Animals Of Impressive Size
While we recognize most animals by name and have seen photos of them before, seeing them in real life is a completely different story. After all, it's hard to put things in perspective when all you get is a 2D image! Size is arguably the hardest factor to comprehend, meaning there are plenty of creatures out there that are much bigger than you'd actually imagine. Here are 20 just to name a few!
1. Great Danes
Dog lovers who have never seen a Great Dane before, prepare to have everything you think you know about how big they can get changed. As one of the largest dog breeds around, these pets can weigh up to nearly 200 pounds, with males growing up to 90 cm tall! They're not as big as Clifford the Big Red Dog, but it can still be hard to wrap your head around!
2. Polar Bears
Despite their cute and cuddly appearance, polar bears are anything but that. They're one of the most ferocious and deadly predators on the planet even though they make for adorable stuffed animals. And one of the most surprising things about these creatures is their size. While you might be used to hugging tiny plushies of this animal, males can actually grow to be 1700 pounds!
3. Elephant Seals
With elephant in their name, it already signals to you that this animal is going to be big, but how big they actually are will still surprise you. Because when you see seals online or in photos, it's hard to really grasp how large these creatures are. But as far as elephant seals go, they can grow to weigh up to nearly 9000 pounds. If that's not an indicator of size, we don't know what is.
4. Moose
As a significant icon in Canada, the moose is best recognized for its majestic antlers sitting atop its head. And while most people know what moose look like, they've never had an opportunity to witness their actual size. Did you know that they're not just the biggest species of deer but also the second-largest animal in all of North America? How's that for perspective? They can grow up to 2 meters tall and weigh up to 1500 pounds!
5. Rabbits
While rabbits are more commonly seen as small and furry house pets for kids, most people don't realize just how big these animals can get. From easily being held in one hand to requiring your entire arm strength to carry them, the largest species, the Flemish Giant, can weigh up to 40 pounds! Now that's pretty big for an animal you thought could only be tiny.
6. Wolves
For some reason, many people think of wolves as a sort of dog and believe them to have similar characteristics. While this isn't true for a number of reasons, we're going to look specifically at their size. Because no, wolves aren't around the size of your average dog. Weighing up to 150 pounds these are no man's best friend.
7. Tuna
Though you typically enjoy tuna in the form of sashimi or from a can, you should know what they look like in their original form. Because these fish are absolutely massive! In fact, they have the potential to become as long as 13 feet and weigh up to 2000 pounds! That's bigger than your average person!
8. Flying Foxes
Flying foxes, also known as fruit bats, are one of the largest species of bats found on this planet. While you technically think of bats as tiny pests that hide in dark nooks and crannies, these creatures are so big, they'll be hard to miss. With their wings fully spread, they can have a wingspan of up to 2 meters long!
Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US on Wikimedia
9. Opossums
Best known for their unique trait of "playing dead" whenever danger is near, opossums are generally seen by people as harmless and funny animals. And while they do tend to be passive creatures just going about their business, you might be surprised to learn they're a lot bigger than you think. Because no, they may look like rats but they're much much larger; they can grow up to be as long as 26 inches!
10. Bison
We all know that bison are big animals, but just how big are they? With males weighing up to 2000 pounds and growing as big as 6 feet tall, standing in front of one face to face might just be the most terrifying experience of your life. Not to mention, these beasts tend to be quite aggressive and unpredictable, making them seem even larger in terms of presence.
11. Ostrich
Being named the world's largest bird should tell you everything you need to know, right? Despite having a funny run, ostriches are nothing to laugh at. Standing as tall as 9 feet, they'd tower over everyone (including your favorite NBA players). Now imagine one of these massive beasts running straight at you - doesn't seem so funny anymore.
12. Saltwater Crocodile
Crocodiles are already terrifying reptiles you don't want to mess with, but learning that saltwater kinds are massive? All the more reason to fear these beasts. With a total weight of up to 2000 pounds and a body length of up to 6 meters, these crocodiles are as vicious as they are big - which isn't a good thing.
13. Japanese Spider Crab
While you're likely accustomed to small crabs you see at the beach, Japanese spider crabs are a completely different beast. With spider in the name, we know you're already scared, but once you learn that these crustaceans can be as big as nearly 4 meters in leg-span, scary just became terrifying.
14. Giraffe
Giraffes are already typically seen as some as the biggest animals on Earth, so you might be wondering why we've included them on our list. That's because if you've never seen one in real life, it's hard to grasp just how tall these animals can get. Because at 18 feet tall, that's quite a few humans stacked on top of each other!
Nikolay Tchaouchev on Unsplash
15. Manta Ray
As one of the largest marine animals swimming around our oceans, the manta ray's size shouldn't be underestimated. With a wingspan of up to 23 feet and a total weight of up to 3000 pounds, these creatures are absolutely massive. They look majestic but swimming next to one sounds scary!
16. Giant African Land Snail
If snails gross you out, you might want to look away. That's because the giant African land snail is not the same as typical ones you'd find in your garden - these are much bigger. With the potential to grow up to 20 cm long, that's almost as big as a ruler! At this size, you'll definitely be seeing all those slimy details up close.
17. Nomura's Jellyfish
While you're already trying your best to avoid jellyfish at the beach, what would you do if you came face to face with one of this size in the ocean? As one of the largest of its kind, the Nomura's jellyfish can weigh up to 400 pounds and grow up to 2 meters in length. Can you imagine something as floppy as a jellyfish weighing that much?
Janne Hellsten (nurpax) from Helsinki, Finland on Wikimedia
18. Leatherback Sea Turtle
Also known as the lute or leathery turtle, the leatherback sea turtle shouldn't be mistaken for those tiny little household kinds. In fact, this species is the largest of all turtles, growing up to 3 meters long and weighing an impressive 1000 pounds. Definitely wouldn't want to be responsible for taking care of one of these reptiles at home!
Rabon David, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wikimedia
19. The Blue Whale
Again, though the blue whale is recognized as the biggest animal on the planet, it's likely way bigger than you actually realize. Because until you really see one, you won't be able to wrap your head around just how massive this underwater creature truly is. Reaching up to approximately 100 feet in length, just try to picture how many humans you'd need before you can reach one end to the other.
NOAA Fisheries (TBjornstad 11:20, 18 April 2007 (UTC)) on Wikimedia
20. Colossal Squid
While most of the ocean is still unexplored, knowing there are creatures this big hiding in the depths makes us uninterested in learning more. As the biggest of all squid species, the colossal squid is no joke. Up to 14 meters long and 1000 pounds in weight, these statistics simply seem unbelievable.
