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Humans are believed to be superior to animals in various ways. We are known to have better mental capacity, use complex symbolic language, and have moral and self-awareness. However, animals can also outshine us with their own unique characteristics. Just like bats that can see in total darkness, beetles that can carry 850 times their weight, or blue whales that are 16 times bigger than a person. 

To humble the human kind and remind us just how superior nature can be, the team at Bored Panda compiled a list of some of the biggest representatives of the animal kingdom. Scroll down to find them, and be ready to believe that what you’re about to see is real.

#1

I Had No Idea That Wombats Could Get This Big

I Had No Idea That Wombats Could Get This Big

Aealo Report

#2

Our Old Generator Storage Structure On Montana’s Eastern Front Has Become Brutus’s Personal Scratching Tree

Our Old Generator Storage Structure On Montana’s Eastern Front Has Become Brutus’s Personal Scratching Tree

jamiegogues Report

#3

This Massive Bison Is Being Tagged And Blood Tested By Vets Before Export From Canada To The USA. It's Easy To See How Male Bisons Can Weigh Nearly A Ton

This Massive Bison Is Being Tagged And Blood Tested By Vets Before Export From Canada To The USA. It's Easy To See How Male Bisons Can Weigh Nearly A Ton

WestlockVeterinaryCenter Report

The previously mentioned antarctic blue whale holds the title of the biggest animal on earth. It can weigh up to 400,000 pounds and reach a length of 98 feet. The giant’s heart is the size of a car.

One of the most fascinating facts about these animals is that they reach such mind-boggling size by almost exclusively consuming tiny shrimp like organisms called krill. During feeding season, they can eat 7936 pounds of them a day.

#5

Big Irish Wolfhound

Big Irish Wolfhound

FormerFruit Report

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Auntriarch
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I took my greyhound to visit a friend with whippets, and her sister was there with her Jack Russell. At the exact moment her elder whippet walked under the greyhound's belly, the Jack Russell walked under the whippet's belly...

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#6

In Case You Haven't Seen One, This Is A Percheron! 5'5" Human For Scale

In Case You Haven't Seen One, This Is A Percheron! 5'5" Human For Scale

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They consume them by gulping a big amount of water and pushing it through baleen (comb-like keratin plates attached to the upper jaw). The food is left behind in the mouth and then swallowed. 

In fact, their feeding type is the reason for their size.

#7

Roger's Favorite Game Is Crushing His Feed Bucket! He Is Our Alpha Male Kangaroo, He Is 10 Years Old, Height 6'7'', Weight 200 Pounds And 100% Muscle

Roger's Favorite Game Is Crushing His Feed Bucket! He Is Our Alpha Male Kangaroo, He Is 10 Years Old, Height 6'7'', Weight 200 Pounds And 100% Muscle

The Kangaroo Sanctuary Alice Springs Report

#8

The Cecropia Moth, Largest Moth In North America, Has A Wingspan Between 5-7 Inches (13-18 Cm)

The Cecropia Moth, Largest Moth In North America, Has A Wingspan Between 5-7 Inches (13-18 Cm)

TheFartingKing_56 Report

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Called lunge feeding, it allows blue whales to consume a large amount of food at a time, providing the nutrients and energy needed to reach such enormous size. And a sudden rise in ocean upwelling (when nutrient-rich water rises to the surface of the ocean) provided them with ample supply for prey—a perfect recipe for growing this big. 

#10

Little Lady Next To A Giant Dog

Little Lady Next To A Giant Dog

millre01 Report

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Beak Hookage
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wolfhound! I knew someone who had one and she was the sweetest. The dog was friendly too.

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#11

I'm An Evolutionary Geneticist Who Studies Hybridization. This Is Apollo The Liger, The Most Beautiful And Adorable Wild Cat I've Met. Humans For Spatial And Size Perspective

I'm An Evolutionary Geneticist Who Studies Hybridization. This Is Apollo The Liger, The Most Beautiful And Adorable Wild Cat I've Met. Humans For Spatial And Size Perspective

AgaricX Report

The second runner-up is another aquatic animal—the colossal squid. It can grow as long as 46 feet and weigh as much as 1,650 lbs.

Since it inhabits cold and deep regions of the Southern Ocean ranging from 66 to 6,562 feet deep, scientists have never succeeded in observing the biggest invertebrates (organisms without a backbone) in their natural habitat. 

They only get a good look at them when fishermen accidentally catch them in the nets.

#13

My Baby, Me, And My Sister’s Draft Mule

My Baby, Me, And My Sister’s Draft Mule

I’ve seen them in pictures pretty big but it’s another thing to be standing next to one in person! My sister took the picture since his hip was above my head and I can’t stop laughing at it.

asyouwissssh Report

#14

My Mom’s Big Cat Bob

My Mom’s Big Cat Bob

ptrk83 Report

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Bonesko
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like Bob knows all my secrets. I must give him treats and pets!

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It’s not a coincidence that most of the biggest animals in the world live underwater. Scientists believe that it would be too cold for warm-blooded animals to survive without being an appropriate size. The amount of warmth a body can generate depends on how many cells it’s comprised of. Therefore, a smaller body means that it doesn’t generate enough heat and loses it relatively quicker than a bigger physique with a wider surface area.

#16

Grandma Came To Visit LJ, And She Could Barely Pick Him Up. He’s Become So Big. I Reminded Her He’s Going To Grow For Another 2 Years

Grandma Came To Visit LJ, And She Could Barely Pick Him Up. He’s Become So Big. I Reminded Her He’s Going To Grow For Another 2 Years

jeremy_moss Report

#17

That’s Not A Guinea Pig, That’s A Guinea Hog

That’s Not A Guinea Pig, That’s A Guinea Hog

-stay- Report

#18

My Pet, The Giant Hooded Katydid. He’s Bigger Than My Hand

My Pet, The Giant Hooded Katydid. He’s Bigger Than My Hand

anotherpeskybird Report

Having a bigger body has other benefits for animals as well, like avoiding predators, catching prey, and enduring hardships. Having larger footsteps or swim strokes also allows them to cover greater distances to find food and reach mating places.

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#19

Just A Big Leatherback Sea Turtle

Just A Big Leatherback Sea Turtle

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#20

This Beautiful Harpy Eagle

This Beautiful Harpy Eagle

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Auntriarch
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always look like someone is standing behind making bunny ears for the photo

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The reason animals on land can’t reach the size of some of the biggest aquatic animals is because they aren’t being supported by water. On the ground, they have to hold their weight against gravity. The bigger the animal, the thicker their legs have to be so they could support the weight without snapping. Meanwhile, a whale floats in water without the stress of gravity.

#22

Big Boy

Big Boy

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Jesse
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kangal dog. Very dangerous without proper training and socialisation and absolutely not a beginner's dog. They need experts.

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#23

A Wolf With A Husky For Scale. He's Almost Three Times Bigger

A Wolf With A Husky For Scale. He's Almost Three Times Bigger

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#24

Mecynorhina Torquata Is One Of The Largest Flower Beetles In The World

Mecynorhina Torquata Is One Of The Largest Flower Beetles In The World

red.scale Report

Even though being bigger in the animal kingdom has its perks, they are at greater risk of going extinct, mostly because of humans. The blue whale population was drastically reduced, almost driving it to the edge of extinction, after commercial whaling started seeking whale oil. Such hunting was made illegal in 1966. However, their recovery is minor, as larger animals take longer to reproduce.

#26

87.5% Gray Wolf, 8.6% Husky And 3.9% German Shepherd

87.5% Gray Wolf, 8.6% Husky And 3.9% German Shepherd

brit_allen_ Report

#27

Galápagos Tortoise. One Of The Biggest Vertebrate And An Endangered Species Which Can Weigh As Much As 400 Kg And Live Up To 100 Years Old. Horse For Reference

Galápagos Tortoise. One Of The Biggest Vertebrate And An Endangered Species Which Can Weigh As Much As 400 Kg And Live Up To 100 Years Old. Horse For Reference

Terminal_Monk Report

#29

Kiwis Are Way Bigger Than I Thought

Kiwis Are Way Bigger Than I Thought

ApteryxAustralis Report

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#30

Size Of An Orangutan

Size Of An Orangutan

reddit.com Report

#31

Saltwater Crocodiles Are Kind Of Big

Saltwater Crocodiles Are Kind Of Big

BoosieStojakovic Report

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Beak Hookage
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of the most terrifying stories I've ever heard have been of people who found themselves clinging to a tree while a crocodile waited patiently in the water below. Those who fell were never seen again. Well, bits of them were sometimes seen again.

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#32

Found This Huge Jellyfish On The East Coast Of Australia

Found This Huge Jellyfish On The East Coast Of Australia

DeftPerception Report

#33

My Maine Coon Compared To My 5'5" Girlfriend

My Maine Coon Compared To My 5'5" Girlfriend

Paradisity Report

#34

We Can Sometimes Forget How Huge Bears Really Are

We Can Sometimes Forget How Huge Bears Really Are

crosspostninja Report

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Unemployed Panda
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting tidbit: most early Germanic and early Anglish cultures called them “brown thing,” (brun, brut, burr, berr, and eventually bear) because the utterance of their true name (urs) was reputed to actually summon the gigantic destructive beast.

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#35

Unit Of An 8-Week-Old Kitten. They're From The Same Litter

Unit Of An 8-Week-Old Kitten. They're From The Same Litter

CommercialBox4175 Report

#37

Here Is Hogarth, My Absolute Unit Of A Snail

Here Is Hogarth, My Absolute Unit Of A Snail

Clokkers Report

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Carl Roberts
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Giant African land snail. One of the most destructive invasive species there is. You may want one as a pet, but they're illegal in many countries.

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#38

Flemish Giant Rabbits

Flemish Giant Rabbits

PuertoRicodesdeelAire Report

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KaiPonpon
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're so incredibly cute but I can't not think about just how much poop one would have to clean when owning them

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#39

This Bald Eagle Was Found Caught In A Trap And Rehabilitated By The Montana Raptor Conservation Center. Bald Eagles Are Huge Compared To A Human

This Bald Eagle Was Found Caught In A Trap And Rehabilitated By The Montana Raptor Conservation Center. Bald Eagles Are Huge Compared To A Human

jeckles Report

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Unemployed Panda
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Raptors without the veloci- tag, but still have high velocity. Look out below!

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#40

Spanish Mastiff Unit

Spanish Mastiff Unit

cassious64 Report

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Ben Stubbs
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just realised that's her knee between his hind legs. Phew!

Donald Holder
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's praying that her leg regains it's feeling after he gets up.

Alecto76
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother has a lap dog mastiff. Is nice because he sits in my lap, but his weight is distributed to his front paws. Unlike our enormous lab and collie/Shepard.

Beth Wheeler
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah my 85 lb German Shepherd mix thinks he's a lap dog, he jumps up in the recliner with me.

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#41

This Mountain Lion Is A Unit

This Mountain Lion Is A Unit

Cstark21 Report

#43

Just Found Out About The Existence Of The Giant Oarfish

Just Found Out About The Existence Of The Giant Oarfish

sealface89 Report

#45

Hickory Horned Devil Is The Largest Caterpillar In The World, Native To The Eastern US. Can Grow Up To 6 Inches Long And Is Completely Harmless, Except Visually Terrifying

Hickory Horned Devil Is The Largest Caterpillar In The World, Native To The Eastern US. Can Grow Up To 6 Inches Long And Is Completely Harmless, Except Visually Terrifying

reddit.com Report

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Mimi M
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Becomes this: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GpqNZd5-hzw/sddefault.jpg?v=62d24fcc Btw, the pic is foreshortened, making it look bigger than it is. Here is more realistic: https://entnemdept.u...ned_devil01.jpg

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#47

The Giant Tasmanian Freshwater Lobster Is The Largest Freshwater Invertebrate In The World

The Giant Tasmanian Freshwater Lobster Is The Largest Freshwater Invertebrate In The World

Australian Report

#48

A Huge Great White Swimming Alongside A Fishing Boat

A Huge Great White Swimming Alongside A Fishing Boat

cas2ie Report

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Jihana
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're all thinking it, I'm gonna say it: you're gonna need a bigger boat!

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#49

We're Going To Need A Bigger Hook

We're Going To Need A Bigger Hook

coreyisthename Report

#50

Absolute Unit Of A Prawn

Absolute Unit Of A Prawn

EncyclopEdith Report

Note: this post originally had 85 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.