Instruction

Blue whale. The blue (or blue) whale is the largest and, accordingly, the heaviest animal on Earth. Currently, the officially recorded maximum weight of this giant is 195 tons, but scientists say that some species weigh more than 200 tons! In length, these whales reach 35 meters. Scientists have recorded the weight of some organs of these marine heavyweights. For example, the tongue of one female blue whale caught weighed 4.22 tons, and the heart weighed 698.5 kilograms. The cubs of these giants are the largest cubs in the world. It is curious that the whales already from the first days of life weigh about 3 tons, reaching 7 meters in length.

The speed with which blue whales grow and develop is also amazing. During the first year of life of a two-ton whale, its weight increases by 30 million times! This is considered the highest growth rate worldwide. The blue whale is not only the heaviest and largest on Earth, but also the loudest. The sounds that he during his communication can be heard even for 850 kilometers. If we compare the blue whale with the largest land animal - the African elephant, it becomes clear that the first weighs exactly 20 times more than the second! Surprisingly, these sea giants feed on tiny organisms: crustaceans and plankton.

Shrews. Shrews are recognized as the smallest animals on and the lightest. But not all, of course, but only two species: a tiny shrew and a pygmy shrew (Etruscan shrew). Shrews are small mammals that look like mice. In fact, they are relatives of hedgehogs, desmans and moles. It is understandable: shrews are not rodents, but insectivorous animals included in the same class of the same name with all of the above "relatives". The tiny shrew is the smallest and lightest animal that lives in Russia and Transbaikalia. This baby weighs only 2 grams, and the length of her body is up to 5 centimeters.

The lightest and smallest creature on Earth is another shrew - the pygmy shrew. Its weight is no more than 2 grams, and the length of the body is about 3 centimeters! Due to their small size, these crumbs require a lot of energy, and therefore a lot of food. They feed disproportionately to their weight and cannot remain without food for more than 2 hours. The diet of the world's lightest vertebrates consists of invertebrates, plant foods. It is worth noting that not all shrews are small animals of the planet. Among them there are quite large species. For example, the giant shrew is considered the largest shrew in the world. Her body weight is 100 grams, and the length of the body is 18 centimeters.

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There were times when the kings of nature were creatures much larger than us - real prehistoric giants! And one of them still lives on Earth, can you imagine?

We are in website we can't decide what we'd like to do more - ride a paraceraterium or fly a quetzalcoatl.

Amphicelia

Amphicelia is the largest animal that has ever existed on Earth. These herbivorous dinosaurs lived 145-161 million years ago. One vertebra of amphicelia was equal to 2.5 meters.

Titanoboa

Titanoboa is a close relative of the boa constrictor. But much, much more. Titanoboa lived 58-61 million years ago and reached 13 meters in length. A modern reticulated python can grow up to a maximum of 7.5 meters.

Megalodon

Megalodons were apex predators that lived 3-28 million years ago. Only one megalodon tooth can hardly fit in the hands of an adult. Its length could reach 20 meters, and its weight reached 47 tons. Megalodon bite force was equal to 10 tons!

Argentavis

Argentavis lived 5–8 million years ago. This is one of the largest birds in the history of the Earth. Its wingspan reached almost 7 meters, and it fed on rodents.

bighorn deer

Large-horned (Irish) deer appeared a couple of million years ago. When the forests began to advance on open spaces, the big-horned deer died out - with their huge (more than 5 meters in span) horns, they simply could not move among the dense branches.

Giant short-faced bear

The giant short-faced bear (bulldog bear), having straightened up, reached a height of 3.5-4.5 meters and had incredibly powerful jaws. He was one of the largest predatory mammals that lived on Earth during the Ice Age. Males were much larger than females and could reach a weight of 1.5 tons. 14 thousand years ago, bulldog bears became extinct.

Gigantopithecus

Gigantopithecus are the largest great apes of all time. They lived about 1 million years ago. It is difficult to draw unambiguous conclusions from rare remains, but scientists believe that Gigantopithecus was 3–4 meters tall, weighed 300–550 kg, and ate mainly bamboo.

paraceratherium

Paraceratheria (indrycoteria) lived 20–30 million years ago. They are relatives of modern rhinos, but they did not have horns. Paraceratherium is one of the largest land mammals that has ever existed. They reached 5 meters in height and weighed up to 20 tons. Despite their imposing appearance, they were not predators and fed on the leaves and branches of trees.

Everyone knows that, probably, the largest land mammal. It is, of course, an elephant. Only two kinds of these animals live in the world:

Indian elephants have a rich pedigree, as they come from different ancestors. This is the reason for their difference from each other. In addition, Indian elephants are much lighter than African ones. For comparison: the former weigh an average of about 6 tons, and the latter - about eight. These giants live up to 70 years.

What is the difference between an Indian elephant and an African one?

  • As mentioned above, it is a little lighter than its African "colleagues", which makes the latter the undisputed leaders on land.
  • African elephants have a slightly arched back, while Indian elephants have a slightly hunchbacked back.
  • The most striking distinguishing feature of Asian elephants is a high and prominent forehead. Their African counterparts, on the contrary, have a flat forehead, even slightly cut back.
  • The ears of the Indian elephant are noticeably smaller than the ears of the African and have a triangular shape.
  • In African elephants, the trunk has two flexible processes at its end, while in Asian elephants it has one.

It should be remembered: these animals are smart, but dangerous!

Elephants are capable of compassion and mutual assistance. But even despite this, both Indian and African elephants are recognized as one of the most dangerous animals in the world. It should be noted that both of their genera are listed in the International Red Book as animals on the verge of extinction. So, let's take a closer look at the largest land mammal in the world.

African elephant

The genus of African elephants includes two modern species:

  • forest;
  • savannah.

In height, African elephants can reach 4 meters and weigh up to 12 tons. The length of their massive body exceeds 7 meters. Female African elephants are, of course, smaller in size: they grow to only 2.6 meters in height and up to 6.5 meters in length.

Despite its gigantic size, the largest land mammal moves at a speed of 40 km / h. Just think! This clumsy giant is able to overtake a person very easily. Every day he needs at least 300 kilograms of plant food. It is understandable: the more massive your body, the more energy you will spend in the process of life, which means that it needs to be replenished through food.

Indian elephant

What is the largest land animal in the world after the African elephant? Of course, his Indian counterpart! As already mentioned, Asian elephants are inferior in size to African ones. The maximum body weight of adult males reaches 8 tons with a growth of 3.5 meters. The females are, of course, smaller. Their maximum weight ranges from 4 tons. Outwardly, the Indian elephant is more knocked down than the African. It has thick but relatively short legs.

The tusks of these giants are much smaller than those of African ones. However, they are well developed only in males. It is curious that even among males in India one can meet an elephant without tusks. There they are called mahna. The speed of movement of these animals does not differ from that of their African counterparts: they are also mobile and develop it up to 40 km / h.

Not so long ago, these animals inhabited the vast territory of India and Southeast Asia. However, in the 19th century, people began to actively exterminate Indian elephants. This was necessary in order to grow the famous Ceylon tea: people destroyed elephants and cut down the whole jungle.

The pride of an elephant is its trunk!

Do you know which land mammal has the longest tongue? It's a big anteater! Language is the subject of his pride and survival. He wields it so deftly and quickly that his favorite food - ants - does not have the slightest chance to escape. If anteaters have a long tongue as a source of pride and food, then elephants have a trunk.

Elephants have very short necks, so they cannot reach the ground. This is where their trunk comes to the rescue! With the help of their long nose, these animals rather deftly pick young shoots from tall trees, and also nibble grass on the ground. In addition, the trunk helps animals cool off in the heat: they draw water with it and pour themselves over.

An elephant also drinks with the help of its trunk. But he needs it not only for food and water. This is his olfactory organ. With the help of a trunk, the largest land mammal is able to smell different smells at a distance of three kilometers. The same giant explores any unfamiliar places.

In addition, the trunk is a very terrible weapon of self-defense. However, in battle, elephants rarely resort to his help, because their impressive size and mighty strength do the trick! If the animal is in any danger, it immediately folds its trunk. If an elephant in battle, for one reason or another, has lost part of the object of its pride, then it will most likely die of starvation.

Is it true that elephants sleep standing up?

Partly. For example, adult African elephants sleep really standing up, and young ones sometimes allow themselves to lie down on their side. For a long time it was believed that the habit of standing up is associated with the huge body weight of the animal, but now scientists tend to believe that the reason for this lies elsewhere.

It is believed that the largest land mammal on Earth sleeps standing up due to fear of overheating. The fact is that the land in the African savannas warms up very much during the day and simply does not have time to cool down at night. In turn, the elephant's massive body, raised high above the ground, is not only blown by a fresh breeze, but also does not receive additional heat that the animal does not need.

By the way, it is most difficult for old males to settle down for the night, because every year it is more and more difficult for them to keep their impressive head, additionally weighted with large tusks, while sleeping during sleep. Young elephants sleep next to termite mounds with their tusks resting on them. Some of them simply lean on the thick branches of African trees. It is worth noting that the Indian counterpart of the African elephant can sleep lying on his stomach.

What are they dying for?

Since the largest land mammal in the wild is unparalleled, it seems that it should not have enemies. Basically, it almost is. The exception is man. People hunt adult elephants mainly for their valuable tusks. The fact is that the huge demand for coincided with the invention of powerful guns by man. This is where the whole battle began.

On the brink of extinction

In a short period of time, several hundred thousand of these mighty animals were destroyed by man. Currently, hunting for elephants is strictly limited, and in some countries it is completely prohibited. However, this, of course, does not bother the poachers, who still shoot land giants at 15,000 a year. As mentioned above, both Indian and African elephants are listed in the Red Book.

Do they have enemies other than humans?

Certainly. Even the largest land mammal has its enemies among other animals. Think it's hyenas or Indian tigers? Not! These are land bloodsucking leeches. Yes, yes, you heard right! Exactly. To feast on fresh blood, these creatures stick to the rough skin of an elephant, causing the animal great discomfort.

Some marine life is much larger than land animals. In this material, we will consider the ten largest animals in size and weight that live in the world's oceans.

The length of an adult walrus is 4 m, and the body weight exceeds 2 tons. A distinctive feature of walruses is their huge elongated upper fangs, which are called tusks. The tusks reach 1 m in length and are used by walruses during battles for females, as well as to facilitate climbing onto ice floes. Because of these tusks, the walrus was also given a scientific name, translated from Greek, which means "walking on the teeth."

Despite their formidable appearance, walruses are very shy animals. While resting on land, they put up sentries who closely monitor the situation and warn the entire herd of the danger that has arisen. They are very sociable and constantly supporting each other animals. After the mating fever, when the males can fight for the right to mate with the female, they all bring up the young together, help with feeding.

Walruses live in the north, rookery on the pack ice.


A huge seal growing up to 6.5 m in length and reaching a weight of more than 4 tons. The elephant seal got its name from its proboscis nose. The male elephant seal is characterized by extremely aggressive behavior during the mating season, when, for the sake of mating, he is ready to trample and tear other rivals, not paying attention to anything. Gathering in groups and sorting out relationships among themselves, elephant seals can easily crush young calves or females, which are significantly smaller than males. Every year, during the mating season, a significant number of young animals die from strangulation and strangulation, and males die from wounds received earlier than from natural death.

Elephant seals live on the west coast of North America and in Antarctica. The Antarctic (southern) elephant seal is significantly larger than its northern counterpart.

8 Saltwater Crocodile

- not exactly a marine animal. It lives in the swamps and mangroves of the tropical region, but can sometimes travel by sea, covering distances of 600 km or more. Therefore, it can be seen, for example, off the coast of Japan, although it never lived there and does not live there. The reasons for such long migrations are not fully known. Saltwater crocodiles, which are solitary by nature, are thought to seek out more secluded habitats, according to some, food-rich regions, according to others. But whatever the reason, such guests in sea bays and bays terrify not only local residents, but also local predators. The crocodile easily displaces even sharks from the chosen coastal zones, which simply retreat, unable to oppose anything to the impenetrable armor of the reptile.

This crocodile is the only reptile that grows over 5 m in length. Adult combed crocodiles grow up to 7 m in length and reach a mass of 2 tons.

Adult killer whales are large marine predators. In captivity in aquariums, we see not record specimens, but in nature their length reaches 10 m, and their weight exceeds 8 tons. Every day, adult killer whales require up to 150 kg. meat, and in their search they spend most of their lives attacking all living things that can satisfy their hunger. The killer whale is nicknamed “killer whale” for a reason – it is the largest carnivore on the planet. They are at the top of the food chain, preying on others and large fish.

Killer whales are extremely intelligent animals. They make perfect use of their group skills while hunting. There are well-known and documented cases of attacks on walruses and fur seals that tried to hide on a lonely ice floe. Accelerating towards the ice floe, they raise a high wave, which washes the poor victim into the water, where she is not destined to escape. Also, killer whales are the only marine predators that can jump ashore and grab fur seals - their favorite prey.

Killer whales live everywhere, but prefer the cool waters of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Most often kept in the coastal strip.

Humpbacks grow up to 15 m, and the maximum recorded length was 18 m. Weight - 30 tons. It would seem that he should have a characteristic hump, but the main distinguishing feature of the humpback is long pectoral fins and huge "warts" on the snout. The length of the fins can reach 34% of the body length. They play an important role in the life of the animal - they are involved in thermoregulation, increase maneuverability and help in hunting. Humpback whales often hunt in a group, diving under a flock of fish and surrounding it with small air bubbles. Surrounded by such a wall of bubbles, the fish is lost and huddled into a dense lump, which is swallowed by humpbacks, which suddenly appear from the depths.

Buckles of humpbacks and their blows with their tail and fins on the surface are known. They are even able to completely jump out of the water.

Humpback whales live throughout the world's oceans. They often come to the coast for feeding.

It grows up to 20 m in length and reaches a weight of 30 tons. This is a slender whale and can accelerate to a speed of 50 km/h. (according to other sources, its maximum speed is 25 km / h), unlike its more “fat” relatives. The sei whale dives well, plunging to a depth of up to 300 m and remaining under water for up to 20 minutes.

The sei whale was the most important object of commercial fishing, after the man almost destroyed the blue whale and fin whale. Currently, fishing for this whale is completely prohibited.

Sei whale lives in all oceans, preferring warm tropical waters.

The weight of an adult sperm whale reaches 50 tons, and the body length is 20 m. This is the largest representative of toothed whales - unlike baleen whales, they have teeth and hunt fish, cephalopods and, in rare cases, other marine mammals. The sperm whale is known for its huge head, which occupies 35% of its body length. The word "sperm whale" itself comes from " cachola", which means "big head". On a huge head, the whale's mouth looks small, but the impression is deceptive. One of his teeth weighs 1 kg.

The whale lives in all oceans, but avoids cold areas. It keeps far from the coast, where there is a great depth and their favorite prey lives - squids. The sperm whale hunts, among other things, huge giant squids. Fights with them “reward” the whale with characteristic scars from the suckers of these mollusks.

The record length of the bowhead whale was 22 m and a weight of 150 tons. This weight is comparable to the weight of the animal that won the first place in our top, but it is seriously inferior to it in length. But the bowhead whale holds the record for life expectancy. With an average life expectancy of 40 years, according to some scientists, this whale can live up to 211 years. Among vertebrates, this is an absolute record, although it was recently discovered that the polar shark lives even longer - up to an unthinkable 512 years.

The bowhead whale spends its entire life in the cold polar waters of the Northern Hemisphere, retreating south from the growing ice in winter, and returning back in the spring. If the whale is caught in ice, it breaks it with its huge body.

Adult individuals reach a length of 27 m and a mass of more than 70 tons. These giants have chosen the open ocean, rarely approaching the shores. They prefer loneliness, although sometimes there are small groups of 4-6 whales. Despite their huge length, fin whales are quite plastic and “slim”. They swim faster and dive deeper than many other cetaceans. The maximum recorded speed of the fin whale is 50 km/h, and the depth of submersion under water exceeds 250 m. Its speed allows it to feed not only on immobile krill, but also on medium-sized schooling fish.

After uncontrolled fishing for fin whales in the middle of the 20th century. the extraction of this whale was completely prohibited. In 2006, Iceland again allowed hunting for him. The modern estimate of the number of fin whales is 50-55 thousand individuals.

Not only the largest modern animal, but also the largest of all that has ever lived on our planet. The maximum length of this giant is 33 meters, and the weight can exceed 150 tons. They live for 80-90 years, and the oldest known blue whale was 110 years old. Like other cetaceans, it feeds exclusively on plankton, consuming 1 ton of it every day.

The uncontrolled fishing of the blue whale has almost completely destroyed it. In the 1960s, its population was estimated at only 5,000 individuals. Timely measures taken to protect the whale have yielded results, and at present, scientists estimate the number at 10,000 heads, which is already enough not to worry about the safety of the species.

The blue whale lives throughout the world's oceans.