Welcome to the Top 10 Biggest Animals in the World.
Have you ever wondered what the largest species of animals around the globe were and just how enormous they are? We have compiled a list of the 10 Biggest Animals in the World, from water to land.
Read on to learn more about these giants of the World, or skip ahead to the animal that piques your interest. Enjoy!
#1 Blue Whale
Blue whales are the World’s most enormous living creatures.
Their tongues can be as heavy as an elephant’s.
Their hearts are worth as much as a car. Blue whales are still endangered, with only 25,000 thought to exist today.
Where to see Blue Whales
Blue whales can be found in all of the World’s oceans except the Arctic; they usually swim alone or in pairs. Summers are often spent eating in polar seas, followed by long migrations to the Equator as winter approaches.
- Saguenay – St. Lawrence Marine Park, Québec.
- Reykjavík and Húsavík, Iceland.
- Pico Island, Azores.
- Monterey Bay, California.
- Baja California Sur, Mexico.
- Mirissa, Sri Lanka.
- San Diego, California
#2 North Pacific Right Whale
Right whales are found in three different species around the World. The Southern right whale, the North Atlantic right whale, and the North Pacific right whale are all found in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Sea of Japan, the Okhotsk, the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea, and the eastern Aleutian Islands are all part of the North Pacific right whale’s range. They are similarly slow moving, and when they come to the surface to breathe, their blow is in the shape of a heart, or V. Their triangular tail fluke is also a distinguishing feature.
Where to see North Pacific Right whales
While the distribution is unknown, observations of North Pacific right whales in the Berling Sea have been reasonably constant between April and September. As a result, in 2006, a piece of the area was declared a Critical Habitat for them.
Little is known about where they go or breed outside of this period. Unfortunately, habitat loss, human disturbance, entanglement in fishing gear, and collisions with vessels pose severe threats to North Pacific right whales.
#3 African Elephant
African elephants are the World’s most enormous land creatures. Their herds go over 37 African countries. Their trunk, utilized for communication and object processing, is immediately identifiable. Their vast ears also assist them in dissipating heat.
There are just 415,000 elephants left in Africa today. While elephant poaching is declining, especially in East Africa, it is still driving the species dangerously close to extinction.
Where to see the African Elephants
The Top 3 Destinations to see Elephants in Africa
- The Okavango Delta in Botswana.
- Chobe National Park in Botswana.
- Addo Elephant Park in South Africa.
#4 White Rhinoceros
Due to the form of its mouth compared to its African cousin, the black rhino, the white rhino is also known as the Square-lipped rhino. White rhinos are divided into two subspecies: Southern and Northern white.
The titles black and white rhinos are deceptive, as both are grey. The Afrikaans term for wide (‘wyd’) is thought to have given the white rhino its name owing to its vast, square lip (in contrast, black rhinos have a pointy upper lip). Because early English explorers misinterpreted this word for ‘white,’ this species was named ‘white’ rhino, while the other was called ‘black’ rhino.
Where to see White Rhinos
The Southern white rhino is primarily found in South Africa, with lesser populations in Kenya, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
#5 Hippopotamus
Hippos are divided into two species: the hefty/common hippo and the smaller pygmy hippo. After elephants and white rhinos, hippos are the third-largest living land animal.
They have adaptations to their semi-aquatic surroundings that allow them to move quickly on both water and land, despite their big and bulky appearance. Their tiny legs enable tremendous propulsion through the water, and their feet feature four webbed toes that splay out to distribute weight equally and sufficiently support them on land.
Where to see Hippopotami
- Okavango Delta, Botswana.
- Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.
- Kruger National Park, South Africa.
- Hluhluwe National Park, South Africa.
- Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
#6 Giraffe
Giraffes are pretty gregarious animals that occasionally gather in herds. There is no group bonding, though. Males are migratory and wander between groups of females, whereas youngsters stay with a few adult females.
Giraffes do not have a set breeding season. Therefore, males continually look for suitable females—in Africa, with long legs and an uneven brown patch pattern on a light background on their coat. Giraffes are the tallest terrestrial animals, with males (bulls) reaching heights of up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) and females (cows) reaching up to 4.5 meters.
Where to see Giraffes
- Etosha National Park, Namibia.
- Skeleton Coast National Park, Namibia.
- Kruger National Park, South Africa.
- Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.
- Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.
- Giraffe Manor, Kenya.
#7 Saltwater Crocodile
Saltwater crocodiles are the World’s largest crocodile species and the World’s largest living reptile. 2. Male saltwater crocodiles have been measured at 23 feet (7 meters) in length and weigh 2,205 pounds (1,000 kg).
The saltwater crocodile’s jaws create the World’s most ferocious bite, and the strong teeth can reach up to five inches (13 cm). These traits and the animal’s capacity to hold its breath for extended periods make it an ideal predator for hunting large terrestrial mammals.
Saltwater crocodiles lurk along the water’s edge, ready to strike with a ferocious lunge at any possible prey that approaches the water’s edge. Crocodiles are a long-lived species that have thrived in this Habitat since before the dinosaurs went extinct.
Where to see Saltwater crocodiles
Saltwater crocs can be found in brackish and freshwater environments in eastern India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. They are exceptional swimmers and have been observed numerous times far out at sea.
#8 Leatherback sea turtles
The chief drivers of these decreases include extensive turtle and egg harvesting and bycatch in fishing gear. Under the Endangered Species Act, leatherback turtles are considered endangered, and the Pacific leatherback population continues to dwindle.
Of our top 10 most significant animals in the World, the leatherback is a strong contender as the largest turtle species.
Where to see Leatherback sea turtles
Leatherback Turtles are primarily found in the open ocean, as far north as Alaska and as far south as the southernmost tip of Africa in South Africa.
Leatherback turtles can nest along the eastern Pacific coast (from Mexico to Panama) and in Southeast Asia, West Africa, Florida, Costa Rica, Colombia, and French Guiana.
#9 Ostrich
The World’s most notable and heaviest bird species is the flightless ostrich. Unlike all other living birds, the ostrich secretes urine separately from feces.
Ostriches are the fastest runners of any bird or two-legged animal, capable of sprinting at speeds of over 70 km/hr and covering up to 5 meters in a single stride.
Where to see Ostriches
Ostriches live throughout Africa’s semiarid plains and woodlands. However, the best places to guarantee an ostrich sighting are:
- Cape Point National Park, Table Mountain reserve in Cape Town
- Oudtschoon, Western Cape
#10 Gaur
In our list of the world’s top 10 most significant animals, the GaWorld is the most prominent representative of wild cattle. Also referred to as the Indian bison, the Gaur is a bovine native to South and Southeast Asia and has been on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable since 1986.
Males of the species are exceptionally muscular and powerful, capable of generating enough force to kill predators, humans, and other domestic cattle that dare to upset them. They live in herds of 30 to 50 people.
Where to see Gaurs
Gaur was once found in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, and Nepal on the continent of South and Southeast Asia.
The species’ distribution is severely fragmented today and is regionally extinct in Sri Lanka.
Summary of Top 10 Biggest Animals In The World
These animals are revered by their size, and a privilege to witness them in their natural Habitat. Their livelihood must be protected at all costs with sustainable tourism and ethical animal encounters.
If you enjoyed reading about the world’s top 10 most significant animals, look aWorld the full ten animal encounters in Europe post covid and the top 10 cutest animals.
I'm an animal and wildlife enthusiast and love diving and skiing. My favorite locations to see animals are: The Azores, Yosemite National Park, and California.
I'm a certified Advanced Open Water Diver with a Master of Science in Economics and Electrical Engineering.
For any feedback please message [email protected]
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