ADVERTISEMENT

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.

RELATED:
    #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

    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

    #6

    Big Irish Wolfhound

    Big Irish Wolfhound

    FormerFruit Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    lindacowley avatar
    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    3 days 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...

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT

    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.

    #8

    Little Lady Next To A Giant Dog

    Little Lady Next To A Giant Dog

    millre01 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    the_true_opifex avatar
    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    3 days 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.

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT

    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

    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

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #12

    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

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

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

    -stay- Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #15

    My Mom’s Big Cat Bob

    My Mom’s Big Cat Bob

    ptrk83 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    lissmerriweather avatar
    Bonesko
    Community Member
    3 days 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!

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu

    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.

    #17

    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

    #18

    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

    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.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #19

    Big Boy

    Big Boy

    reddit.com Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    jesse_10 avatar
    Jesse
    Community Member
    3 days 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.

    View more commentsArrow down menu

    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.

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #24

    This Beautiful Harpy Eagle

    This Beautiful Harpy Eagle

    Ashleigh0 Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    lindacowley avatar
    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    3 days 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

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu

    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.

    #27

    Found This Huge Jellyfish On The East Coast Of Australia

    Found This Huge Jellyfish On The East Coast Of Australia

    DeftPerception Report

    #28

    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

    Here Is Hogarth, My Absolute Unit Of A Snail

    Here Is Hogarth, My Absolute Unit Of A Snail

    Clokkers Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    metalrob72 avatar
    Carl Roberts
    Community Member
    3 days 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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #31

    Saltwater Crocodiles Are Kind Of Big

    Saltwater Crocodiles Are Kind Of Big

    BoosieStojakovic Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    the_true_opifex avatar
    Beak Hookage
    Community Member
    3 days 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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #36

    We Can Sometimes Forget How Huge Bears Really Are

    We Can Sometimes Forget How Huge Bears Really Are

    crosspostninja Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    hassanijoseph avatar
    Unemployed Panda
    Community Member
    3 days 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.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #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

    Add photo comments
    POST
    hassanijoseph avatar
    Unemployed Panda
    Community Member
    3 days 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!

    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #40

    Flemish Giant Rabbits

    Flemish Giant Rabbits

    PuertoRicodesdeelAire Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    kaiponpon avatar
    KaiPonpon
    Community Member
    3 days 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

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #43

    A Huge Great White Swimming Alongside A Fishing Boat

    A Huge Great White Swimming Alongside A Fishing Boat

    cas2ie Report

    Add photo comments
    POST
    jihana avatar
    Jihana
    Community Member
    3 days 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!

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #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

    Add photo comments
    POST
    miriamemendelson avatar
    Mimi M
    Community Member
    3 days 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

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #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

    Add photo comments
    POST
    annpattinson248 avatar
    alexandralewis avatar
    Alex Luiz
    Community Member
    3 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Noone commenting on how they appear to be doing a waltz or something?

    michaellovett avatar
    Michael Lovett
    Community Member
    2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Got a good friend here from Taz, asked if they export a lot of shell fish and lobster, crab because of the very cold water. Yep. Number one exports there.

    dan_sprague avatar
    DanMarco
    Community Member
    2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We're gonna need a bigger pot. And a ton of melted butter.

    View More Replies...
    View more commentsArrow down menu
    #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.