Top 18 Heaviest Animals in the World

Blue Whale scientifically known as Balaenoptera musculus is the largest animal ever to have lived on our planet. This species has a body length of up to 30 meters and weighs nearly 200 tons. They are found in the North Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

The body of the blue whale is long and slender, with a slightly bluish-gray color on the back and lighter on the belly. There are at least 3 subspecies of blue whales: B. m. musculus inhabits the North Atlantic and North Pacific, B. m. intermedia lives in the Southern Ocean, and B. m. brevicauda (pygmy blue whale) lives in the Indian Ocean and southern Pacific. Like other whales, their diet consists mainly of krill and small crustaceans.

The blue whale can hear sounds emitted from up to 1000 miles away, which is also how they communicate with each other. They consume about 40 million krill daily and can live up to 80 years. Before the 20th century, blue whales existed in large numbers in most oceans around the world. However, for over 100 years, they have been hunted to near extinction until protected by international law in 1966.

African Elephant is a genus in the Elephantidae family, which includes elephants. Although generally believed to have been named by Georges Cuvier in 1825, Cuvier called it Loxodonte. An anonymous author latinized the name to Loxodonta and ICZN recognized this name as the standard name.

The African Elephant is the largest terrestrial animal in the world, with males measuring 6 - 7.5 m long, standing 3.3 m tall at the shoulder, and weighing 6 tons. Females are relatively smaller, measuring about 5.4 - 6.9 m in length, 2.7 m tall at the shoulder, and weighing 3 tons. Adult African Elephants generally have no natural enemies due to their large size, but elephant calves are vulnerable to attacks by lions and crocodiles, and occasionally by hyenas and leopards. African Elephants are the most intelligent mammals in the world. They have the ability to recognize their own reflections, teach their young, and engage in funeral rituals for deceased members of their herd.

Whale shark (scientific name: Rhincodon typus) is a remarkable member of the Elasmobranchii subclass (sharks, rays) of the class Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish). It is the largest shark species and also the largest living fish species in the world.

The whale shark inhabits the tropical and warm temperate oceans of the world. While primarily oceanic, they also aggregate seasonally in some coastal regions such as the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia as well as Pemba and Zanzibar in the coastal regions of East Africa. Their distribution is limited to approximately ±30° latitude from these areas. Whale sharks are predominantly solitary and rarely seen schooling. It is believed they are migratory, but experts are still uncertain about how far they can migrate (potentially transoceanic migration).

The length of the whale shark ranges from 9 to 11 meters, weighing from 10 to 15 tons. The maximum recorded length is verified at 12.45 meters, and the maximum weight is 21.5 tons. Unofficial reports claim lengths of up to 18 meters (59 ft). With their powerful jaws, they can easily consume large quantities of food at the same time. Their diet includes plankton, various crustaceans, and vertebrates.

White rhinoceros or square-lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is one of the five existing rhinoceros species and one of the few remaining large herbivorous animals. The white rhinoceros or square-lipped rhinoceros is native to Northeast and Southern Africa, weighing up to 3538kg. Despite being large animals, rhinos tend to live in herds ranging from 1 to 7 individuals.

They have two horns on their snouts made of keratin fibers. They also have a distinctive hump on the back of their necks to support their large heads. Each foot of the white rhinoceros has three toes. They can go 4 to 5 days without drinking water. White rhinos reproduce very infrequently in captivity; since 1995, only one female rhino has been born at Dvur Králové.

The northern white rhinoceros is considered critically endangered or extinct in the wild, formerly found in several countries in East and Central Africa south of the Sahara Desert, this subspecies is a grassland and savanna dweller. Globally, there are currently only 3 recorded individuals, which have been returned to a conservation area in Kenya. Previously, the northern white rhinoceros population in the wild was only found in Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and showed initial signs of recovery from a low of around 40 individuals in the early 1970s.

Another magnificent elephant species is the Indian Elephant, one of the three recognized subspecies of Asian elephants and native to Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the population has declined by at least 50%.

Currently, the Indian Elephant is the largest land mammal on our planet, weighing up to nearly 5000 kg and standing up to 3.5 meters tall. Unlike African elephants, Indian Elephants have smaller ears. They often roam vast areas, especially in grassland regions. Moreover, they can spend up to 19 hours a day just eating. Their diet consists mainly of grass, fruits, and sugarcane. Each day, they can consume up to 113 kg of food. Asian elephant species are currently threatened by habitat loss.

Giraffe (scientific name Giraffa) is a genus of even-toed ungulate mammals, the tallest living terrestrial animals, and the largest ruminants. It belongs to the Giraffidae family, along with its closest living relative, the okapi. The genus comprises 11 species, including the typical Giraffa camelopardalis. Among these, seven prehistoric species are known only from fossils, leaving four extant species. While Giraffa was once considered to have nine subspecies, genetic research has revealed four distinct species still surviving. Thus, the genus Giraffa consists of the species Giraffa giraffa (southern giraffe), Giraffa tippelskirchi (Masai giraffe), Giraffa reticulata (Somali giraffe), and Giraffa camelopardalis (northern giraffe).

Giraffes have a scattered distribution range from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south, and from Niger in the west to Somalia in the east of Africa. They typically inhabit savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands. Their primary food source is acacia leaves, which they browse at heights most other herbivores cannot reach. Lions may prey on giraffes, and calves are targeted by spotted hyenas, African wild dogs, and leopards. In sparring contests, necks are used as weapons, with males reinforcing social hierarchy using this method.

The giraffe is the tallest hoofed mammal in the world, and you can easily spot them in South Africa. These animals can reach heights of over 6m and weigh about 1.6 tons. With their long and powerful legs, giraffes can both reach tree leaves and run at speeds of up to 50 km/h. They spend most of their time feeding. Their 0.5m long tongue allows them to easily pluck leaves into their mouths and cover long distances in search of food.

Hippopotamus (scientific name: Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large herbivorous mammal living in sub-Saharan Africa, and is one of two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other remaining species is the pygmy hippopotamus.) It is one of the largest terrestrial mammals and the heaviest remaining ungulate, although much shorter than the giraffe.

It is the third largest land mammal on Earth and originates from South Africa. Each hippopotamus can weigh up to 401 kg and they spend most of their time in the water to cool their hefty bodies. Grass and fallen fruits are the main diet of hippos. Each day, a hippo can consume over 36kg of grass, especially during the night. They can walk up to 6 miles to find enough food for their bodies. With their special teeth structure, hippos can consume a large amount of grass in a day.

Hippopotamus is one of the most aggressive animals in the world and is often considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa as well as in the world. No other wild animal in Africa kills as many people as hippos.

Alligator is the largest reptile in the world that can be found in tropical regions. It is one of the most dangerous animals. The average length of an alligator ranges from 1.8m - 7.62m and weighs up to 1043kg. Alligators are able to live without eating anything for an entire month, as they will use energy stored in the body as fat.

Pigs, fish, reptiles, birds, and turtles are fatty foods for alligators. With their powerful teeth, alligators are capable of tearing apart larger prey. Moreover, they can also detect small movements in the water and use them to catch larger prey.

Alligators are large reptiles that prefer water environments, living over a wide area of tropical regions in Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and the Pacific Ocean. Alligators tend to live in slow-flowing river and lake areas, and their diet is quite diverse. Some species, mainly estuarine crocodiles in Australia and islands in the Pacific Ocean, are known to be able to swim far out to sea.

Asian bison or gaur, also known as Indian bison, is an animal belonging to the Bovidae family with dark fur and large size, mainly living in the hills of India and Southeast Asia. They can live in the wild or have been domesticated by humans. It is also known as the Malayan bison or Indian bison.

Asian bison is the largest wild bovine species originating from South Asia. It has a length of about 2.5 to 3.5 m and weighs up to 1134 kg. Male gaurs have a large head and horns, which are over 30% larger than females. They typically inhabit lush areas, forests, or areas rich in vegetation and water. Their main diet consists of leaves and grass. They spend most of their day eating and can fast for long periods if there is no food available.

In the wild, gaurs live in herds of 8 to 10 individuals. Older male gaurs usually live alone or form small groups together. Gaurs prefer to eat young leaves, bamboo shoots, and fresh grass in burned clearings. They are pregnant for about 270 days, giving birth to one calf each year. Compared to wild bison, gaurs are more aggressive and dangerous to humans. When shot, wild bison scatter and run away, but gaurs are ready to attack the enemy. Gaurs are quite aggressive, often ramming obstacles and can fatally ram humans.

North Pacific beaked whale can weigh up to 60 tons and measure from 49 to 60 feet (15 - 18m), is an endangered and extremely rare species. In the small northeastern Pacific region, the remaining population of North Pacific beaked whales is less than 50, while on the western side, there are fewer than 100 individuals. Before 1835 marked the beginning of commercial whaling, there were over 20,000 beaked whales living in the North Pacific. According to the Biodiversity Center, this is the most endangered whale species on Earth due to ongoing illegal activities that have led to a severe decline in their numbers.

Due to being hunted almost to extinction, the number of North Pacific beaked whales is rapidly declining, and scientists are calling for immediate action to preserve this species. A report from the ocean conservation organization Oceana stated that unless protective measures are implemented, North Pacific beaked whales will struggle to survive, according to researchers. The number of beaked whales is only about 400 individuals, and less than 25% are mature females capable of reproduction. At least 28 beaked whales have died in the past 2 years, said Oceana's campaign director, Whitney Webber.

Kodiak Bear, also known as Kodiak brown bear or Alaska gray bear or American brown bear, inhabits the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago in southwestern Alaska. The subspecies name for this bear in Alutiiq language is Taquka-aq. It is the largest subspecies of brown bear. An average male Kodiak bear stands 3 meters tall and weighs around 680 to 816 kg. Female Kodiak bears are about 20 - 30% smaller than males.

Compared to other species in the same bear family, the richness of food makes the Kodiak Bear much heavier than many other bear species. They eat leaves to prepare for hibernation in spring, increasing their weight by about 50% during this time. They never hunt other animals and also do not need to protect other species as they are isolated alone on this island.

The Kodiak bear originates from the Kodiak Archipelago. This archipelago is the only place in the world where Kodiak bears live, and it is also the origin of their name. Their diet includes various local foods, including berries, seaweed, invertebrates living on the beach, and salmon.

White Whale is a horned whale species and is the second largest animal in the world, weighing 57 tons and measuring 89.5 feet (27m) long. American naturalist Roy Chapman Andrews called it the “Ocean Liner” because its long, slender body can “outrun the fastest steamship on the ocean”. Currently, some whale bones and fins are displayed in museums around the world.

The White Whale species can be found in all oceans, but like other species, they are currently severely threatened in numbers. White whales are more sociable than other whale species and typically live in small groups of 6 to 10 individuals, but when feeding, the number of whales in groups can reach up to 100 individuals. Their southernmost distribution range includes isolated populations in the St. Lawrence River and Saguenay Fjord, around the village of Tadoussac, Quebec, in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Amur River Basin, Shantar Islands, and surrounding seas around Sakhalin Island in the Okhotsk Sea.

In American literature, there is a fictional giant White Whale named Moby Dick that terrorizes whale hunting crews.

Southern Bullhead Whale weighs 58 tons, lacks a dorsal fin but compensates with a mouth with a rather long palate, barnacles or whale lice cause white chalk marks on their heads. The testicles of this whale species are perhaps the largest of any animal as they weigh up to 1,100 pounds (about 450kg) each side.

Southern Bullhead Whale cannot venture into warm waters near the equator because the insulating layer of skin prevents them from dissipating internal body heat. Hunting of this species has been banned since 1937 but illegal hunting incidents have occurred thereafter, so they are now listed as critically endangered species.

Sperm Whale or Coffin Fish is a toothed whale and also the largest carnivorous animal weighing about 31.25 tons. An adult usually measures 52 feet (16m) in length but can reach up to 67 feet (20m) with a head that's one-third of its body size.

It can dive as deep as 9,800 feet (3000m) to hunt for prey, making it the deepest diving mammal. It also produces the loudest sound with a frequency of nearly 230 decibels. Remarkably, it can live over 60 years with a brain larger than any other animal and five times heavier than a human's. Sperm whales are widely distributed and protected by the ban on whale hunting due to their highly vulnerable nature.

They are the second deepest diving mammal in the world, after Cuvier's beaked whale. And the echolocation of sperm whales is also the largest sound produced by any animal. This sound is used for locating obstacles, targets, as well as for other purposes. Sperm whales live in small groups called 'social units.' The units of females and calves are separate from adult males. Females cooperate to protect and nurse calves. Every three to six years, a sperm whale gives birth, and the nursing period can last over 10 years. Sperm whales have very few natural enemies, clearly indicating few creatures are strong enough to attack a healthy adult sperm whale; however, a pack of killer whales can kill sperm whale calves. The lifespan of sperm whales can exceed 70 years.

Northern Atlantic Sperm Whale is also a species of toothed whale belonging to the sperm whale family, weighing up to 55 tons, but they are vulnerable to attacks due to their gentle nature and feeding habits in shallow waters. This whale is currently the most endangered whale species in the world, with only about 400 individuals remaining in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, and it is likely extinct in the Eastern region. They have an average length of 43 - 52 feet (13 - 16m).

An estimated 100 female Northern Atlantic Sperm Whales migrate southward in winter to calve in the waters off Florida and Georgia, but understanding the migration routes of other whales remains very limited, mainly due to challenging survey conditions. With an estimated remaining population of about 325 whales, knowing their whereabouts at any given time is crucial for their protection.

Their diet mainly consists of copepods and some invertebrates such as squids, pteropods, and scallop larvae. Adult whales have an average length of 45 - 55 feet (14 - 17m) and weigh up to 70 tons, with the largest specimens measured at 60 feet (18m) and 117 tons. Females are larger than males.

Sei Whale is a member of the largest group of baleen whales - the gray-backed baleen whale with a considerable weight of about 22.5 tons and a length of 64 feet (19.5m), capable of digesting up to 2,000 pounds (90kg) of food in a day. It is the fastest whale species (cetaceans, dolphins, and porpoises) reaching speeds of 27 knots.

In 2008, the number of Sei Whales was recorded at 80,000, almost one-third of the previous whale population. Currently, they are protected by international standards to prevent illegal hunting.

It is a baleen whale and is the third-largest whale after the blue whale and fin whale. It primarily inhabits the open ocean and adjacent seas, preferring offshore deep waters. They avoid polar areas (near the North and South Poles), tropical seas, and semi-enclosed water regions. Sei Whales migrate annually to polar adjacent cool waters in summer and to tropical and temperate waters in winter.

Humpback whale weighing 29 tons is a species of baleen whale and one of the largest rorqual whales with sizes ranging from 39 to 52 feet (about 12m - 16m) with long pectoral fins and a large humpbacked head, their acrobatic behaviors leaving observers feeling fascinated. Male humpback whales have a song that lasts 10 to 20 minutes and is repeated for long periods. Humpback whales are found worldwide, migrating 16,000 miles (about 26,000 km) each year. During winter, they rely on pre-stored food reserves.

Although humpback whales can easily fit a human inside their gigantic mouths, scientifically, they cannot swallow a human whole, according to Nicola Hodgins of the non-profit conservation organization Whale and Dolphin Conservation in England. The humpback whale's throat is as wide as a human fist and can only expand to 38 cm to accommodate a large meal.

Gray whales belong to the baleen whale family, they use baleen plates to filter food from water instead of using teeth, weighing approximately 19.5 tons and measuring about 49 feet (15m) in length, formerly known as devil fish due to their aggressive behavior when hunted, with a lifespan of about 50 to 70 years, migrating annually between feeding grounds and breeding areas.

Among the 2 known populations in the Pacific, this species of gray whale is critically endangered. A gray whale was spotted in Israel in 2010, leading some scientists to speculate that this species might be recolonizing ancient breeding grounds. Another gray whale was also sighted off the coast of Namibia in 2013 while the first one was in the Southern Hemisphere.