it with their horns – which can extend out several feet. Their size ensured they had no natural predators, until humanity came along. Now they’re at risk for extinction. Before long this gentle giant may only live in our memories.

#15: Giant Squid
There are plenty of mega-sized cephalopods out there, and this is one of the greatest. The giant squid has earned itself the title of the world’s second biggest mollusc, only coming in behind the colossal genus. Their elusive nature has made it difficult to pin down their mating cycles, behavior, and even their true mass. Those who have gotten the chance to study them have found that with their mantle and tentacles combined, females are around 40 feet long. Considering there have only been two filmed in their natural habitat so far, there could potentially be some that are even bigger. The ones we have recorded make it obvious why authors and artists have depicted them as vicious sea monsters.

#14: American Bison
With how densely populated the United States is, it can be hard to fathom anything truly enormous living there. However, it’s home to one of the most gigantic animals: the American bison. With each one having the ability to reach over a thousand pounds, they’re the most colossal in the entire nation. In fact, the heaviest known wild bull weighed nearly one and a half tons. They also tower over most people, coming in at well over 6 feet. With how vast they are, it makes sense that Indigenous populations utilized every aspect of them while hunting. Although they were nearly wiped out by settlers before the beginning of the 20th century, conservation efforts have helped their numbers to bounce back.

#13: Whale Shark
The sea is home to plenty of gargantuan entities, and they’re one of the biggest. The whale shark is the largest fish on Earth, and yet is still incredibly docile around humans and other ocean-dwelling creatures. We don’t know much about how massive they can truly get, but one was measured at nearly 70 feet. How heavy they are is also a mystery – although one found off the coast of Pakistan revealed that they can weigh over 30,000 pounds. Given how awe-inspiringly huge they are, the fact they subsist primarily off plankton and smaller fish is incredible. Their calm demeanors have made it easier to observe their behavior – and with luck, soon we’ll be able to easily measure their size as well.

#12: Moose
When looking at them, you might never guess they’re a species of deer. Moose are vastly different, both in size and demeanor. The tallest of their kind can stand at over 7 feet, and they can weigh over half a ton, making them a genuine threat to anything that crosses their path. Their antlers are no joke, with some growing out to over 4 feet long. While they’re slow-moving, that doesn’t make them tranquil. They can snap in an instant, and can increase their speeds at alarming rates. They may not be territorial or predatory towards people, but they’ve still injured more than any other mammal across North and South America – especially while protecting their young.

#11: Hippopotamus
Just because an animal primarily eats plants doesn’t mean it’s safe to be around. Hippopotamuses are the ultimate example. Their immense mass has made them virtually unafraid of every other being around them. Extremely large bulls have amassed nearly 6,000 pounds of weight, while more average ones come in at around 3,000. Despite that, they’re still very nimble, especially in the water. They may be classed as megaherbivores, but that hasn’t stopped them from attacking humans in various ways. There have been several cases of them using their stature to capsize boats, with one incident even ending in the deaths of 13 people. Their 2-foot tusks alone are enough to strike fear in the hearts of almost anybody who encounters them.

#10: Japanese Spider Crab
Animation has given us plenty of cute little crabs in recent years, but until Tim Burton takes over as Pixar’s creative director, the Japanese spider crab is unlikely to get a starring role. Why? Well, it’s kinda the stuff of nightmares. While the Japanese spider crab may have a body that’s slightly smaller than the American lobster, the staggering length of their legs, which can reach a span of up to 18 ft when outstretched, and an arm-span of 12 ft from claw to claw, firmly establish them as the largest living arthropod. Thankfully, they typically dwell at depths of between 490 and 980 feet, so the likelihood of encountering one of these captivating, yet intimidating, creatures is slim.

#9: Polar Bear
When it comes to colossal meat-eating land mammals, it’s really a battle of the bears – between the Kodiak bear of Southwest Alaska and the Arctic polar bear. Both species can reach up to about 5.2 feet in shoulder height, and weigh in at a maximum of somewhere between 2,200 and 2,400 pounds. That’s substantially larger than any other bear species found around the world. Polar bears are carnivorous, primarily eating seals and fish, whereas the omnivorous Kodiak bear typically eats fish and a variety of plant life. Dietary considerations, coupled with the polar bear’s distinct white coat, ultra-extreme habitat, and impressive hunting skills, give it a slight edge over its Alaskan competitor. Hybrids between the two bears are possible, though!

#8: Giant Pacific Octopus
Giant squids might be all the rage these days, but what about octopuses? The giant Pacific octopus is considered by most to be the biggest octopus species around. The largest living specimen weighed in at 156 pounds, but according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest ever recorded weighed nearly double, at 300 pounds, with a total arm-span of 32 feet. It can be found all across the Pacific Ocean, spending time cruising around at up to 25 miles per hour. Its pastimes include catching smaller prey in a parachute-like web found between its arms, and paralyzing its prey with the help of toxins contained in its salivary glands. On special occasions, it’s been known to eat small sharks or even wounded seagulls.

#7: Saltwater Crocodile
Sure, Komodo dragons might be intimidating, but of all the reptiles currently walking the earth, the saltwater crocodile is hands down the biggest. They’re commonly found across Australia and Southeast Asia, and… they’re massive. Male specimens have been recorded weighing in excess of 2,200 pounds and measuring over 20 feet in length. While these particular crocodiles were of extraordinary size, saltwater crocodiles are the only living croc species to regularly reach 16 feet in length. They are considered to be an apex predator, truly at the top of the food chain in their environment – it’s a position they maintain by eating anything that dares to set foot, claw, wing or fin in their domain – humans included.

#6: Southern Elephant Seal
Polar bears might be the largest terrestrial carnivores, but southern elephant seals, found at the opposite pole, Antarctica, are the largest carnivores in the world – period. They typically weigh six to seven times more than a male polar bear. Mature males often weigh upwards of 7,000 pounds, but the largest recorded specimen came in at a whopping 11,000 pounds – measuring 22.5 feet. While the male elephant seals use that weight to their benefit when battling other males for a mate, their size can also prove intimidating for the females... and deadly to pups. Males are typically five to six times larger than the females, and in their enthusiasm to procreate, will often crush and kill pups.

#5: Colossal Squid
Also known as the Antarctic squid, or giant cranch squid, the colossal squid is the largest invertebrate in the world. While the giant squid may be technically longer from tip to tip than the colossal squid (as the result of longer tentacles), the colossal squid beats out its “giant” counterpart in terms of mass, as well as the girth of its body. Its eyes are the largest of any in the animal kingdom, with an estimated diameter of 12 to 16 inches. Only a few whole specimens of this elusive deep-sea creature have ever been found. It is also rare among squids since it has rotating hooks to grab its prey.

#4: Great White Shark
This oceanic hunter requires little introduction, given its prevalence in popular culture. In the case of Great Whites, the females are typically larger than the males. Confirmed female specimens have been seen to grow up to 4,300 pounds and 20 feet in length, but on average are closer to 15 or 16 feet in length. It is considered one of the largest lamniform sharks, with only the plankton-eating basking and whale sharks beating it out in terms of size when all species of shark are compared. It’s not the bloodthirsty man-eater “Jaws” would have you believe, but it is responsible for more attacks on humans than any of its peers, and has even been known to attack boats.

#3: Giraffe
You might not think of them as colossal, but giraffes... are freaking tall. In fact, they’re the tallest animals on land. Standing at roughly 16 to 20 feet tall, 6 to 8 feet of height can be attributed to their absurdly elongated necks, meaning that on average, the neck accounts for just under half their total height. A giraffe’s neck is more than just for show though – it enables them to reach the leaves of trees in their natural habitat. For male giraffes, the long neck also proves useful during mating season to fight other males in a ritual called necking. Despite their slender build, giraffes are deceptively heavy – males weighing about 2,600 pounds on average.

#2: African Bush Elephant
The average male giraffe likely towers over even the largest elephant, but elephants bring more than enough weight to the watering hole to make up for their shorter stature. The average male bush elephant is only between 10 and 13 feet tall, but also weighs between 10 and 13,000 pounds, making it the largest terrestrial animal. But bulls have been known to outgrow that average by a wide margin. The largest recorded bull in history roughly doubled it, weighing an estimated 23 to 26,000 pounds at the time of its death in 1956. Although Africa is home to another species of elephant, the forest elephant, they’re much smaller than the bush elephant, rarely exceeding 8 feet in height, and typically weighing closer to 6,000 pounds.

#1: Blue Whale
Even the largest bush elephant in history weighs less than one tenth of an adult blue whale. The sperm whale, of “Moby-Dick” fame, takes the title of largest brain on earth, but at 35 to 60 feet in length, it pales in comparison to the length of the blue whale, which typically measures between 69 and 90 feet. Specimens have been found that exceed 100 feet, with one particular female measuring 109 feet – that’s longer than a regulation size basketball court. In terms of weight, the record is 191 short tons. Even when you take dinosaurs into account, the blue whale is the largest creature this planet has ever seen, and still swims among us to this day.

What’s your favorite enormous animal? Let us know in the comments below.