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{{short description|List of largest organisms on Earth}}
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{{short description|List of the largest species for various organism types}}
] is a clonal colony of an individual ] with an interconnected root system. It is widely held to be the world's most massive single organism.]] ] is a clonal colony of an individual ] with an interconnected root system. It is widely held to be the world's most massive single organism.]]
The '''largest organisms''' now found on Earth can be determined according to various aspects of an ] size, such as: mass, volume, area, length, height, or even ]. Some organisms group together to form a ] (such as ]s or ]s), but such are not classed as single large organisms. The ] is the world's largest structure composed of living entities, stretching {{convert|2,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}, but contains many organisms of many types of species. This article lists the '''largest ]''' for various types of life and mostly considers ] species,{{efn|The organism sizes listed are frequently considered "outsized" and are not in the normal size range for the respective group.}} which found on Earth can be determined according to various aspects of an organism's size, such as: mass, volume, area, length, height, or even ]. Some organisms group together to form a ] (such as ]s or ]s), but such are not classed as single large organisms. The ] is the world's largest structure composed of living entities, stretching {{convert|2,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} but contains many organisms of many types of species.


When considering singular entities, the largest organisms are ] which can spread over large areas. ], a clonal colony of the ], is widely considered to be the largest such organism by mass.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.zmescience.com/other/science-abc/heaviest-organism-pando-aspen/|title = The Heaviest Living Organism in the World|date = 9 February 2015|access-date = 10 February 2016|website = ZME Science|last = Mihai|first = Andrei}}</ref> Even if such colonies are excluded, ] retain their dominance of this listing, with the ] being the most massive tree.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Giant Sequoia National Monument|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/home/?cid=stelprdb5394941|website=Sequoia National Forest|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture - Forest service|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> In 2006, a huge ] of the ] '']'' was discovered south of the island of ]. At {{convert|8|km|0}} across, and estimated at 100,000 years old,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/view/1152-20|title=Portuguese scientists discover world's oldest living organism|website=www.theportugalnews.com|access-date=2019-02-14|archive-date=2019-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119070051/http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/view/1152-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> it may be one of the largest and ] clonal colonies on Earth.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/news/2006/monster_plant_280506_i.htm|title= Ibiza's Monster Marine Plant|access-date= 2007-05-09|work=Ibiza Spotlight|date= 28 May 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060827123801/http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/news/2006/monster_plant_280506_i.htm|archive-date= 27 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pearlman |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/9066393/Ancient-seagrass-Oldest-living-thing-on-earth-discovered-in-Mediterranean-Sea.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207170657/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/9066393/Ancient-seagrass-Oldest-living-thing-on-earth-discovered-in-Mediterranean-Sea.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 February 2012 |title='Oldest living thing on earth' discovered |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=7 February 2012 |access-date=11 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Arnaud-Haond|first=Sophie|author2=Duarte, Carlos M. |author3=Diaz-Almela, Elena |author4=Marbà, Núria |author5=Sintes, Tomas |author6=Serrão, Ester A. |author7=Bruun, Hans Henrik |title=Implications of Extreme Life Span in Clonal Organisms: Millenary Clones in Meadows of the Threatened Seagrass ''Posidonia oceanica''|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=7|issue=2|pages=e30454|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0030454|pmid=22312426|pmc=3270012|bibcode=2012PLoSO...730454A|year=2012|doi-access=free}}</ref>
This article lists the largest species for various types of organisms and mostly considers ] species. The organism sizes listed are frequently considered "outsized" and are not in the normal size range for the respective group.


Among ], the largest species are all ]s, specifically ]. The ] is believed to be the largest animal to have ever lived.<ref name="NYT-20240229">{{cite news |last=Zimmer |first=Carl |authorlink=Carl Zimmer |title=Researchers Dispute Claim That Ancient Whale Was Heaviest Animal Ever - A new study argues that Perucetus, an ancient whale species, was certainly big, but not as big as today's blue whales. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/science/giant-whale-perucetus.html |date=29 February 2024 |work=] |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240229131654/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/science/giant-whale-perucetus.html |archivedate=29 February 2024 |accessdate=3 March 2024 }}</ref> The living land animal classification is also dominated by ], with the ] being the largest of these.
If considered singular entities, the largest organisms are ] which can spread over large areas. ], a clonal colony of the ], is widely considered to be the largest such organism by mass.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.zmescience.com/other/science-abc/heaviest-organism-pando-aspen/|title = The Heaviest Living Organism in the World|date = 9 February 2015|access-date = 10 February 2016|website = ZME Science|last = Mihai|first = Andrei}}</ref> Even if such colonies are excluded, ] retain their dominance of this listing, with the ] being the most massive tree.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Giant Sequoia National Monument|url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sequoia/home/?cid=stelprdb5394941|website=Sequoia National Forest|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture – Forest service|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> In 2006 a huge ] of '']'' was discovered south of the island of ]. At {{convert|8|km|0}} across, and estimated at around 100,000 years old,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/view/1152-20|title=Portuguese scientists discover world's oldest living organism|website=www.theportugalnews.com}}</ref> it may be one of the largest and ] clonal colonies on Earth.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/news/2006/monster_plant_280506_i.htm|title= Ibiza's Monster Marine Plant|access-date= 2007-05-09|work=Ibiza Spotlight|date= 28 May 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060827123801/http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/news/2006/monster_plant_280506_i.htm|archive-date= 27 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pearlman |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/9066393/Ancient-seagrass-Oldest-living-thing-on-earth-discovered-in-Mediterranean-Sea.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207170657/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/9066393/Ancient-seagrass-Oldest-living-thing-on-earth-discovered-in-Mediterranean-Sea.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 February 2012 |title='Oldest living thing on earth' discovered |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=7 February 2012 |access-date=11 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Arnaud-Haond|first=Sophie|author2=Duarte, Carlos M. |author3=Diaz-Almela, Elena |author4=Marbà, Núria |author5=Sintes, Tomas |author6=Serrão, Ester A. |author7=Bruun, Hans Henrik |title=Implications of Extreme Life Span in Clonal Organisms: Millenary Clones in Meadows of the Threatened Seagrass ''Posidonia oceanica''|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=7|issue=2|pages=e30454|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0030454|pmid=22312426|pmc=3270012|bibcode=2012PLoSO...730454A|year=2012|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Among ], the largest species are all ]s, specifically ]. The ] is believed to be the largest animal to have ever lived. The largest land animal classification is also dominated by ], with the ] being the largest of these.


==Plants== ==Plants==
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The largest single-stem tree by wood volume and mass is the ] (''Sequoiadendron giganteum''), native to Sierra Nevada and California; it typically grows to a height of {{convert|70|-|85|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} and {{convert|5|-|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter. The largest single-stem tree by wood volume and mass is the ] (''Sequoiadendron giganteum''), native to Sierra Nevada and California; it typically grows to a height of {{convert|70|-|85|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} and {{convert|5|-|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter.


The largest organism in the world, according to mass, is the ] whose colonies of clones can grow up to {{convert|5|mi|km|order=flip|0}} long. The largest such colony is ], in the Fishlake National Forest in Utah. The largest organism in the world, according to mass, is the ] whose colonies of clones can grow up to {{convert|5|mi|km|order=flip|0}} in size. The largest such colony is ], in the ] in Utah.

A form of flowering plant that far exceeds Pando as the largest organism on Earth in area and potentially also mass, is the giant marine plant, '']'', living in ], Australia. Its length is about {{convert|180|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} and it covers an area of {{convert|200|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/01/what-the-hell-australian-scientists-discover-biggest-plant-on-earth-off-wa-coast | title=Scientists discover 'biggest plant on Earth' off Western Australian coast | website=] | date=31 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Edgeloe |first1=Jane M. |last2=Severn-Ellis |first2=Anita A. |last3=Bayer |first3=Philipp E. |last4=Mehravi |first4=Shaghayegh |last5=Breed |first5=Martin F. |last6=Krauss |first6=Siegfried L. |last7=Batley |first7=Jacqueline |last8=Kendrick |first8=Gary A. |last9=Sinclair |first9=Elizabeth A. |date=2022-06-08 |title=Extensive polyploid clonality was a successful strategy for seagrass to expand into a newly submerged environment |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=289 |issue=1976 |pages=20220538 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2022.0538|pmid=35642363 |pmc=9156900 |s2cid=249204370 }}</ref> It is also among the ].


Another form of flowering plant that rivals Pando as the largest organism on earth in breadth, if not mass, is the giant marine plant, '']'', discovered in the Mediterranean near the ], Spain. Its length is about {{convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}. It may also be the ] organism in the world, with an estimated age of 100,000 years.<ref name=seagrass> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226063158/http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/news/2006/monster_plant_280506_i.htm |date=2007-12-26 }}. ''Ibiza Spotlight'' (2006-05-28).</ref> Another giant marine plant of the genus '']'', '']'' discovered in the Mediterranean near the Balearic Islands, Spain may be the ] organism in the world, with an estimated age of 100,000 years.<ref name=seagrass> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226063158/http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/news/2006/monster_plant_280506_i.htm |date=2007-12-26 }}. ''Ibiza Spotlight'' (2006-05-28).</ref>


The largest individual flower in the world is '']'', while the ] with the largest unbranched ] in the world is '']'', both are native to ] island of ]. The largest individual flower in the world is '']'', while the ] with the largest unbranched ] in the world is ''].'' Both are native to ] in ].


===Green algae=== ===Green algae===
] are photosynthetic unicellular and multicellular ]s that are related to land plants. The ] of the unicellular mermaid's wineglass, '']'', can grow to several inches (perhaps 0.1 to 0.2 m) in length. The fronds of the similarly unicellular, and invasive '']'' can grow up to a foot (0.3 m) long.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} ] are photosynthetic unicellular and multicellular ] that are related to land plants. The ] of the unicellular mermaid's wineglass, '']'', can grow to several inches (perhaps 0.1 to 0.2 m) in length. The fronds of the similarly unicellular, and invasive '']'' can grow up to a foot (0.3 m) long.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}


==Animals== ==Animals==
]
A member of the infraorder ], the ] (''Balaenoptera musculus''), is thought to be the largest animal ever to have lived. The maximum recorded weight was 190 ]s for a specimen measuring {{convert|27.6|m|ft}}, whereas longer ones, up to {{convert|33.6|m|ft}}, have been recorded but not weighed.<ref name = "Wood">Wood, Gerald ''The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats'' (1983) {{ISBN|978-0-85112-235-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Davies|first1=Ella|title=The longest animal alive may be one you never thought of|url=http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160420-the-longest-animal-alive-may-not-be-the-blue-whale|website=BBC Earth|access-date=2018-02-14|language=en|date=2016-04-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-mammal|title=Largest mammal|website=Guinness World Records}}</ref> It is estimated however that this individual could have a mass of 250 ]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGK6a6_tQEI|title=How Large Are Blue Whales Really? Size Comparison|access-date=18 October 2019|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.deviantart.com/palaeozoologist/journal/How-big-are-blue-whales-And-what-does-big-mean-430992285 |title = How big are blue whales? And what does 'big' mean? By palaeozoologist on DeviantArt}}</ref> The title of the longest non-colonial animal is probably owned by ] (36.6m / 120&nbsp;ft).<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = McClain | first1 = Craig R. | last2 = Balk | first2 = Meghan A. | last3 = Benfield | first3 = Mark C. | last4 = Branch | first4 = Trevor A. | last5 = Chen | first5 = Catherine | last6 = Cosgrove | first6 = James | last7 = Dove | first7 = Alistair DM | last8 = Gaskins | first8 = Leo C. | last9 = Helm | first9 = Rebecca R. | date = 2015-01-13 | title = Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna | journal = PeerJ | language = en | volume = 3 | pages = E715 |doi = 10.7717/peerj.715 | issn = 2167-8359 | pmc = 4304853 | pmid= 25649000}}</ref>
]'' is potentially the largest animal to have walked the earth.]]{{excerpt|Largest animals}}

The ] (''Loxodonta africana''), of the order ], is the largest living land animal. A native of various open habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, this elephant is commonly born weighing about {{convert|100|kg|lb}}.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Emanuelson|first1=Karen|editor1-last=Fowler|editor1-first=Murray|editor2-last=Mikota|editor2-first=Susan K.|title=Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of Elephants|date=2008|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=9780470344118|page=234|chapter=Chapter 16 Neonatal care and hand rearing. Neonatal care}}</ref> The largest elephant ever recorded was shot in ] in 1974. It was a male measuring {{convert|10.67|m|ft}} from trunk to tail and {{convert|4.17|m|ft}} lying on its side in a projected line from the highest point of the shoulder to the base of the forefoot, indicating a standing shoulder height of {{convert|3.96|m|ft}}. This male had a computed weight of 12.25 tonnes.<ref name="Wood"/>

=== Heaviest living animals ===
The heaviest living animals are all ], and thus also the largest living mammals. Since no scale can accommodate the whole body of a large whale, most whales have been weighed by parts.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank
! Animal
! Average mass<br />
! Maximum mass<br />
! Average total length<br />
|-
| 1 || ] || 110<ref name="IWC">Mark Tandy. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616172845/http://iwcoffice.org/lives |date=2017-06-16 }}. Iwcoffice.org</ref> || 190<ref name = "Wood"/> || 24 (79)<ref>. The Marine Mammal Center</ref>
|-
| 2 || ] || 60<ref>. Seagrant.uaf.edu (2008-02-15)</ref> || 120<ref name = "Wood"/> || 15.5 (51)<ref name="IWC"/>
|-
| 3 || ] || 58<ref name="IWC"/> || 110<ref name= Stewart>Stewart, et al, ''National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World''. Knofp (2002), {{ISBN|978-0-375-41141-0}}</ref> || 15.25 (50)<ref name="IWC"/>
|-
| 4 || ] || 57<ref name="IWC"/> || 120<ref name= Stewart/> || 19.5 (64)<ref name="IWC"/>
|-
| 5 || ] || 54.5<ref name="IWC"/><ref>. Marinebio.org (2011-09-30)</ref> || 120<ref name = "Wood"/> || 15 (49)<ref name="IWC"/>
|-
| 6 || ] || 54<ref name="IWC"/><ref>. Maine.gov</ref> || 110<ref name="Stewart"/><ref name= Euba>. Animal Info (2005-11-02)</ref> || 15 (49)<ref name= IWC/><ref name= Euba/>
|-
| 7 || ] || 31.25<ref name="IWC"/><ref name= Whitehead>Whitehead, H. (2002). ''Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus''. In Perrin, W., Würsig B. and Thewissen, J.. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press. pp. 1165–1172. {{ISBN|0-12-551340-2}}</ref> || 57<ref name = "Wood"/> || 13.25 (43.5)<ref name="IWC"/><ref name= Whitehead/>
|-
| 8 || ] || 29<ref name="IWC"/><ref>. Animal Info (2005-02-01)</ref> || 48<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QdlJ3SbwUIgC&pg=PA225|title=The mammals of Texas|author1=David J. Schmidly |author2=William B. Davis |publisher=University of Texas Press|year=2004|isbn=9780292702417}}</ref> || 13.5 (44)<ref name="IWC"/>
|-
| 9 || ] || 22.5<ref name = "IWC"/> || 45<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.whales.org/species-guide/sei-whale |title=Sei Whale Species Guide |publisher=Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC)|access-date=2 March 2016}}</ref> || 14.8 (49)<ref name="IWC"/>
|-
| 10 || ] || 19.5<ref name="IWC"/> || 45<ref>{{cite book|author1=Bernd G. Würsig|author2=J. G. M. Thewissen|title=Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TwFUimDtz7sC&pg=PA70|year=2002|publisher=Gulf Professional Publishing|isbn=978-0-12-551340-1|page=70}}</ref> || 13.5 (44)<ref name="IWC"/>
|}
] showing the size of marine megafauna.]]

]

===Heaviest terrestrial animals===
<!-- –] redirects here. If you change this section title, please update that redirect. Do not replace this heading with deflist markup (semicolon) - that doesn't provide the necessary anchor for a section link -->
The following is a list of the heaviest wild land animals, which are all mammals. The African elephant is now listed as two species, the ] and the ], as they are now generally considered to be two separate species.<ref>. News.nationalgeographic.com (2010-12-22)</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank
! Animal
! Average mass<br />
! Maximum mass<br />
! Average total length<br />
|-
| 1 || ]
|| 4.9<ref>. Animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu</ref><ref>Georges Frei. . Upali.ch</ref> || 10.4<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Larramendi | first1 = A. | year = 2016 | title = Shoulder height, body mass and shape of proboscideans | journal = Acta Palaeontologica Polonica | volume = 61 | doi = 10.4202/app.00136.2014 | s2cid = 2092950 | url = https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app61/app001362014.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160824042509/http://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app61/app001362014.pdf | archive-date = 2016-08-24 | url-status = live | doi-access = free }}</ref>|| 6 (19.7)<ref>. The Animal Files</ref>
|-
| 2 || ] || 4.15<ref name = "Wood"/><ref name=Elephas>]. and Eisenberg, J. F. . {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430131057/http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-182-01-0001.pdf |date=2013-04-30 }} Mammalian Species (1982) 182:1–8</ref> || 8.15<ref name = "Wood"/> || 6.8 (22.3)<ref name= Elephas/>
|-
| 3 || ] || 2.7<ref name="arkive.org"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024160446/http://www.arkive.org/forest-elephant/loxodonta-cyclotis/ |date=2014-10-24 }}. ARKive</ref> || 6.0<ref name="arkive.org"/> || 6.2 (20.3)<ref>. Wildpro.twycrosszoo.org {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511023426/http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/0MProboscidae/Elephantidae/Loxodonta/Loxodonta_cyclotis/01LoxCycAMWtHt.htm |date=May 11, 2013 }}</ref>
|-
| 4 || ]{{dubious|Rhino|date=July 2012}} || 2<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/white-rhino|title=White Rhino – Species – WWF|website=World Wildlife Fund|access-date=14 June 2017}}</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509053256/http://www.arkive.org/white-rhinoceros/ceratotherium-simum/#text=Facts |date=2015-05-09 }}. ARKive (2004-08-06)</ref> || 4.5<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viuzza.net/travel/viuzza-wildlife-rhinoceros.htm|title=African Rhinoceros|website=viuzza.net|access-date=14 June 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714162027/http://www.viuzza.net/travel/viuzza-wildlife-rhinoceros.htm|archive-date=14 July 2015}}</ref> || 4.4 (14.4)<ref>. Animals.nationalgeographic.com</ref>
|-
| 5 || ] || 1.9<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004205550/http://www.arkive.org/indian-rhinoceros/rhinoceros-unicornis/ |date=2011-10-04 }}. ARKive</ref><ref>Laurie, W. A.; Lang, E. M. and Groves, C. P. . Mammalian Species (1983) 211:1–6</ref> || 4.0<ref name="BoitaniLuigi">Boitani, Luigi, ''Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals''. Simon & Schuster/Touchstone Books (1984), {{ISBN|978-0-671-42805-1}}</ref> || 4.2 (13.8)<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926233017/http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Perissodactyla/Rhinoceros_unicornis.html |date=2011-09-26 }}. Ultimateungulate.com</ref>
|-
| 6 || ] || 1.8<ref>Eltringham, S.K. (1999). ''The Hippos''. Poyser Natural History Series. London: Academic Press. {{ISBN|0-85661-131-X}}.</ref><ref>. Learnanimals.com</ref> || 4.5<ref>{{cite web|title=Hippopotamus amphibius (hippopotamus)|url=http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hippopotamus_amphibius/|website=Animal Diversity Web}}</ref> || 5.05 (16.5)<ref>. Animals.nationalgeographic.com</ref>
|-
| 7 || ] || 1.75<ref>. Animal Info (2005-11-26)</ref><ref>. Onehornedrhino.org {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013140033/http://onehornedrhino.org/info/javan_rhino.htm |date=October 13, 2011 }}</ref> || 2.3<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927210453/http://www.arkive.org/javan-rhinoceros/rhinoceros-sondaicus/#text=Facts |date=2011-09-27 }}. ARKive</ref> || 3.8 (12.5)<ref> Edgeofexistence.org (2010-11-12)</ref>
|-
| 8 || ] || 1.1<ref>. Animals.nationalgeographic.com</ref> || 2.9<ref>Kes Hillman-Smith, A. K. and Groves, C. P. . Mammalian species (1994) 455:1–8</ref> || 4 (13.1)<ref name="ref141">. (2009-04-09)</ref>
|-
| 9 || ] || 1.0<ref name = "Wood"/> || 2<ref>Owen-Smith, R. Norman, ''Megaherbivores: The Influence of Very Large Body Size on Ecology''. Cambridge University Press (1992), {{ISBN|978-0-521-42637-4}}</ref> || 5.15 (16.9)<ref name="theanimalfiles">. The Animal Files</ref>
|-
| 10 || ] || 0.95<ref name= China>Smith, A. T., Xie, Y. (eds.) (2008) . Princeton University Press, Princeton Oxforshire. p. 472 {{ISBN|0691099847}}</ref> || 1.5<ref name=China/> || 3.8 (12.5)<ref name= Seaworld>. Seaworld.org</ref>
|}

===Tunicates (''Tunicata'')===
{{further|Tunicata}}
The largest tunicates are '']'', found at depths of {{convert|20|and|40|m|ft|0}}, and are up to 14 centimetres (6&nbsp;in) in diameter. It is also present in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, around the coasts of Greenland and Newfoundland, but is less common here than in the east, and occurs only at depths between {{convert|10|and|13|m|ft|0}}.<ref name=DORIS>{{cite web |url=http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=2797 |title=''Synoicum pulmonaria'' (Ellis & Solander, 1786) |author1=André, Frédéric |author2=Tourenne, Murielle |author3=Foveau, Aurélie |date=2011-08-08 |publisher=DORIS |language=fr |access-date=2015-07-26}}</ref>

;Entergonas (])
:The largest entergonas '']'' it is usually found at depths between about {{convert|20|and|40|m|ft|0}} and can grow to over a metre (yard) in length. It is also present in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, around the coasts of Greenland and Newfoundland, but is less common here than in the east, and occurs only at depths between {{convert|10|and|13|m|ft|0}}.<ref name=DORIS />
;Pleurogonas (])
:The largest pleurogonas: '']'' .<ref name=Lambert>{{cite journal |author1=Lambert, Gretchen |author2=Lambert, Charles C. |year=1996 |title=Spicule Formation in the New Zealand Ascidian ''Pyura pachydermatina'' (Chordata, Ascidiacea) |journal=Connective Tissue Research |volume=34 |issue=4 |pages=263–269 |doi=10.3109/03008209609005270|pmid=9084635 }}</ref> In colour it is off-white or a garish shade of reddish-purple. The stalk is two thirds to three quarters the length of the whole animal which helps distinguish it from certain ] tunicates not native to New Zealand such as '']'' and '']''.<ref name=MPI>{{cite web |url=http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/pyura |title=''Pyura'' |work=Biosecurity in New Zealand |publisher=Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Government |access-date=2013-04-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209200618/http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/pyura |archive-date=2013-02-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is one of the largest species of tunicates and can grow to over a metre (yard) in length.<ref name=Ruppert>{{cite book |title=Invertebrate Zoology |edition=7th |last1=Ruppert |first1=Edward E. |last2=Fox |first2=Richard, S. |last3=Barnes |first3=Robert D. |year=2004 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-81-315-0104-7 |page=941 }}</ref>
;Aspiraculates (])
:The largest aspiraculates: '']'' large and surrounded by six large lobes; the cloacal syphon is small. They live exclusively in deep water and range in size from less than one inch (2 cm) to 2.4 inches (6 cm).

===Thaliacea===
]'' is the largest thaliacean]]
The largest ]n, '']'', is cylindrical and can grow up to 60&nbsp;cm (2&nbsp;ft) long and 4–6&nbsp;cm wide. The constituent ]s form a rigid tube, which may be pale pink, yellowish, or bluish. One end of the tube is narrower and is closed, while the other is open and has a strong diaphragm. The outer surface or test is gelatinised and dimpled with backward-pointing, blunt processes. The individual zooids are up to {{cvt|8.5|mm|in}} long and have a broad, rounded branchial sac with ] slits. Along the side of the branchial sac runs the ], which produces ] filters. Water is moved through the gill slits into the centre of the cylinder by ] pulsating rhythmically. ] and other food particles are caught in mucus filters in the processes as the colony is propelled through the water. ''P. atlanticum'' is bioluminescent and can generate a brilliant blue-green light when stimulated.<ref name=JelliesZone/><ref> Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 2011-11-11.</ref>

;Doliolida (])
:The largest doliolida: '']'' <ref> World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2011-11-17.</ref> The doliolid body is small, typically 1–2&nbsp;cm long, and barrel-shaped; it features two wide ]s, one at the front and the other at the back end, and eight or nine circular ] strands reminiscent of barrel bands. Like all ]s, they are ]s. They are free-floating; the same forced flow of water through their bodies with which they gather ] is used for propulsion – not unlike a tiny ] engine. Doliolids are capable of quick movement. They have a complicated ] consisting of sexual and asexual generations. They are nearly exclusively tropical animals, although a few species are found as far north as northern ].{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
;Salps (])
:The largest salps: '']''15cm (6ins) long. There are openings at the anterior and posterior ends of the cylinder which can be opened or closed as needed. The bodies have seven transverse bands of muscle interspersed by white, translucent patches. A stolon grows from near the endostyle (an elongated glandular structure producing mucus for trapping food particles). The stolon is a ribbon-like organ on which a batch of aggregate forms of the animal are produced by ]. The aggregate is the second, colonial form of the salp and is also gelatinous, transparent and flabby. It takes the shape of a radial whorl of individuals up to about 20cm (4in) in diameter. It is formed of approximately 12 ]s linked side by side in a shape that resembles a crown.<ref name=JelliesZone> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321094842/http://jellieszone.com/pelagic-tunicates/cyclosalpa-bakeri/ |date=2016-03-21 }} JelliesZone, by David Wrobel. Retrieved 2016-04-10.</ref><ref name=Salps> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623020144/http://jellieszone.com/pelagic-tunicates/ |date=2016-06-23 }} JelliesZone, by David Wrobel. Retrieved 2016-04-10.</ref> are largest thetyses: '']'' Individuals can reach up to {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
;Larvaceans (])
:The largest larvaceans: '']'' {{convert|1|cm|abbr=on}} in body length (excluding the tail).{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

===Cephalochordates (''Leptocardii'')===
{{further|Leptocardii}}
The largest lancelets: ] (''Branchiostoma lanceolatum'') "primitive fish". It can grow up to 6&nbsp;cm (2.5&nbsp;in) long.<ref> Marine Species Information Portal. Retrieved 2011-11-14.</ref>

===Vertebrates===

====Mammals (''Mammalia'')====
{{main|List of largest mammals}}
]'' (dark grey) compared to a human and other rhinos (though one study suggests '']'' may have been a larger land mammal)]]
The ] is the largest ].

The largest land mammal extant today is the ]. The largest extinct land mammal known was long considered to be ''] orgosensis'', a rhinoceros relative thought to have stood up to {{convert|4.8|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} tall, measured over {{convert|7.4|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} long and may have weighed about 17 tonnes.<ref name=probos_mass/><ref name="Fortelius">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1993.tb02560.x| title = The largest land mammal ever imagined| journal = Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society| volume = 108| pages = 85–101| year = 1993| last = Fortelius | first = M.; Kappelman, J. }}</ref> In 2015, a study suggested that one example of the ]n '']'' may have been the largest land mammal ever, based on extensive research of fragmentary leg bone fossils from one individual, with a maximum estimated size of 22 tonnes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/66361/ancient-elephant-may-have-been-biggest-land-mammal-ever|title=An Ancient Elephant May Have Been Biggest Land Mammal Ever|date=2015-07-17|access-date=2017-04-21|language=en}}</ref><ref name=probos_mass>{{Cite journal | last1 = Larramendi | first1 = A. | year = 2016 | title = Shoulder height, body mass and shape of proboscideans | journal = Acta Palaeontologica Polonica | volume = 61 | doi = 10.4202/app.00136.2014 | s2cid = 2092950 | url = https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app61/app001362014.pdf | doi-access = free }}</ref>

====Stem-mammals (''Synapsida'')====
The ] period '']'', from what is now southern Poland, probably was the largest of all non-mammalian ]s (most of which became extinct 250 million years ago), at {{convert|4.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} and 9 tonnes.<ref name="NYT-20190104" /> However, one study suggested a more conservative weight of 4.87 tonnes to 7.02 tonnes for the adult taxon, with an average body mass of 5.88 tonnes.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Romano|first1=Marco|last2=Manucci|first2=Fabio|date=2019-06-14|title=Resizing Lisowicia bojani: volumetric body mass estimate and 3D reconstruction of the giant Late Triassic dicynodont|journal=Historical Biology|volume=33|issue=4|pages=474–479|doi=10.1080/08912963.2019.1631819|s2cid=196679837|issn=0891-2963}}</ref> The largest carnivorous synapsid was '']'' from what is now South Africa during ] epoch. ''Anteosaurus'' was {{convert|5|–|6|m|ft|abbr=on}} long, and weighed about {{convert|500|–|600|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Palaeos.com</ref>

;]
:The largest ] was '']'', measuring {{convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}} and weighing 2 tonnes,<ref>. Fossils.valdosta.edu</ref> and the largest predatory pelycosaur was '']'' from what is now North America, with a length of {{convert|3.1|m|ft|abbr=on}} and weight of {{convert|250|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite journal
| last1 = Kemp | first1 = T. S.
| title = The origin and early radiation of the therapsid mammal-like reptiles: A palaeobiological hypothesis
| doi = 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.01076.x
| journal = Journal of Evolutionary Biology
| volume = 19
| issue = 4
| pages = 1231–1247
| year = 2006
| pmid = 16780524
| s2cid = 3184629
| doi-access = free
}}</ref>
;]
:The plant-eating ] '']'' is the largest-known of all non-mammal ], at {{cvt|4.5|m}} and {{cvt|9000|kg}}.<ref name="NYT-20190104">{{cite news |last=St. Fleur |first=Nicholas |title=An Elephant-Size Relative of Mammals That Grazed Alongside Dinosaurs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/science/dicynodonts-fossils-poland.html |date=4 January 2019 |work=] |access-date=7 January 2019 }}</ref><ref name="SM-20190104">{{cite journal |last1=Sulej |first1=Tomasz |last2=Niedzwiedzki |first2=Grzegorz |title=An elephant-sized Late Triassic synapsid with erect limbs |date=4 January 2019 |journal=] |volume=363 |issue=6422 |pages=78–80 |doi=10.1126/science.aal4853|pmid=30467179 |bibcode=2019Sci...363...78S |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="SD-20181123">{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Gigantic mammal 'cousin' discovered |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181123134400.htm |date=23 November 2018 |work=] |access-date=7 January 2019 }}</ref> The largest carnivorous therapsid was the aforementioned ''Anteosaurus''.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

====Reptiles (''Reptilia'')====
{{main|List of largest reptiles}}
] is the largest living reptile.]]
The largest living ], a representative of the order ], is the ] (''Crocodylus porosus'') of Southern Asia and Australia, with adult males being typically {{convert|3.9|–|5.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} long. The largest confirmed saltwater crocodile on record was {{convert|6.32|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} long, and weighed about {{convert|1,360|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Wood"/> Unconfirmed reports of much larger crocodiles exist, but examinations of incomplete remains have never suggested a length greater than {{convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref> Flmnh.ufl.edu</ref> Also, a living specimen estimated at {{convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} and {{convert|2,000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} has been accepted by the Guinness Book of World Records.<ref name= Salty> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230162011/http://news.boloji.com/200701/00800.htm |date=2010-12-30 }}. News.boloji.com</ref> However, due to the difficulty of trapping and measuring a very large living crocodile, the accuracy of these dimensions has yet to be verified. A specimen named ] caught alive in the Philippines in 2011 (died February 2013) was found to have measured {{convert|6.17|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name=pawb>{{cite web|title="Lolong" holds world record as largest croc in the world |url=http://www.pawb.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=480:lolong-holds-world-record-as-largest-croc-in-the-world&catid=22:news&Itemid=131 |work=Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau |access-date=23 June 2012 |date=17 November 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419075200/http://www.pawb.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=480%3Alolong-holds-world-record-as-largest-croc-in-the-world&catid=22%3Anews&Itemid=131 |archive-date=19 April 2012 }}</ref><ref name=crocodilian>{{cite web|last=Britton|first=Adam|title=Accurate length measurement for Lolong|url=http://crocodilian.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/accurate-length-measurement-for-lolong.html|work=Croc Blog|access-date=23 June 2012|date=12 November 2011}}</ref><ref name=gma>{{cite news|title=NatGeo team confirms Lolong the croc is world's longest|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/237992/news/nation/natgeo-team-confirms-lolong-the-croc-is-world-s-longest|access-date=23 June 2012|publisher=GMA News Online|date=9 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Philippine town claims world's largest crocodile title|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8879042/Philippine-town-claims-worlds-largest-crocodile-title.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110145205/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8879042/Philippine-town-claims-worlds-largest-crocodile-title.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 November 2011|access-date=23 June 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=9 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title='Lolong' claims world's largest croc title |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/09/11/lolong-claims-worlds-largest-croc-title |access-date=23 June 2012 |publisher=ABS-CBNnews.com |date=9 November 2011 |agency=Agence France-Presse |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104023240/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/09/11/lolong-claims-worlds-largest-croc-title |archive-date= 4 January 2015 }}</ref>

The ] (''Varanus komodoensis''), also known as the "Komodo monitor", is a large species of ] found in the ]n islands of ], ], ], ], ] and ]. A member of the ] family (]), it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=off}} in rare cases and weighing up to approximately {{convert|70|kg|lb|abbr=off}}.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

====Heaviest living reptiles====
The following is a list of the heaviest living reptile species ranked by average weight, which is dominated by the crocodilians. Unlike mammals, birds, or fish, the mass of large reptiles is frequently poorly documented and many are subject to conjecture and estimation.<ref name = "Wood"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank
! Animal
! Average mass<br />
! Maximum mass<br />
! Average total length<br />
|-
| 1 || ] || 450 (990)<ref name="Saltwater Crocodile">{{cite web|url=http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/saltwater-crocodile/?source=A-to-Z|title=Saltwater Crocodile|work=National Geographic}}</ref><ref name=AuGovernment>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=1774 |title=Crocodylus porosus- Salt-water Crocodile, Estuarine Crocodile |publisher=Australian Government- Department of the Environment |access-date=2015-06-03}}</ref> || 2,000 (4,400)<ref name=EnvironmentAU>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/pages/dc11235d-8b3b-43f7-b991-8429f477a1d4/files/40-fauna-2a-crocodylia-morphology.pdf|title=Morphology & Physiology of Crocodylia|author=Grigg, G.|author2=Gans, C.|name-list-style=amp|publisher=Australian Government- Department of the Environment |access-date=2016-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ourplnt.com/worlds-5-largest-crocodiles-ever-recorded/|title=World's Top 5 Largest Crocodiles Ever Recorded|work=Our Planet|date=2017-12-16}}</ref> || 4.5 (14.8)<ref name="Saltwater Crocodile"/><ref name="Webb, G. J. 1991">{{cite journal|author=Webb, G. J.|author2=Hollis, G. J.|author3=Manolis, S. C.|name-list-style=amp |year=1991|title=Feeding, growth, and food conversion rates of wild juvenile saltwater crocodiles (''Crocodylus porosus'')|journal=Journal of Herpetology|pages= 462–473|jstor=1564770|volume=25|issue=4|doi=10.2307/1564770}}</ref>
|-
| 2 || ] || 410 (900)<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Nile_crocodile|title=BBC Nature - Nile crocodile videos, news and facts}}</ref> || 1,090 (2,400)<ref name="Wood"/> || 4.2 (13.8)<ref name=autogenerated2 />
|-
| 3 || ] || 380 (840){{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} || 1,100 (2,400){{citation needed|date=May 2013}} || 4.1 (13.5)<ref name=Orinoco> {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20170906190607/http://www.arkive.org/orinoco-crocodile/crocodylus-intermedius/ |date=2017-09-06 }}. ARKive</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waza.org/en/zoo/choose-a-species/reptiles/crocodiles/crocodylus-intermedius|title=Orinoco Crocodile|author=WAZA|access-date=2013-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110142610/http://www.waza.org/en/zoo/choose-a-species/reptiles/crocodiles/crocodylus-intermedius|archive-date=2013-11-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 4 || ] || 364 (800)<ref>. euroturtle.org {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403001455/http://www.euroturtle.org/outline/Leatherback%20Sea%20Turtle.pdf |date=April 3, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanaqua.org/education/aquafacts/leatherbacks.html|title=Client Validation|website=www.vanaqua.org|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907073934/http://www.vanaqua.org/education/aquafacts/leatherbacks.html|archive-date=7 September 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> || 932 (2,050)<ref name = "Wood"/> || 2.0 (6.6)<ref name = "Wood"/>
|-
| 5 || ] || 350 (770){{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} || 1,100 (2,400){{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}|| 3.9 (12.8)<ref>. Crocodilian.com</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkive.org/black-caiman/melanosuchus-niger/|title=Black caiman videos, photos and facts – Melanosuchus niger – ARKive|access-date=2013-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204182551/http://www.arkive.org/black-caiman/melanosuchus-niger/|archive-date=2013-02-04|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/reptilia/crocodylia/caimans.htm|title=Caimans|author=SeaWorld Parks|author2=Entertainment|name-list-style=amp|access-date=2013-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731082306/http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/reptilia/crocodylia/caimans.htm|archive-date=2013-07-31|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>http://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/06_M-24b37cab.pdf</ref>
|-
| 6 || ] || 335 (739)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Crocodylus_acutus/|title=ADW: Crocodylus acutus: INFORMATION|author=Jake Fishman|work=Animal Diversity Web}}</ref> || 1,000 (2,200)<ref>. Seaworld.org</ref> || 4.0 (13.1)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/american-crocodile/?source=A-to-Z|title=American Crocodile|work=National Geographic|date=2010-09-10}}</ref><ref>http://www.myfwc.com/media/664081/AmericanCrocodilesinFL.pdf</ref>
|-
| 7 || ] || 250 (550)<ref name="Ghar">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/priority_species/gharial/ |title=Gharial |access-date=September 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018085525/http://wwfindia.org/about_wwf/priority_species/gharial/ |archive-date=October 18, 2011 }}</ref> || 977 (2,150)<ref>. Animals.nationalgeographic.com</ref> || 4.5 (14.8)<ref name= Ghar/>
|-
| 8 || ] || 240 (530)<ref name="sciencedaily.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/american_alligator.htm|title=American Alligator|work=ScienceDaily|access-date=2018-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318173004/http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/american_alligator.htm|archive-date=2015-03-18|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="nationalzoo.si.edu">{{cite web|url=http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/reptilesamphibians/facts/factsheets/americanalligator.cfm|title=American Alligator|date=2016-04-25}}</ref> || 1,000 (2,200)<ref name = "Wood"/> || 3.4 (11.2)<ref name="nationalzoo.si.edu"/>
|-
| 9 || ] || 225 (495)<ref name="sciencedaily.com"/> || 700 (1,500)<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Lang | first1 = J. W. | last2 = Andrews | first2 = H. | last3 = Whitaker | first3 = R. | year = 1989 | title = Sex determination and sex ratios in Crocodylus palustris | journal = American Zoologist | volume = 29 | issue = 3| pages = 935–952 | doi=10.1093/icb/29.3.935| doi-access = free }}</ref> || 3.3 (10.8)<ref name="nationalzoo.si.edu"/>
|-
| 10 || ] || 210 (460)<ref>http://www.zoonegaramalaysia.my/RPFalseGharial.pdf</ref> || 500 (1,100){{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} || 4.0 (13.1)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tomistoma.org/pa/|title=Tomistoma Task Force}}</ref>
|-
| 11 || ] || 205 (450)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Dipsochelys_dussumieri/|title=ADW: Dipsochelys dussumieri: INFORMATION|author=Chris Ng|work=Animal Diversity Web}}</ref> || 360 (790)<ref name = "Wood"/> || 1.4 (4.6)<ref name="pmid5160860">{{Cite journal
| last1 = Hughes | first1 = G. M.
| last2 = Gaymer | first2 = R.
| last3 = Moore | first3 = M.
| last4 = Woakes | first4 = A. J.
| title = Respiratory exchange and body size in the Aldabra giant tortoise
| journal = The Journal of Experimental Biology
| volume = 55
| issue = 3
| pages = 651–665
| year = 1971
| doi = 10.1242/jeb.55.3.651
| pmid = 5160860
}}</ref>
|-
| 12 || ] || 200 (441){{citation needed|date=November 2018}} || 545 (1202){{citation needed|date=November 2018}}|| 0.95 (3.2)<ref name="pmid5160860"/>
|-
| 13 || ] || 190 (418.9)<ref name=autogenerated4>{{Cite web|url=https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-green-sea-turtle/|title=Information About Sea Turtles: Green Sea Turtle – Sea Turtle Conservancy|access-date=18 October 2019}}</ref>|| 395 (870.8)<ref name=autogenerated2 />|| 1.12 (3.67)<ref name=autogenerated2 />
|-
| 14 || ] || 180 (400)<ref name="marylandzoo.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.marylandzoo.org/animals-conservation/reptiles/african-slender-snouted-crocodile/|title=African Slender-Snouted Crocodile – The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore|work=The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-slender_crocodile.html|title=Slender-Snouted Crocodile – San Diego Zoo Animals}}</ref> || 325 (720)<ref name="marylandzoo.org"/> || 3.3 (10.8)<ref name="marylandzoo.org"/>
|-
| 15 || ] || 175 (390)<ref>. Animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu</ref> || 417 (919)<ref name="Ebersbach">White Matt (18 August 2015). "". Official Guinness World Records. Retrieved 27 November 2015.</ref>|| 1.5 (4.9)<ref>. Sandiegozoo.org</ref>
|}

====Dinosaurs (''Dinosauria'')====
{{Main|Dinosaur size}}
{{see also|Largest prehistoric animals}}
[[File:Longest dinosaur by clade.svg|alt=|thumb|320x320px|A human and the largest known dinosaurs of the five major clades. Each grid section represents 1 square meter.
{{legend|#B3464A|Sauropoda (''Supersaurus vivianae'')}}
{{legend|#A4A0CC|Ornithopoda (''Shantungosaurus giganteus'')}}
{{legend|#58BD67|Theropoda (''Spinosaurus aegyptiacus'')}}
{{legend|#F59331|Thyreophora (''Stegosaurus ungulatus'')}}
{{legend|#73A9D5|Marginocephalia (''Triceratops prorsus'')}}]]

Dinosaurs are now extinct, except for birds, which are theropods.

;Sauropods (])
:The largest dinosaurs, and the largest animals to ever live on land, were the plant-eating, long-necked ]. The tallest and heaviest sauropod known from a complete skeleton is a specimen of an immature '']'' discovered in ] between 1907 and 1912, now mounted in the ] of Berlin. It is {{convert|12-13.27|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall and weighed 23.3–39.5 tonnes.<ref name=Mazzettaetal2004>{{cite news|last=Mazzetta|first=G.V.|title=Giants and bizarres: Body size of some southern South American Cretaceous dinosaurs.|journal=Historical Biology|year=2004|pages=1–13|display-authors=etal|doi=10.1080/08912960410001715132|volume=16|issue=2–4|citeseerx=10.1.1.694.1650}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Janensch|first=W.|title=The skeleton reconstruction of ''Brachiosaurus brancai''.|year=1950|pages=97–103}}</ref><ref name=paul1988>{{cite journal | last1 = Paul | first1 = G.S. | year = 1988 | title = The brachiosaur giants of the Morrison and Tendaguru with a description of a new subgenus, ''Giraffatitan'', and a comparison of the world's largest dinosaurs | journal = Hunteria | volume = 2 | issue = 3| pages = 1–14 }}</ref><ref name="Bensonetal2014">{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001853| title = Rates of dinosaur body mass evolution indicate 170 million years of sustained ecological innovation on the avian stem lineage| journal = PLOS Biology| volume = 12| issue = 5| pages = e1001853| year = 2014| last1 = Benson | first1 = R. B. J. | last2 = Campione | first2 = N. S. E. | last3 = Carrano | first3 = M. T. | last4 = Mannion | first4 = P. D. | last5 = Sullivan | first5 = C. | last6 = Upchurch | first6 = P. | last7 = Evans | first7 = D. C. | pmid=24802911 | pmc=4011683}}</ref><ref name=taylor2009>{{cite journal | last1 = Taylor | first1 = M.P. | year = 2009 | title = A re-evaluation of ''Brachiosaurus altithorax'' Riggs 1903 (Dinosauria, Sauropod) and its generic separation from ''Giraffatitan brancai'' (Janensch 1914) | url = http://www.miketaylor.org.uk/dino/pubs/taylor2009/Taylor2009-brachiosaurus-and-giraffatitan.pdf | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 29 | issue = 3| pages = 787–806 | doi=10.1671/039.029.0309| s2cid = 15220647 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.museumfuernaturkunde.berlin/en/museum/ausstellungen/world-dinosaurs|title=The World of Dinosaurs|work=Museum für Naturkunde|access-date=2018-11-18|language=en}}</ref> The longest is a {{convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}} long specimen of '']'' discovered in ], and mounted in ]'s ] in 1907. A '']'' specimen found in Argentina in 2014 is estimated to have been {{convert|37-40|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall, with a weight of 69–77 tonnes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-27441156|title=BBC News – 'Biggest dinosaur ever' discovered|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=30 September 2014|date=2014-05-17|last1=Morgan|first1=James}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40889321|title=Giant dinosaur slims down... a bit|date=2017-08-10|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-11-18|language=en-GB}}</ref>
:There were larger sauropods, but they are known only from a few bones. The current record-holders include '']'', which may have weighed 100 tonnes; '']'' which might have reached {{convert|34|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length and '']'' which might have been {{convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall. Two other such sauropods include '']'' and '']''. Both are known only from fragments. ''Bruhathkayosaurus'' might have been between {{convert|40|–|44|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length and 175–220 tonnes in weight according to some estimates.<ref name="mortimer2001a">Mortimer, M. (2001), , discussion group, The Dinosaur Mailing List, 19 June 2001. Accessed 23 May 2008.</ref> ''Maraapunisaurus'' might have been approximately 35–40&nbsp;m long and 80–120 tonnes or more.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Paul|first=Gregory S.|date=2019|title=Determining the largest known land animal: A critical comparison of differing methods for restoring the volume and mass of extinct animals|url=http://www.gspauldino.com/Titanomass.pdf|journal=Annals of the Carnegie Museum|volume=85|issue=4|pages=335–358|doi=10.2992/007.085.0403|s2cid=210840060}}</ref>
;Theropods (])
:The largest ] known from a nearly complete skeleton is the most complete '']'' ''rex'' specimen, nicknamed "]", which was discovered in ] in 1990 and now mounted in the ] of Chicago at a total length of {{convert|12.3|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Body mass estimates have reached over 9,500&nbsp;kg,<ref name="Hutchinsonetal2011">{{cite journal |title=A computational analysis of limb and body dimensions in ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' with implications for locomotion, ontogeny, and growth |journal=PLOS ONE |year=2011 |last1=Hutchinson |first1=John R. |last2=Bates |first2=Karl T. |last3=Molnar |first3=Julia |last4=Allen |first4=Vivian |last5=Makovicky |first5=Peter J. |volume=6 |issue=10 |pages=1–20 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0026037 |bibcode=2011PLoSO...626037H |pmid=22022500 |pmc=3192160|doi-access=free }}</ref> though other figures, such as Hartman's 2013 estimate of 8,400&nbsp;kg,<ref name="Hartman2013">{{cite web |url= http://www.skeletaldrawing.com/home/mass-estimates-north-vs-south-redux772013 |title=Mass estimates: North vs South redux |last=Hartman |first=Scott |date=2013-07-07 |access-date=2015-08-17 }}</ref> have been lower.
:Another giant theropod is ''] aegyptiacus'' from the mid-Cretaceous of North Africa. Size estimates have been fluctuating far more over the years, with length estimates ranging from 12.6 to 18 m and mass estimates from 7 to 20.9 t.<ref name="dalsassoetal2005">{{cite journal |title=New information on the skull of the enigmatic theropod ''Spinosaurus'', with remarks on its size and affinities |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |year=2005 |last1=Dal Sasso |first1=Christiano |last2=Maganuco |first2=Simone |last3=Buffetaut |first3=Eric |last4=Mendez |first4=Marco A. |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=888–896 |url=http://www.reocities.com/Athens/bridge/4602/spinoskull.pdf |access-date=2015-08-17 |doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2005)0252.0.co;2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429015542/http://reocities.com/Athens/bridge/4602/spinoskull.pdf |archive-date=2011-04-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=TH07>{{cite journal |last=Therrien |first=F. |author2=Henderson, D.M. |year=2007 |title=My theropod is bigger than yours...or not: estimating body size from skull length in theropods |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=108–115 |doi=10.1671/0272-4634(2007)272.0.CO;2 |issn=0272-4634}}</ref> Recent findings favor a length exceeding 15 m <ref name="ibrahimetal2014">{{cite journal|last1=Ibrahim|first1=Nizar|author-link=Nizar Ibrahim|last2=Sereno|first2=Paul C.|last3=Dal Sasso|first3=Christiano|last4=Maganuco|first4=Simone|display-authors=etal|year=2014|title=Semiaquatic adaptations in a giant predatory dinosaur|url=https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/semiaquatic-adaptations-in-a-giant-predatory-dinosaur(8f11a1ce-3265-4b3b-8c81-6f576856a87f).html|journal=Science|volume=345|issue=6204|pages=1613–1616|bibcode=2014Sci...345.1613I|doi=10.1126/science.1258750|pmid=25213375|s2cid=34421257}}<!--|access-date=2015-08-17 --></ref> and a body mass of 7.5 tons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paulsereno.uchicago.edu/discoveries/spinosaurus_aegyptiacus/|title=Discoveries - Paul Sereno - Paleontologist – The University of Chicago|website=paulsereno.uchicago.edu|access-date=14 June 2017}}</ref>
:Other contenders known from partial skeletons include ''] carolinii'' (est. 12.2–13.2 m and 6–13.8 tonnes) and ''] saharicus'' (est. 12–13.3 m and 6.2–15.1 tonnes).<ref name="TH07"/><ref name="Coria1995">{{cite journal | last1 = Coria | first1 = R. A. | last2 = Salgado | first2 = L. | year = 1995 | title = A new giant carnivorous dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Patagonia. | journal = Nature | volume = 377 | issue = 6546| pages = 225–226 | doi=10.1038/377224a0| bibcode = 1995Natur.377..224C | s2cid = 30701725 }}</ref><ref name="coria2006">Coria, R. A. and Currie, P. J. (2006). "A new carcharodontosaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina". ''Geodiversitas'', '''28''' (1): 71–118. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002120231/http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/front/medias/publication/7653_g06n1a4.pdf |date=October 2, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Holtz2008">Holtz, Thomas R. Jr. (2012) ''Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages,'' .</ref><ref name="serenoetal1996">{{Cite journal | last1 = Sereno | first1 = P. C. | last2 = Dutheil | first2 = D. B. | last3 = Iarochene | first3 = M. | last4 = Larsson | first4 = H. C. E. | last5 = Lyon | first5 = G. H. | last6 = Magwene | first6 = P. M. | last7 = Sidor | first7 = C. A. | last8 = Varricchio | first8 = D. J. | last9 = Wilson | first9 = J. A. | doi = 10.1126/science.272.5264.986 | title = Predatory dinosaurs from the Sahara and Late Cretaceous faunal differentiation | journal = Science | volume = 272 | issue = 5264 | pages = 986–991 | year = 1996 | pmid = 8662584| bibcode = 1996Sci...272..986S | s2cid = 39658297 }}</ref><ref name="seebacher2001">{{cite journal | doi = 10.1671/0272-4634(2001)0212.0.CO;2 | last1 = Seebacher | first1 = F. | year = 2001 | title = A new method to calculate allometric length-mass relationships of dinosaurs | journal = Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology | volume = 21 | issue = 1| pages = 51–60 | issn = 0272-4634 | citeseerx = 10.1.1.462.255 }}</ref>
:The largest ] theropod is the ] (see birds, below).
;Pacycephalosaurs (])
:The largest ]s is are '']'' to {{Cvt|25|cm|0}} thick, which safely cushioned its tiny brain. The dome's rear aspect was edged with bony knobs and short bony spikes projected upwards from the snout. The spikes were probably blunt, not sharp.<ref name=KC97>{{cite journal |last=Carpenter |first=Kenneth |author-link=Kenneth Carpenter |date=1 December 1997|url=http://rmg.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/32/1/19 |title=Agonistic behavior in pachycephalosaurs (Ornithischia: Dinosauria): a new look at head-butting behavior |journal=Contributions to Geology |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=19–25 |format=pdf }}</ref>
;Armored dinosaurs (])
:The largest ]ns were '']'' and '']'', from the Late Cretaceous and Late Jurassic periods (respectively) of what is now North America, both measuring up to {{convert|9|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length and estimated to weigh up to 6 tonnes.<ref>. Chemistrydaily.com {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126054040/http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Stegosaurus |date=January 26, 2016 }}</ref><ref>. sciencekids.co.nz</ref>
;Ornithopods (])
:The largest ornithopods were the ]ids '']'', a late Cretaceous dinosaur found in the Shandong Peninsula of China, and '']'' from the late Cretaceous of North America. Both species are known from fragmentary remains but are estimated to have reached over {{convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length<ref name=XZetal07>{{Cite journal | last1 = Zhao | first1 = M. Z. | last2 = Zhang | first2 = H. Z. | doi = 10.1007/s10114-005-0808-x | title = The weighted transience and recurrence of Markov processes | journal = Acta Mathematica Sinica, English Series | volume = 23 | pages = 111–126 | year = 2006 | s2cid = 119700784 }}</ref><ref name=WJM81>{{cite journal|last=Morris |first=William J. |year=1981 |title=A new species of hadrosaurian dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Baja California: ''Lambeosaurus laticaudus'' |jstor=1304231|journal=Journal of Paleontology |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=453–462}}</ref> and were likely the heaviest non-sauropod dinosaurs, estimated at over 23&nbsp;tonnes.<ref name=WJM81/>
;Ceratopsians (])
:The largest ]ns were '']'' and its ancestor '']'' from the late Cretaceous of North America. Both estimated to have reached about {{convert|9|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length<ref name="Dodhorned">{{cite book|title=The Horned Dinosaurs|year=1996|author=Dodson, P.|publisher=Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey|isbn=978-0-691-02882-8|url=https://archive.org/details/horneddinosaursn00dods_0}}</ref> and weighed 12&nbsp;tonnes.<ref name="Alexander">{{Cite journal | last1 = Alexander | first1 = R. M. | doi = 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1985.tb00871.x | title = Mechanics of posture and gait of some large dinosaurs | journal = Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society | volume = 83 | pages = 1–25| year = 1985 }}</ref><ref name="wuetal2007">{{Cite journal | last1 = Wu | first1 = X. C. | last2 = Brinkman | first2 = D. B. | last3 = Eberth | first3 = D. A. | last4 = Braman | first4 = D. R. | title = A new ceratopsid dinosaur (Ornithischia) from the uppermost Horseshoe Canyon Formation (upper Maastrichtian), Alberta, Canada | doi = 10.1139/E07-011 | journal = Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences | volume = 44 | issue = 9 | pages = 1243–1265 | year = 2007 | bibcode = 2007CaJES..44.1243W }}</ref>

=====Birds (''Aves'')=====
{{main|List of largest birds}}
] is the largest living bird.]]
The largest living ], a member of the ], is the ] (''Struthio camelus''), from the plains of ]. A large male ostrich can reach a height of {{convert|2.8|m|ft|abbr=on}} and weigh over {{convert|156|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name="birding"> records {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302004911/http://www.birding.com/birdrecords1.asp |date=March 2, 2007 }}</ref> A mass of {{convert|200|kg|lb|abbr=on}} has been cited for the common ostrich but no wild ostriches of this weight have been verified.<ref name=autogenerated3>. avianmedicine.net {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419061330/http://www.avianmedicine.net/ampa/48.pdf |date=April 19, 2009 }}</ref> Eggs laid by the ostrich can weigh {{convert|1.4|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and are the largest eggs in the world today.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

The largest bird in the fossil record may be the extinct ]s (Aepyornithidae) of Madagascar, which were related to the ]. '']'' exceeded {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height and {{convert|500|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, while '']'' could reach a similar height and a mass of {{convert|732|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Hansford2018b">{{cite journal|last1= Hansford|first1=J. P.|last2= Turvey|first2=S. T.|title= Unexpected diversity within the extinct elephant birds (Aves: Aepyornithidae) and a new identity for the world's largest bird|journal= ]|volume= 5|issue= 9|date= 2018-09-26|page= 181295|doi=10.1098/rsos.181295|pmc= 6170582|pmid= 30839722|bibcode=2018RSOS....581295H}}</ref> The last of the elephant birds became extinct about 300 years ago. Of almost exactly the same upper proportions as the largest elephant birds was '']'' of ], part of a 26,000-year-old group called ]s of the family ].<ref>Murray, Peter F.; Vickers-Rich, Patricia (2004). ''Magnificent Mihirungs: The Colossal Flightless Birds of the Australian Dreamtime''. Indiana University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-253-34282-9}}</ref> The largest carnivorous bird was '']'', an extinct flightless bird from ] which reached a weight of {{convert|350|to|400|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and a height of about {{convert|2.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}}.<ref>Alvarenga, H.; Chiappe, L.; Bertelle, S. (2011-05-03), ''Phorusrhacids: the Terror Birds'', in Dyke, G.; Kaiser, G., Living Dinosaurs: The Evolutionary History of Modern Birds, Wiley, pp. 187–208, {{ISBN|978-0-470-65666-2}}</ref> The tallest carnivorous bird was '']'', which could reach 3 to 3.2 meters in height and 220 to 250 kilograms. The tallest bird ever was the ] (''Dinornis maximus''), part of the moa family of ] that went ] around 1500 AD. This particular species of moa stood up to {{convert|3.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall,<ref name=birding/> but weighed about half as much as a large elephant bird or ] due to its comparatively slender frame.<ref name = "Wood"/>

The heaviest bird ever capable of flight was '']'', the largest member of the now extinct ] ], found in Miocene-aged fossil beds of Argentina, with a wingspan up to {{convert|5.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}, a length of up to {{convert|1.25|m|ft|abbr=on}}, a height on the ground of up to {{convert|1.75|m|ft|abbr=on}} and a body weight of at least {{convert|71|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Chatterjee | first1 = S. | last2 = Templin | first2 = R. J. | last3 = Campbell | first3 = K. E. | doi = 10.1073/pnas.0702040104 | title = The aerodynamics of Argentavis, the world's largest flying bird from the Miocene of Argentina | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | volume = 104 | issue = 30 | pages = 12398–12403 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17609382| pmc = 1906724| bibcode = 2007PNAS..10412398C | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Ksepka 10624–10629">{{cite journal|title=Flight performance of the largest volant bird|first=Daniel T.|last=Ksepka|date=22 July 2014|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|volume=111|issue=29|pages=10624–10629|doi=10.1073/pnas.1320297111|pmid=25002475|pmc=4115518|bibcode=2014PNAS..11110624K|doi-access=free}}</ref> '']'' is thought to have had an even larger wingspan of about {{convert|6.1|-|7.4|m|ft|abbr=on}}, but is only about {{convert|22|-|40|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, half the mass of the former.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/pelagornis-sandersi-worlds-biggest-bird-was-twice-big-albatross-24ft-wingspan-1455666|title=Pelagornis Sandersi: World's Biggest Bird Was Twice as Big as Albatross with 24ft Wingspan|first=Hannah|last=Osborne|date=7 July 2014|website=ibtimes.co.uk|access-date=14 June 2017}}</ref><ref name="Ksepka 10624–10629"/>

====Heaviest living bird species====
The following is a list of the heaviest living bird species based on maximum reported or reliable mass, but average weight is also given for comparison. These species are almost all flightless, which allows for these particular birds to have denser bones and heavier bodies. Flightless birds comprise less than 2% of all living bird species.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank
! Animal
! Binomial Name
! Average mass<br />
! Maximum mass<br />
! Average total length<br />
! ]
|-
| 1 || ] ||''Struthio camelus''|| 104 (230)<ref name= Davies>Davies, Stephen, ''Ratites and Tinamous''. Oxford University Press (2002), {{ISBN|978-0-19-854996-3}}</ref> || 156.8 (346)<ref name= Davies/> || 210 (6.9)<ref name= Handbook1>del Hoyo, et al.,''Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks''. Lynx Edicons (1992), {{ISBN|978-84-87334-10-8}}</ref> || No
|-
| 2 || ] ||''Struthio molybdophanes''|| 90 (200)<ref name= Davies/> || 130 (287){{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} || 200 (6.6)<ref name= Davies/> || No
|-
| 3 || ] ||''Casuarius casuarius''|| 45 (99)<ref name= Davies/> || 85 (190)<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Kofron | first1 = Christopher P. | year = 1999 | title = Attacks to humans and domestic animals by the southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) in Queensland, Australia | journal = Journal of Zoology | volume = 249 | issue = 4| pages = 375–381 | doi = 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb01206.x }}</ref> || 155 (5.1)<ref name= Davies/> || No
|-
| 4 || ] ||''Casuarius unappendiculatus''|| 44 (97)<ref name= Davies/> || 75 (170)<ref name= Davies/> || 149 (4.9)<ref name= Handbook1/> || No
|-
| 5 || ] ||''Dromaius novaehollandiae''|| 33 (73)<ref name= Davies/><ref name = "CRC">''CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses'' by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (1992), {{ISBN|978-0-8493-4258-5}}.</ref> || 70 (150){{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} || 153 (5)<ref name= Davies/> || No
|-
| 6 || ] ||''Aptenodytes forsteri''|| 31.5 (69)<ref name= Handbook1/><ref name= Penguin>Marion, Remi, ''Penguins: A Worldwide Guide''. Sterling Publishing Co. (1999), {{ISBN|0-8069-4232-0}}</ref> || 46 (100)<ref name= Handbook1/> || 114 (3.7)<ref name= Handbook1/> || No
|-
| 7 || ] ||''Rhea americana''|| 23 (51)<ref name = "CRC"/> || 40 (88)<ref name= Handbook1/> || 134 (4.4)<ref name= Davies/> || No
|-
| 8 || ] ||''Meleagris gallopavo''|| 13.5 (29.8) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-big-turkeys-were-then-and-now-2015-11|title=The turkeys we eat today weigh twice as much as they did a few decades ago|first=Tanya Lewis, Lydia|last=Ramsey|website=Business Insider}}</ref> || 39 (86)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://extension.illinois.edu/turkey/turkey_facts.cfm|title=Turkey Facts – Turkey for Holidays – University of Illinois Extension|website=extension.illinois.edu}}</ref>|| 100 – 124.9 (3.3 – 4.1){{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} || Yes
|-
| 9 || ] ||''Casuarius bennetti''|| 19.7 (43)<ref name= Davies/> || 34 (75)<ref name= Davies/> || 105 (3.4){{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} || No
|-
| 10 || ] ||''Rhea pennata''|| 19.6 (43)<ref name= Davies/> || 28.6 (63)<ref name= Davies/> || 96 (3.2)<ref name= Handbook1/> || No
|-
| 11 || ] ||''Cygnus olor''|| 11.87 (26.2) || 23 (51) || 100–130 (3.3 – 4.3)<ref name="Hoyo, J 1996"/> || Yes
|-
| 12 || ] ||''Otis tarda''|| 10.6 (23.4){{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} || 21 (46)<ref name = "Wood"/> || 115 (3.8){{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} || Yes
|-
| 13 || ] ||''Aptenodytes patagonicus''|| 13.6 (30)<ref name= Handbook1/><ref name = Penguin/> || 20 (44)<ref>. Authorstream.com (2009-03-31)</ref> || 92 (3){{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} || No
|-
| 14 || ] ||''Ardeotis kori''|| 11.4 (25.1)<ref name= Handbook1/> || 20 (44.1){{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} || 150 (5)<ref name= Handbook1/> || Yes
|-
| 15 || ] ||''Cygnus buccinator''|| 11.6 (25.1) || 17.2 (38) || 138 – 165 (4.5 – 5.4) || Yes
|-
| 16 || ] ||''Diomedea exulans''|| 11.9 (24) || 16.1 (38)<ref>Wood, Gerald (1983). The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats. {{ISBN|978-0-85112-235-9}}.</ref> || 107 – 135 (3.5 – 4.4) || Yes
|-
| 17 || ] ||''Cygnus cygnus''|| 11.4 (25) || 15.5 (32) || 140 – 165 (4.5 – 5.4) || Yes
|-
| 18 || ] ||''Pelecanus crispus''|| 11.5 (25) || 15 (33.1){{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} || 183 (6){{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} || Yes
|-
| 19 || ] ||''Vultur gryphus''|| 11.3 (25)<ref name="Hoyo, J 1996">del Hoyo, J; Elliot, A; Sargatal, J (1996). Handbook of the Birds of the World 3. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. {{ISBN|84-87334-20-2}}.</ref> || 14.9 (33)<ref name="Hoyo, J 1996"/> || 100 – 130 (3.3 – 4.3)<ref name="Hoyo, J 1996"/> || Yes
|}

====Amphibians (''Amphibia'')====
], the largest living ].]]
The largest living ] is the ] (''Andrias sligoi''). Formerly considered ] with the ] (''A. davidianus''), the maximum size of this nearly human-sized river-dweller is {{convert|64|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and almost {{convert|1.83|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> Before ]s became the dominant ]s, several giant amphibian proto-tetrapods existed and were certainly the dominant animals in their ecosystems. The largest known was the ]-like '']'', which reached a length of {{convert|9|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Cox, C. B. |author2=Hutchinson, P. |year=1991 |title=Fishes and amphibians from the Late Permian Pedrado Fogo Formation of northern Brazil |journal=Palaeontology |volume=34 |pages=561–573 |url=http://palaeontology.palass-pubs.org/pdf/Vol%2034/Pages%20561-573.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324051815/http://palaeontology.palass-pubs.org/pdf/Vol%2034/Pages%20561-573.pdf |archive-date=March 24, 2012 }}</ref>

;Frogs (])
] ranks as the largest toad in the world]]
:The largest member of the largest order of ]s is the African ] (''Conraua goliath''). The maximum size this species is verified to attain is a weight of {{convert|3.8|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and a snout-to-vent length of {{convert|39|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> The largest of the ]s, the ] (''Rhinella marina''), is also the second largest member of the frog order. This infamous, often invasive species can grow to maximum mass of {{convert|2.65|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and measure a maximum of {{convert|33|cm|in|abbr=on}} from snout-to-vent.<ref name = "Wood"/> Rivaling the previous two species, the ] (''Pyxicephalus adspersus'') can range up to a weight of {{convert|2|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and {{convert|25.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} from snout to vent.<ref>. Honoluluzoo.org {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903062023/http://www.honoluluzoo.org/african_bullfrog.htm |date=September 3, 2011 }}</ref> Another large frog is the largest frog in ], the ], which can reach weights of up to {{convert|0.8|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and snout-to-vent-length (SVL) of {{convert|20|cm|in|abbr=on}}. However, the toad '']'', found in fossil from the ] era in what is now Madagascar, could grow to be {{convert|41|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and weigh up to {{convert|4.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, making it the largest frog ever known.<ref>. News.nationalgeographic.com (2010-10-28)</ref> The largest ] is the Australasian ] (''Litoria infrafrenata''), the females of which can reach a length of {{convert|14|cm|in|abbr=on}} from snout to vent and can weigh up to {{convert|115|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref>. The Animal Files</ref> The family Leptodactylidae, one of the most diverse anuran families, also has some very large members. The largest is the ] (''Ceratophrys cornuta''), which can reach {{convert|20|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length from snout to vent and weigh up to {{convert|0.48|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Bullafina.com (2008-06-11) {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> While not quite as large as ''Ceratophrys cornuta'', '']'' is often heavier; it can reach {{convert|18.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and weigh {{convert|0.60|kg|lb|abbr=off}}. The largest ] is the Colombian ] (''Phyllobates terribilis''), which can attain a length of {{convert|6|cm|in|abbr=on}} and nearly {{convert|28.3|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Animals.nationalgeographic.com</ref> Most frogs are classified under the suborder ], although nearly 200 species are part of the suborder ], or ancient frogs. The largest of these are the little-known '']'' or Karin Hills frogs, of South Asia, which can grow to a maximum snout-to-vent length of {{convert|17|cm|in|abbr=on}} and a maximum weight of {{convert|0.54|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>Zweifel, Richard G. (1998). Cogger, H. G. and Zweifel, R. G.. ed. ''Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians''. San Diego: Academic Press. {{ISBN|0-12-178560-2}}.</ref>
;Caecilians (])
:The largest of the worm-like ] is the Colombian Thompson's caecilian ('']''), which reaches a length of {{convert|1.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}, a width of about {{convert|4.6|cm|in|abbr=on}} and can weigh up to about {{convert|1|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/>
;Salamanders (])
:Besides the previously mentioned Chinese and South China giant salamanders, the closely related ] (''Andrias japonicus'') is also sometimes cited as the largest living amphibian, but salamanders of a greater size than {{convert|1.53|m|ft|abbr=on}} and {{convert|36|kg|lb|abbr=on}} have never been verified for this species. Another giant of the amphibian world is the North American ] (''Cryptobranchus alleganiensis''), which can measure up to {{convert|0.76|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The recently described ] of the southeastern United States rivals the hellbender in size, although it is more lean in build.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/swampy-thing-the-giant-new-salamander-species-discovered-in-florida-and-alabama/|title=Swampy Thing: The Giant New Salamander Species Discovered in Florida and Alabama|last=Platt|first=John R.|website=Scientific American Blog Network|language=en|access-date=2018-12-19}}</ref> The largest of the newts is the ] (''Pleurodeles waltl''), which can grow up to {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>. Buzzle.com</ref>

====Fish====
{{main|List of largest fish}}

===Invertebrates===

====Sponges (''Porifera'')====
]'' is indeed an animal]]
The largest known species of ] is the giant barrel sponge, '']''. These massively built sponges can reach {{convert|8|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} in height and can be about the same thickness at the thickest part of the "body".<ref>. Care2.com (2009-03-04)</ref> Some of these creatures have been estimated to be over 2,400 years of age. <ref>. Encyclopedia of Life</ref>
;Calcareous sponges (])
:The largest known of these small, inconspicuous sponges is probably the species '']'', attaining a height of {{convert|30|cm|ft|abbr=on}}. Most ]s do not exceed {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
;Hexactinellid sponges (])
:A relatively common species, '']'', can reach a height of {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}} once they are of a very old age.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Yahel | first1 = G. | last2 = Eerkes-Medrano | first2 = D. I. | last3 = Leys | first3 = S. P. | title = Size independent selective filtration of ultraplankton by hexactinellid glass sponges | doi = 10.3354/ame045181 | journal = Aquatic Microbial Ecology | volume = 45 | pages = 181–194 | year = 2006 | doi-access = free }}</ref> This is the maximum size recorded for a hexactinellid sponge.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

====Cnidarians (''Cnidaria'')====
], one of the longest extant animals]]
The ] (''Cyanea capillata'') is the largest ]n species, of the class ]. The largest known specimen of this giant, found washed up on the shore of ] in 1870,<ref>. waterford-today.ie</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jellyfishfacts.net/mane-jellyfish.html|title=Lion's Mane Jellyfish|website=jellyfishfacts.net|access-date=14 June 2017}}</ref> had a bell diameter of {{convert|2.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}, a weight of {{convert|150|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. The ]s of this specimens were as long as {{convert|37|m|ft|abbr=on}} and were projected to have a tentacular spread of about {{convert|75|m|ft|abbr=on}} making it one of the longest extant animals.<ref name = "Wood"/>

;Corals and sea anemones (])
:The largest individual species are the ]s of the genus '']'', which can attain a mouth disc diameter of {{convert|60|cm|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Northrup.org</ref> Longer, but much less massive overall, are the anemones of the genus '']'', at up to {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall.<ref>. Seawater.no</ref> Communities of ] can be truly massive, a single colony of the genus '']'' can be over {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}}, but the actual individual organisms are quite small.
;Hydrozoans (])
:The colonial ] '']'' can attain lengths of {{convert|40|–|50|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Lifesci.ucsb.edu</ref> The ]'s (''Physalia physalis'') tentacles can attain a length of up to {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Animals.nationalgeographic.com</ref> On April 6, 2020 the ] announced the discovery of a giant '']'' siphonophore in submarine canyons near ], measuring 15&nbsp;m (49&nbsp;ft) diameter with a ring approximately 47&nbsp;m (154&nbsp;ft) long, claiming it was possibly the largest siphonophore ever recorded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://interestingengineering.com/longest-giant-stringy-sea-creature-ever-recorded-looks-like-it-belongs-in-outer-space|title=Longest Giant Stringy Sea Creature Ever Recorded Looks like It Belongs in Outer Space|date=2020-04-09|website=interestingengineering.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref><ref name="EA-20200409">{{cite news |author=] |title=New species discovered during exploration of abyssal deep sea canyons off Ningaloo |url=https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/soi-nsd040920.php |date=9 April 2020 |work=] |access-date=12 April 2020 }}</ref>

====Flatworms (''Platyhelminthes'')====
{{further|Platyhelminthes}}
;Monogenean flatworms (])
:The largest known members of this group of very small parasites are among the genus of ], '']'', reaching a length of {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.actaparasitologica.pan.pl/archive/PDF/Kearn.pdf|title=Neoentobdella gen. nov for species of Entobdella Blainville in Lamarck, 1818 (Monogenea, Capsalidae, Entobdellinae) from stingray hosts, with descriptions of two new species|journal=Acta Parasitologica|year= 2005|volume=50|issue=1|pages=32–48}}</ref>
;Flukes (])
:The largest known species of ] is '']'', which most often attacks ]s and ]. One of these flukes can be up to {{convert|7.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} thick.<ref>. Dpd.cdc.gov {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927063213/http://dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/html/Fasciolopsiasis.htm |date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref>
;Tapeworms (])
:The largest known species of ] is the whale tapeworm, '']'', which can grow to over {{convert|30|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="time-1957">. ] (1957-04-08)</ref><ref name="hargis">Hargis, William J. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015132455/http://spo.nwr.noaa.gov/tr25opt.pdf |date=2011-10-15 }}. ] (1985)</ref>

====Roundworms (Nematoda)====
The largest ], '']'',<ref>Gubanov N. M. Giant nematode from the placenta of ]; Placentonema gigantissima nov. gen., nov. sp. Dokl Akad Nauk SSSR. (1951) 21;77(6):1123-5. .</ref> is a ] found in the ]s of ]s which can reach up to {{convert|9|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>. Nhc.ed.ac.uk</ref>

====Segmented worms (Annelida)====
The largest of the ]s (including earthworms, leeches, and polychaetes) is the ] (''Microchaetus rappi''). Although it averages about {{convert|1.36|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length, this huge worm can reach a length of as much as {{convert|6.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} and can weigh over {{convert|1.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Worm Digest (2005-10-02) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219141951/http://www.wormdigest.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=102&Itemid=2 |date=February 19, 2009 }}</ref> Only the ], ''Megascolides australis'', and a few giant ]s, including the notorious '']'', reach nearly comparable sizes, reaching {{convert|4|and|3.6|m|ft|abbr=on}}, respectively.<ref name = "Wood"/>

====Echinoderms (Echinodermata)====
]'' is the longest known echinoderm.]]
The largest species of ] in terms of bulk is probably the ] species '']'', of the class ], which reaches a weight of over {{convert|6|kg|lb|abbr=on}},<ref name="Mah Largest">{{cite web |url=http://echinoblog.blogspot.fr/2008/07/what-are-worlds-largest-starfish.html |title=What Are the World's LARGEST Starfish? |last1=Mah |first1=Christopher |date= 2008-07-27|website=The Echinoblog }}</ref> but it might be beaten by some giant sea cucumbers such as '']''. However, at a maximum span of {{convert|63|cm|in|abbr=on}}, ''Thromidia gigas'' is quite a bit shorter than some other echinoderms.<ref name = "Wood"/> The longest echinoderm known is the conspicuous sea cucumber '']'', with a slender body that can extend up to {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}}. In comparison, the biggest sea star is the brisingid sea star '']'', reaching a span of {{convert|1.4|m|ft|abbr=on}}, despite being quite slender.<ref name = "Wood"/> '']'' is another giant echinoderm and can measure up to {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}} across and weigh {{convert|5.1|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/>

;Crinoids (])
:The largest species of ] is the unstalked feather-star '']'', reaching a total width of {{convert|78|cm|in|abbr=on}} and an individual arm length of {{convert|35|cm|in|abbr=on}}. A width of {{convert|91.4|cm|in|abbr=on}} was claimed for one unstalked feather-star but is not confirmed.<ref name = "Wood"/> The genus '']'' has a stalk span of {{convert|61|cm|in|abbr=on}} but, due to its bulk and multiple arms, it is heavier than '']''.<ref name = "Wood"/> In the past, ] grew much larger, and stalk lengths up to {{convert|40|m|ft|abbr=on}} have been found in the fossil record.<ref>Ponsonby, David and Dussart, George ''The Anatomy of the Sea'', Raincoast Books (2005) {{ISBN|0-8118-4633-4}} p. 129</ref>
;Sea urchins and allies (])
:The largest ] is the species '']'' from the deep northwest Pacific Ocean, which can reach a ] width of about {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=echino>{{cite book|title=Echinoderms – Starfish, Urchins, and Other Echinoderms|author=Gilpin, D.|year=2006|page=|isbn=978-0-7565-1611-6|url=https://archive.org/details/starfishurchinso0000gilp/page/41}}</ref> Another deep sea species '']'' is only slightly smaller.<ref name=echino/> The largest species found along the North America coast is the Pacific ] (''Mesocentrotus franciscanus'') where the shell can reach {{convert|19|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Strongylocentrotus franciscanus|url=http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Strongylocentrotus_franciscanus/|publisher=Animal Diversity Web|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> If the spines enter into count, the biggest species may be a ] like '']'', with a test up to {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} only, but its spines can reach up to {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>{{cite web|title=Long-spined black sea urchin|url=http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/echinodermata/echinoidea/urchin/diadema.htm|publisher=Wild Singapore|access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
;Sea cucumbers (])
:The bulkiest species of ] are '']'' and '']'', weighing several pounds, being about {{convert|21|cm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter, and reaching a length of {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}} when fully extended. '']'' can reach an extended length of {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}}, but is extremely slender (3-5cm) and weigh much less than Stichopodids.<ref name = "Wood"/>
;Brittle stars (])
:The largest known specimen of ] is the basket star ''] agassizii''. This species can grow to have a span of {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> Sometimes, ''Gorgonocephalus stimpsoni'' is considered the largest but the maximum this species is can measure {{convert|70|cm|in|abbr=on}} and a disk diameter of about {{convert|14.3|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Outside from ], the biggest ophiurid brittle star may be '']'' (6–7 inches).<ref name="Mah brittle">{{cite web |url=http://echinoblog.blogspot.fr/2009/04/the-worlds-biggest-brittle-stars.html |title=The World's BIGGEST Brittle Stars! |last1=Mah |first1=Christopher |date= 2009-04-27|website=The Echinoblog }}</ref>
;Sea stars (])
:The heaviest sea star is '']'' from the ], which can surpass {{convert|6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in weight, but only has a diameter of about {{convert|65|cm|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Mah Largest"/><ref name=echino/> Despite its relatively small disk and weight, the long slender arms of '']'' from the ] makes it the sea star with the largest diameter at about {{convert|4.5|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref name=echino/> '']'' may also become wider than {{convert|1|m|in|abbr=on}} in some cases, with stout arms.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

====Ribbon worms (Nemertea)====
The largest ] is the ], ''Lineus longissimus''. A specimen found washed ashore on a beach in ], ] in 1864 was recorded at a length of {{convert|55|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>] 1995. ''The Guinness Book of Animal Records''. Guinness Publishing. p. 232.</ref>

====Mollusks (Mollusca)====
].]]
Both the largest mollusks and the largest of all ]s (in terms of mass) are the largest squids. The ] (''Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni'') is projected to be the largest invertebrate.<ref>. News.nationalgeographic.com (2010-10-28)</ref> Current estimates put its maximum size at {{convert|12|to|14|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|750|kg|lb|abbr=on}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unmuseum.org/colossalsquid.htm|title=The UnMuseum – The Colossal Squid|website=www.unmuseum.org|access-date=14 June 2017}}</ref> based on analysis of smaller specimens. In 2007, authorities in New Zealand announced the capture of the largest known colossal squid specimen. It was initially thought to be {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}} and {{convert|450|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. It was later measured at {{convert|4.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|495|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in weight. The mantle was {{convert|2.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} long when measured.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10430435">Kathy Marks. . ] (2007-03-23)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://squid.tepapa.govt.nz/the-squid-files/article/how-big-is-the-colossal-squid|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217062907/http://squid.tepapa.govt.nz/the-squid-files/article/how-big-is-the-colossal-squid|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-12-17|website=Te papa|title=How big is the colossal squid?}}</ref>

The ] (''Architeuthis dux'') was previously thought to be the largest squid, and while it is less massive and has a smaller mantle than the colossal squid, it may exceed the colossal squid in overall length including tentacles. One giant squid specimen that washed ashore in 1878 in ] reportedly measured {{convert|16.8|m|ft|abbr=on}} in total length (from the tip of the mantle to the end of the long tentacles), head and body length {{convert|6.1|m|ft|abbr=on}}, {{convert|4.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} in circumference at the thickest part of mantle, and weighed about {{convert|900|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. This specimen is still often cited as the largest invertebrate that has ever been examined.<ref name = "Wood"/><ref>. Marinebio.org</ref><ref>. Animals.nationalgeographic.com (2006-12-04)</ref> However, no animals approaching this size have been scientifically documented and, according to giant squid expert ], such lengths were likely achieved by greatly stretching the two tentacles like elastic bands.<ref name=OShea>O'Shea, S. 2003. The Octopus News Magazine Online.</ref>

;Aplacophorans (Aplacophora)
:The largest known of these worm-like, shell-less ]s are represented in the genus '']'', which can reach {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} long. Most aplacophorans are less than {{convert|5|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Salvini-Plawen | first1 = L. V. | title = Systematic Revision of the Epimeniidae (Mollusca: Solenogastres) | doi = 10.1093/mollus/63.2.131 | journal = Journal of Molluscan Studies | volume = 63 | issue = 2 | pages = 131–155 | year = 1997 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
;Chitons (Polyplacophora)
:The largest of the ]s is the ], ''Cryptochiton stelleri'', which can reach a length of {{convert|33|cm|in|abbr=on}} and weigh over {{convert|2|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>. alaska.gov</ref>
], the largest bivalve]]
;Bivalves (Bivalvia)
:The largest of the ] ]s is the ], ''Tridacna gigas''. Although even larger sizes have been reported for this passive animal, the top verified size was for a specimen from the ]. This creature weighed {{convert|270|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, had an axial length of {{convert|1.14|m|ft|abbr=on}} and depth of {{convert|0.75|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> The largest bivalve ever was '']'', a ] giant that reached an axial length of up to 3&nbsp;m (nearly 10&nbsp;ft).<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Kauffman | first1 = E. G. | last2 = Harries | first2 = P. J. | last3 = Meyer | first3 = C. | last4 = Villamil | first4 = T. | last5 = Arango | first5 = C. | last6 = Jaecks | first6 = G. | title = Paleoecology of Giant Inoceramidae (Platyceramus) on a Santonian (Cretaceous) Seafloor in Colorado | journal = Journal of Paleontology | volume = 81 | pages = 64–81 | year = 2007 | doi = 10.1666/0022-3360(2007)812.0.CO;2 }}</ref>
;Gastropods (])
:The "largest" of this most diverse and successful ] class of ]s and ]s can be defined in various ways.
:The living gastropod species that has the largest (longest) shell is '']'' with a maximum shell length of {{convert|0.91|m|ft|abbr=on}}, a weight of {{convert|18|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and a width of {{convert|96|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>John D. Taylor and Emily A. Glover. , in F. E. Wells, D. I. Walker and D. S. Jones (eds.) 2003. The Marine Flora and Fauna of Dampier, Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth.</ref><ref>. largestfastestsmartest.co.uk</ref> Another giant species is '']'', which in a 1974 specimen from Western Australia, measured {{convert|0.71|m|ft|abbr=on}} long, had a maximum girth of {{convert|0.97|m|ft|abbr=on}} and weighed {{convert|16|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/>
:The largest shell-less gastropod is the giant black ] ('']'') at {{convert|0.99|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length and almost {{convert|14|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in weight.
:The largest of the land snails is the ] (''Achatina achatina'') at up to {{convert|1|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and {{convert|35|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.
;Cephalopods (])
:(See ].) While generally much smaller than the giant '']'' and '']'', the largest of the octopuses, the ] (''Enteroctopus dofleini''), can grow to be very large. The largest confirmed weight of a giant octopus is {{convert|74|kg|lb|abbr=on}},<ref>Cosgrove, J.A. 1987. Aspects of the Natural History of ''Octopus dofleini'', the Giant Pacific Octopus. M.Sc. Thesis. Department of Biology, University of Victoria (Canada).</ref> with a {{convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} arm span (with the tentacles fully extended) and a head-to-tentacle-tip length of {{convert|3.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>.</ref> Specimens have been reported up to {{convert|125|kg|lb|abbr=on}} but are unverified. A weight of 10 – 50kg is a much more common size.<ref name = "Wood"/>

====Velvet worms (Onychophora)====
Solórzano's velvet worm ('']'') is the largest velvet worm known. An adult female was recorded to have a body length of 22&nbsp;cm (approximately 8.7 in).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Morera-Brenes|first1=B.|last2=Monge-Nájera|first2=J.|title=A new giant species of placented worm and the mechanism by which onychophorans weave their nets (Onychophora: Peripatidae)|journal=Revista de Biología Tropical|date=2010|volume=58|issue=4|pages=1127–1142|doi=10.15517/rbt.v58i4.5398|pmid=21246983|arxiv=1511.00983|s2cid=6456946}}</ref>

====Arthropods (Arthropoda)====
].]]
The largest arthropod known to have existed is the ] (sea scorpion) '']'', reaching up to {{convert|2.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} in body length, followed by the millipede relative '']'' at around {{convert|2.1|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Tetlie | first1 = O. E. | last2 = Poschmann | first2 = M. | last3 = Braddy | first3 = S. J. | doi = 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0491 | title = Giant claw reveals the largest ever arthropod | journal = Biology Letters | volume = 4 | issue = 1 | pages = 106–109 | year = 2008 | pmid = 18029297| pmc =2412931 }}</ref> Among living arthropods, the ] (''Macrocheira kaempferi'') is the largest in overall size, the record specimen, caught in 1921, had an extended arm span of {{convert|3.8|m|ft|abbr=on}} and weighed about {{convert|19|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> The heaviest is the ] (''Homarus americanus''), the largest verified specimen, caught in 1977 off of ] weighed {{convert|20|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and its body length was {{convert|1.1|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> The largest land arthropod and the largest land invertebrate is the ] (''Birgus latro''), up to {{convert|40|cm|ft|abbr=on}} long and weighing up to {{convert|4|kg|lb|abbr=on}} on average. Its legs may span {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/>

=====Arachnids (Arachnida)=====
Both spiders and scorpions include contenders for the largest arachnids.
]]]
;Spiders (])
:The largest species of arachnid by length is probably the ] (''Heteropoda maxima'') of Laos, which in 2008 replaced the ] (''Theraphosa blondi'') of northern South America as the largest known spider by leg-span.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/greatermekong/discovering_the_greater_mekong/species/new_species/first_contact/|title=First Contact|website=panda.org|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224124106/http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/greatermekong/discovering_the_greater_mekong/species/new_species/first_contact/|archive-date=2017-02-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> However the most massive arachnids, of comparable dimensions and possibly even greater mass, are the ] (''Grammostola pulchripes''), and the ] (''Lasiodora parahybana''). The huntsman spider may span up to {{convert|29|cm|in|abbr=on}} across the legs, while in the ] tarantulas like ''Theraphosa'' can range up to {{convert|26|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> In ''Grammostola'', ''Theraphosa'' and ''Lasiodora'', the weight is projected to be up to at least {{convert|150|g|oz|abbr=on}} and body length is up to {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Library.thinkquest.org</ref>
;Scorpions (])
:The largest of the ]s is the species '']'' of the Indian subcontinent, which have a maximum length of {{convert|29.2|cm|in|abbr=on}} and weigh around {{convert|60|g|oz|abbr=on}}. Another extremely large scorpion is the African ] (''Pandinus imperator''), which can weigh {{convert|57|g|oz|abbr=on}} but is not known to exceed a length of {{convert|23|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> However, they were dwarfed by '']'', a giant extinct species of scorpion from Scotland, at an estimated length of {{convert|0.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} and weight of {{convert|15|kg|lb|abbr=on}},<ref>. Animalesprehistoricos.com (August 2009)</ref>{{unreliable source?|date=January 2016}} and the aquatic '']'', at up to {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}} and a similar weight.<ref>. SDNHM {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203122827/http://www.sdnhm.org/science/field-notes/field-notes-archive/ |date=February 3, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|jstor=1302906|title=Brontoscorpio anglicus: A Gigantic Lower Paleozoic Scorpion from Central England| author= Erik N. Kjellesvig-Waering|journal=Journal of Paleontology|year= 1972|volume=46|issue=1|pages=39–42}}</ref>
;Pseudoscorpions (])
: The largest pseudoscorpion is '']'', from Ascension island, which can be {{convert|12|mm|in|abbr=on}} long.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Jan Beccaloni |year=2009 |title=Arachnids |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-520-26140-2 |chapter=Pseudoscorpiones |page=271}}</ref>

=====Crustaceans (Crustacea)=====
The largest crustaceans are crab ] (''''Pseudocarcinus gigas'') {{convert|13|kg}} and a ] width of up to {{convert|46|cm}}. It is the only species in the genus '''''Pseudocarcinus'''''.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=] |year=2008 |volume=17 |pages=1–286 |title=Systema Brachyurorum: Part I. An annotated checklist of extant Brachyuran crabs of the world |author1=P. K. L. Ng |author2=D. Guinot |author3=P. J. F. Davie |url=http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s17/s17rbz.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606061453/http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/rbz/biblio/s17/s17rbz.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-06 }}</ref> Males reach more than twice the size of females.<ref name=CurrieWard>{{cite book |author1=D. R. Currie |author2=T. M. Ward |year=2009 |url=http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/109522/No_345_SA_Giant_Crab_Fishery_Assessment_Report_2007_08Final_Report_published_alias.pdf |title=South Australian Giant Crab (''Pseudocarcinus gigas'') Fishery |id=Fishery Assessment Report for PIRSA |publisher=] |access-date=9 December 2013}}</ref> It has a white shell with claws that are splashed in red. The females' shells change colour when they are producing eggs. At a length of up to {{convert|40|cm}}, '']'' is the largest mantis shrimp in the world.<ref name="Roy">{{cite web |url=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/species.php?name=l_maculata |author=Roy Caldwell |publisher=] |title=Species: ''Lysiosquillina maculata'' |work=Roy's List of Stomatopods for the Aquarium |access-date=February 14, 2009}}</ref> ''L. maculata'' may be distinguished from its ] '']'' by the greater number of teeth on the last segment of its ] ], and by the colouration of the ]al ], the distal half of which is dark in ''L. maculata'' but not in ''L. sulcata''.<ref name="smdec">{{cite web |url=http://smdec.com/keyfao/STOMATOPODS/data/60102.pdf |work=The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific |pages=835–837 |title=Lysiosquillidae }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> There is a small ]al ] for this species.<ref name="smdec"/> ] (''Astacopsis gouldi'') {{convert|5|kg}} in weight and over {{convert|80|cm}} long have been known in the past, but now, even individuals over {{convert|2|kg}} are rare.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/lobster.html |title=Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Lobster (''Astacopsis gouldi'') |publisher=] |date=February 9, 2007 |access-date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> The species is only found in Tasmanian rivers flowing north into the ] below {{convert|400|m}} ], and is listed as an ] on the ].<ref>{{Cite iucn | author = T. Walsh | author2 = N. Doran |name-list-style=amp | title = ''Astacopsis gouldi'' | volume = 2010 | page = e.T2190A9337732 | date = 2010 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T2190A9337732.en }}</ref>

;Branchiopods (])
:The largest of these primarily freshwater ]s is probably '']'', which can reach a length {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Britannica Online Encyclopaedia</ref>
;Barnacles and allies (])
:The largest species is '']'', a ] and ] specialising in parasitising marine mammals. The maximum size attained is 32&nbsp;cm (about 13&nbsp;in).<ref>. Animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu</ref> The largest of the ]s is the ], ''Balanus nubilis'', reaching {{convert|7|cm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter and {{convert|12.7|cm|in|abbr=on}} high.<ref>. Oregon Coast Aquarium {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009022416/http://aquarium.org/exhibits/sandy-shores/animals/giant-acorn-barnacle |date=October 9, 2011 }}</ref>
;Ostracods (])
:The largest living representative of these small and little-known but numerous ]s is the species ''Gigantocypris australis'' females of which reaching a maximum length of {{convert|3|cm|in|abbr=on}}.
;Amphipods, isopods, and allies (])]]]
:The largest species is the ] (''Bathynomus pergiganteus''), which can reach a length of 45&nbsp;cm (18&nbsp;]es) and a weight of 1.7&nbsp;kg (3.7&nbsp;]).<ref>Knight, J.D. . Seasky.org</ref>
;Remipedes (])
:The largest of these cave-dwelling ]s is the species ''Godzillius robustus'', at up to {{convert|4.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Crustacea.net (2002-10-02)</ref>

=====Horseshoe crabs (Xiphosura)=====
The four modern ]s are of roughly the same sizes, with females measuring up to {{convert|60|cm|ft|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|5|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in weight.<ref>. Marinebio.org</ref>

=====Sea spiders (Pycnogonida)=====
The largest of the ]s is the deep-sea species ''Colossendeis colossea'', attaining a leg span of nearly {{convert|60|cm|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>. work=Encyclopedia.com (2004-10-22)</ref>

=====Trilobites (Trilobita)=====
Some of these extinct marine arthropods exceeded {{convert|60|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length. A nearly complete specimen of ''] rex'' from ] attained a length over {{convert|70|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and an ''] forteyi'' from Portugal was almost as long. Fragments of trilobites suggest even larger record sizes. An isolated pygidium of ''Hungioides bohemicus'' implies that the full animal was {{convert|90|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.<ref>{{Cite journal | journal = Geology | title = Giant trilobites and trilobite clusters from the Ordovician of Portugal | first5 = M. | volume = 37 | pages = 443–446 | doi = 10.1130/G25513A.1 | year = 2009 | last1 = Gutierrez-Marco | last5 = Valerio | last2 = Sa | first1 = J. C. | first2 = A. A. | last3 = Garcia-Bellido | last4 = Rabano | first3 = D. C. | first4 = I. | issue = 5| bibcode = 2009Geo....37..443G }}</ref><ref>. Dsc.discovery.com (2009-05-07). {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510084620/http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/05/07/trilobites-fossil.html |date=May 10, 2009 }}</ref>

=====Myriapods (Myriapoda)=====
;Centipedes (])
]'']]
:The biggest of the ]s is '']'' of the neotropics, reaching a length of {{convert|33|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Arachnoboards.com (2003-08-13)</ref>
;Millipedes (])
:Two species of ] both reach a very large size: '']'' of East Africa and ''Scaphistostreptus seychellarum'', endemic to the Seychelles islands. Both of these species can slightly exceed a length of {{convert|28|cm|in|abbr=on}} and measure over {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter.<ref name = "Wood"/> The largest ever known was the '']'', a gigantic prehistoric specimen that reached nearly {{convert|189|cm|in|abbr=on}}.
;Symphylans (])
:The largest known ]n is '']'', originating in Tasmanian caves, which can reach lengths from {{convert|25|mm|in|abbr=on}} up to {{convert|30|mm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=MyrEncylopedia>{{cite book|last=Minelli|first=Alessandro|title=Encyclopedia of Biodiversity|date=2001|isbn=978-0122268656|pages=291–303|chapter-url=http://enviro.doe.gov.my/lib/digital/1385476273-3-s2.0-B0122268652002042-main.pdf|author2=Sergei I. Golovatch|editor=Simon A. Levin|chapter=Myriapods|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221184104/http://enviro.doe.gov.my/lib/digital/1385476273-3-s2.0-B0122268652002042-main.pdf|archive-date=2014-02-21}}</ref>

=====Insects (Insecta)=====
]]]
]s, a ] of ]a, are easily the most numerous class of organisms, with over one million identified species, and probably many undescribed species. The heaviest insect is almost certainly a species of ], which incidentally is the most species-rich order of organisms. Although heavyweight ]s ('']'') are known, the ]s of Central and South America, ('']'') and ('']''), the ] (''Titanus giganteus'') of the neotropical rainforest or the ]s, ('']'') and ('']''), of Africa's rainforest are thought to reach a higher weight.<ref name="weta">{{cite web |url=http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/ufbir/chapters/chapter_30.shtml |title=Largest |access-date=2009-06-10 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718140051/http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/ufbir/chapters/chapter_30.shtml |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}(2011). source: The University of Florida Book of Insect Records {{cite web |url=http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/ufbir/chapters/chapter_30.shtml |title=Largest |access-date=2009-06-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820232404/http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/ufbir/chapters/chapter_30.shtml |archive-date=August 20, 2014 }}</ref> The most frequently crowned are the Goliath beetles, the top known size of which is at least {{convert|100|g|oz|abbr=on}} and {{convert|11.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> The elephant beetles and titan beetle can reach greater lengths than the Goliath, at up to {{convert|13.1|and|15.2|cm|in|abbr=on}}, respectively, but this is in part thanks to their rather large horns. The Goliath beetle's wingspan can range up to {{convert|25|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/>

Some moths and butterflies have much larger areas than the heaviest beetles, but weigh a fraction as much.

The longest insects are the stick insects, see below.

Representatives of the extinct dragonfly-like ] ] such as the ] '']'' of what is now France and the ] '']'' of what is now North America are the largest ] species yet known to have existed. These creatures had a wingspan of some {{convert|75|cm|in|abbr=on}} and a mass of over {{convert|1|lb|g}}, making them about the size of a ].<ref name = "Wood"/>

;Cockroaches and termites (])
]]]
:The largest ] by body mass is the Australian ] (''Macropanesthia rhinoceros''), also known as the rhinoceros cockroach. This species can attain a length of {{convert|8.3|cm|in|abbr=on}} and a weight of {{convert|36|g|oz|abbr=on}}. It does not have wings.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218184323/http://www.abc.net.au/creaturefeatures/facts/cockroach.htm |date=2014-02-18 }}. Abc.net.au</ref> The Brazilian giant cockroach ('']'') of the neotropics reaches greater sizes of up to 10 cm in length and 15 cm in wingspan, although it is not as massive and heavy as the burrowing species. The termites, traditionally classified in their own order (]), have recently been re-considered to belong in ]. The largest of the ]s is the African species '']''. The queen of this species can attain a length of {{convert|14|cm|in|abbr=on}} and breadth of {{convert|5.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} across the abdomen; other adults, on the other hand, are about a third of the size.<ref name = "Wood"/>
;Beetles (])
:The ]s are the largest order of organisms on earth, with about 400,000 species so far identified. The most massive species are the '']'', '']'' and '']'' beetles already mentioned. Another fairly large species is the ] (''Dynastes hercules'') of the neotropic rainforest with a maximum overall length of at least {{convert|19|cm|in|abbr=on}} including the extremely long pronotal horn. The weight in this species does not exceed {{convert|16.5|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> The longest overall beetle is a species of ], '']'', from New Guinea, which can attain a length of {{convert|26.6|cm|in|abbr=on}}, about {{convert|19|cm|in|abbr=on}} of which is comprised by the long antennae.<ref name = "Wood"/>
;Earwigs (])
:The largest of the ]s is the ] (''Labidura herculeana''), endemic to the island of its name, which is up to {{convert|8|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>. Earwig Research Centre. Earwigs-online.de</ref>
;True flies (])
]'', the largest fly]]
:The largest species of this order, which includes the common ], is the neotropical species '']'', which can reach a length of {{convert|6|cm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}} and a wingspan of {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> Species of ], the largest of which is '']'', can attain a length of {{convert|23|cm|in|abbr=on}} but are extremely slender and much lighter in weight than '']''.
;Mayflies (])
:The largest mayflies are members of the genus '']'' from ]. These insects can reach a length of {{convert|7|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. The BioFresh blog (2011-05-24)</ref>
;Icebugs (])
:The larges icebug species, '']'', {{convert|3|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, excluding ]s and ], and are fairly elongate, wingless insects. They are a uniform honey-yellow in colour and covered with very short hair. Unlike some other species of grylloblatid, ''G. campodeiformis'' has eyes which have roughly 70 ]. The head is fairly flat and rounded. The ] is elongate and over a third of the body length. The abdomen is composed of 10 segments and over half the body length. The legs are long and narrow (cursorial) with stout ] and long femora.<ref name="Walker 1914"/> Their ] are long ~{{convert|9|mm|in|abbr=on}} and thread-like. In adults the number of antennal subsegments is variable ranging from 24 to 27.<ref name="Slifer 1976">{{cite journal |title=Sense organs on antennal flagellum of Grylloblata campodeiformis E.M. Walker (Orthoptera: Grylloblattodea) |journal=Transactions of the American Entomological Society |date=1976 |last=Slifer |first=Eleanor H. |volume=87 |issue=9 & 10 |pages=275–276 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16344458#page/553/mode/1up |accessdate=2014-12-25 }}</ref>
;True bugs (])
] walking over land]]
:The largest species of this diverse order is usually listed as the ] in the genus '']'', with '']'' from the Neotropics being the absolutely largest.<ref>P. J. Perez-Goodwyn (2006). ''Taxonomic revision of the subfamily Lethocerinae Lauck & Menke (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae)". Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde.'' A (Biologie) 695: 1–71.</ref> They can surpass {{convert|12|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length,<ref name=Haddad>Haddad Jr; Schwartz; Schwartz; and Carvalho (2010). ''Bites Caused by Giant Water Bugs Belonging to Belostomatidae Family (Hemiptera, Heteroptera) in Humans: A Report of Seven Cases.'' Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 21: 130–133.</ref> with some suggesting that the maximum size is {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>] (26 May 2011). '''' Retrieved 27 August 2014.</ref> It is more slender and less heavy than most other insects of this size (principally the huge ]s). The largest ] is '']'', which has a head-body length of about {{convert|7|cm|in|abbr=on}} and a wingspan of {{convert|18|-|20|cm|in|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>Burton, Maurice; Burton, Robert (2002). ''International Wildlife Encyclopedia.'' 4, Chickaree – crabs (3rd ed.). Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation. p. 455. {{ISBN|0-7614-7270-3}}</ref><ref>Flindt, R. (2006). ''Amazing Numbers in Biology'', p. 10. {{ISBN|978-3540301462}}</ref> The cicadas of the genus '']'' can also grow to comparably large sizes. The largest type of ] is the giant oak aphid ('']''), which can reach an overall length of {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. The Telegraph (2007-08-08)</ref> The biggest species of ] is '']'', which can reach a length of {{convert|2.8|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au</ref>]'', the largest bee.]]
;Ants and allies (])
:The largest of the ]s, and the heaviest species of the order, are the females of the African '']'', reaching a length of {{convert|5.1|cm|in|abbr=on}} and a weight of {{convert|8.5|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> The ant that averages the largest for the mean size within the whole colony is a ponerine ant, '']'', from South America, averaging up to {{convert|3.3|cm|in|abbr=on}} from the mandibles to the end of abdomen.<ref name = "Wood"/> Workers of the ] ('']'') of Australia are up to {{convert|3.7|cm|in|abbr=on}} in total length, although much of this is from their extremely large mandibles.<ref name = "Wood"/> The largest of the ] species, also in the order ], is '']'' of Indonesia, the females of which can be {{convert|3.8|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, with a {{convert|6.3|cm|in|abbr=on}} wingspan. Nearly as large, the ]s can range up to {{convert|2.53|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> The largest wasp is probably the so-called ] species ''Pepsis pulszkyi'' of South America, at up to {{convert|6.8|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|11.6|cm|in|abbr=on}} wingspan, although many other '']'' approach a similar size. The giant scarab-hunting wasp '']'' may rival the largest tarantula hawks in weight and wingspan, though its body is not as long.<ref name = "Wood"/>
;Moths and allies (])].]]
:The ] (''Coscinocera hercules''), in the family ], is endemic to ] and northern ], and its wings have the largest documented surface area (300 square centimeters) of any living insect,<ref>Robert G. Foottit & Peter H. Adler. 2009. Insect Biodiversity: Science and Society. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. {{ISBN|978-1-405-15142-9}}</ref><ref>Rainier Flindt. 2006. Amazing Numbers in Biology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. {{ISBN|3-540-30146-1}}</ref> and a maximum wingspan which is confirmed to {{convert|28|cm|in|abbr=on}} while unconfirmed specimens have spanned up to {{convert|35.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}. The largest species overall is often claimed to be either the ] (''Ornithoptera alexandrae''), a butterfly from Papua New Guinea, or the Atlas moth ('']''), a moth from Southeast Asia. Both of these species can reach a length of {{convert|8|cm|in|abbr=on}}, a wingspan of {{convert|28|cm|in|abbr=on}} and a weight of {{convert|12|g|oz|abbr=on}}. One Atlas moth allegedly had a wingspan of {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} but this measurement was not verified.<ref name = "Wood"/> The larvae in the previous species can weigh up to {{convert|58|and|54|g|oz|abbr=on}}, respectively. However, there are no reported measurements of surface area that would exceed the Hercules moth, and the white witch ('']'') of Central and South America, has the largest recorded wingspan of the order, and indeed of any living insect, though the white witch is exceeded in surface area by the Hercules moth. The verified record-sized '']'' spanned {{convert|30.8|cm|in|abbr=on}} across the wings, although specimens have been reported to {{convert|36|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> The heaviest mature moths have been cited in the giant carpenter moth ('']'') of Australia, which has weighed up to {{convert|20|g|oz|abbr=on}} although the species does not surpass {{convert|25.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} in wingspan.<ref name = "Wood"/>
;Mantises (])
:The largest species of this order is '']'' from ], which has been measured up to {{convert|20|cm|in|abbr=on}} in overall length.<ref>. Bugsincyberspace.com</ref> However, an undescribed species from the ] jungle is allegedly much larger than any other mantis and may rival the larger stick insects for the longest living insect.<ref>{{cite book|author=Craig Glenday|title=Guinness World Records 2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aHYt0RNSDfgC&pg=PA53|year=2009|publisher=Random House Digital, Inc.|isbn=978-0-553-59256-6|page=53}}</ref> Among widespread mantis species, the largest is the ] (''Tenodera aridifolia''). The females of this species can attain a length of up to {{convert|10.6|cm|in|abbr=on}}.
;Scorpionflies (])
:The largest scorpionfly, the ] (''Panorpa communis''), can reach a body length of about {{convert|30|mm}}.<ref name = safari></ref> ;Alderflies and allies (])
:This relatively small insect order includes some rather large species, many of which are noticeable for their elongated, imposing mandibles. The ] reach the greatest sizes of the order and can range up to {{convert|12.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>. Real Monstrosities (2011-01-26)</ref>
;Net-winged insects (])
]]]
:These flying insects reach their largest size in '']'', which can have a wingspan over {{convert|16|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Researcharchive.calacademy.org</ref> The largest ] is the "blue eyes lacewing" ('']'') of Australia, which can measure up to {{convert|4|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length and span {{convert|11|cm|in|abbr=on}} across the wings.<ref>, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706210325/http://bio-ditrl.sunsite.ualberta.ca/detail/?P_MNO=5221 |date=July 6, 2011 }}</ref> Some forms of this ancient order could grow extremely large during the ] and may have ranked among the largest insects ever.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Michael S. Engel|year=2005|title=A remarkable kalligrammatid lacewing from the Upper Jurassic of Kazakhstan (Neuroptera: Kalligrammatidae)|journal= Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science|volume=108 |issue=1|pages= 59–62|jstor=3628206|doi=10.1660/0022-8443(2005)1082.0.co;2}}</ref>
;Dragonflies (])
:The largest living species of ] is '']'' of the ]s, attaining a size of as much as {{convert|19|cm|in|abbr=on}} across the wings and a body length of over {{convert|12|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> Spanning up to {{convert|17.6|cm|in|abbr=on}} and measuring up to {{convert|11.8|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, '']'' of Southeast Asia is bulkier and heavier than '']'' at up to {{convert|7|g|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/> The largest species of dragonfly ever is the extinct aforementioned '']'', although it is not certain to be included in the modern dragonfly order.
;Grasshoppers and allies (])
]]]
:The largest of this widespread, varied complex of insects are the ]s of New Zealand, which is now split among 12 species. The largest of these is the Little Barrier Island giant weta ('']''), the largest specimen was weighed at {{convert|71.3|g|oz|abbr=on}}, one of the largest insects weights ever known. These heavyweight insects can be over {{convert|9|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.<ref name = "Wood"/> The largest grasshopper species is often considered to be the Australian giant grasshopper ('']''), which ranges up to {{convert|9|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>. Brisbaneinsects.com</ref> The American eastern lubber grasshopper ('']'') can allegedly range up to {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>. Wildflorida.com</ref> However, the greatest grasshopper sizes known, to {{convert|12|cm|in|abbr=on}}, have been cited in the South American giant grasshopper ('']''). The longest members of this order (although much lighter than the giant wetas) is the ] '']'' of Southeast Asia which can range up to {{convert|21.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} with its long legs extended and can have a wingspan of {{convert|20|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Animals.jrank.org</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307194338/http://www.hmns.org/cockerell-butterfly-center/our-residents/giant-long-legged-katydid/ |date=2016-03-07 }}. Hmns.org</ref>
;Stick insects (])
:The longest known ], and indeed the longest insect ever known, is '']'' of the Bornean rainforest, with one specimen held in the ] in London measuring {{convert|56.7|cm|in|abbr=on}} in total length.<ref>. Natural History Museum (2008-10-16) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019104055/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2008/october/worlds-longest-insect-revealed.html |date=October 19, 2008 }}</ref> This measurement is, however, with the front legs fully extended. The body alone still measures {{convert|35.7|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal|author= Hennemann, F. H.|author2= Conle, O. V.|name-list-style=amp|title= Revision of Oriental Phasmatodea: The tribe Pharnaciini Günther, 1953, including the description of the world's longest insect, and a survey of the family Phasmatidae Gray, 1835 with keys to the subfamilies and tribes (Phasmatodea: "Anareolatae": Phasmatidae)|journal= Zootaxa|volume= 1906|pages= 1–316|place= Auckland, New Zealand|url= http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/z01906p316f.pdf|year=2008|doi= 10.11646/zootaxa.1906.1.1}}</ref> The species with the second longest body is '']'', also of Borneo, which measures up to {{convert|32.8|cm|in|abbr=on}},<ref name=Brock>Brock, P.D. 1999. ''The amazing world of stick and leaf-insects''. Cravitz Printing Co., Essex, England.</ref> while the overall length (from the hind to the front legs) is up to {{convert|54.6|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Brock /> The second longest insect in terms of total length is '']'' of Malaysia and Singapore, measuring up to {{convert|55.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1 = Seow-Choen|first1 = F.|year = 1995|title = The longest insect in the world|journal = Malayan Nat.|volume = 48|page = 12}}</ref> Another extremely long stick insect is '']'', which measured {{convert|51|cm|in|abbr=on}} with its legs extended.<ref name = "Wood"/> The spiny stick insect ('']'') of Malaysia does not reach the extreme lengths of its cousins, the body reaching up to {{convert|16|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, but it is much bulkier. The largest '']'' weighed about {{convert|65|g|oz|abbr=on}} and was {{convert|3.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} wide across the thickest part of the body.<ref name = "Wood"/>
;Lice (])
:These insects, which live parasitically on other animals, are as a rule quite small. The largest known species is the hog louse, '']'', a ] that lives on large livestock like ]s and ]. It can range up to {{convert|6|mm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>. Animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu</ref>
;Stoneflies (])]'']]
:The largest species of ] is '']'' of western North America, a species favored by fishermen as lures. This species can attain a length of {{convert|5|cm|in|abbr=on}} and a wingspan of over {{convert|9.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Riverwood Blog – Fly Fishing Gear & Guided Fishing Trips in Oregon (2009-04-20) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402122239/http://blog.riverwoodfliesonline.com/?p=403 |date=April 2, 2012 }}</ref>
;Booklice (])
:The largest of this order of very small insects are the barklice of the genus '']'', the top size of which is about 1 cm.<ref>. Brc.ac.uk</ref>
;Fleas (])
:The largest species of ] is '']''. This parasite is known exclusively from the fur of the ] (''Aplodontia rufa'') and can reach a length of {{convert|1.2|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name = "Wood"/>
;Silverfishes and allies (])
:These strange-looking insects, known to feed on human household objects, can range up to {{convert|4.3|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length. A 350 million year old form was known to grow quite large, at up to {{convert|6|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Animals.jrank.org</ref>

;Thrips (])
:Members of the genus '']'' are the largest kinds of ]s. The maximum size these species attain is approximately {{convert|1.3|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>. Paulsquiz.com {{webarchive | url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150714170015/http://www.paulsquiz.com/biology-mainmenu-208/trivia-quiz-resources/biology/list-of-largest-insects |date=July 14, 2015 }}</ref>
;Caddisflies (])
:The largest of the small, moth-like caddisflies is '']''. This species can range up to {{convert|7|cm|in|abbr=on}} across the wings.<ref>.</ref>
;Angel insects (])
:The largest angel insect species, ] (''Zorotypus hubbardi''), grows up to {{convert|3|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name=Foottit/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tolweb.org/Zoraptera |title=Zoraptera |author=Engel, Michael S.|year=2005 |publisher=Tree of Life Web Project |access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref>


==Fungi== ==Fungi==
]'']] ]''|315x315px]]{{Main|Largest fungal fruit bodies}}
The largest living ] may be a ]<ref name=amarilla>. Botit.botany.wisc.edu.</ref> of the ] '']''.<ref name=BBCfungus>. BBC News (2000-08-07).</ref> The largest living ] may be a ]<ref name="UW">{{Cite web|title=Armillaria gallica, the humongous fungus humungus. Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month for April 2002|url=http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/apr2002.html|access-date=2022-12-26|website=botit.botany.wisc.edu}}</ref> of the ] '']''.<ref name=BBCfungus>{{Cite web|title=BBC News &#124; SCI/TECH &#124; Fantastic fungus find|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/869808.stm|access-date=2022-12-26|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>
A mushroom of this type in the ] in the ] of eastern ], U.S. was found to be the largest fungal colony in the world, spanning {{convert|8.9|km2|acre|abbr=on}} of area.<ref name=UW> at the University of Wisconsin, Department of Botany.</ref><ref name=ABCfungus>Beale, Bob. 10 April 2003. at Environment & Nature News, ABC Online.</ref> This organism is estimated to be 2,400 years old. The fungus was written about in the April 2003 issue of the '']''. While an accurate estimate has not been made, the total ] of the colony may be as much as 605 ]s{{Vague|which tons?|date=January 2010}}. If this colony is considered a single organism, then it is the largest known organism in the world by area, and rivals the aspen grove "]" as the known organism with the highest living ]. It is not known, however, whether it is a single organism with all parts of the ] connected.<ref name=ABCfungus/> A mushroom of this type in the ] in the ] of eastern ], U.S. was found to be the largest fungal colony in the world, spanning {{convert|8.9|km2|acre|abbr=on}} of area.<ref name="UW"/><ref name=ABCfungus>{{Cite web|title=Environment & Nature News - Humungous fungus: world's largest organism? - 10/04/2003|url=https://www.abc.net.au/science/news/enviro/EnviroRepublish_828525.htm|access-date=2022-12-26|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> This organism is estimated to be 2,400 years old. The fungus was written about in the April 2003 issue of the '']''. If this colony is considered a single organism, then it is the largest known organism in the world by area, and rivals the aspen grove "]" as the known organism with the highest living ]. It is not known, however, whether it is a single organism with all parts of the ] connected.<ref name=ABCfungus/> Approximations of the land area of the Oregon "humongous fungus" are {{convert|3.5|sqmi|sqkm}} ({{convert|2240|acre|ha}}, possibly weighing as much as 35,000 tons as the world's most massive living organism.<ref name="patton">{{cite web |author1=Vince Patton |title=Oregon Humongous Fungus Sets Record As Largest Single Living Organism On Earth (7 minute documentary video)|url=https://www.opb.org/television/programs/ofg/segment/oregon-humongous-fungus/ |publisher=Oregon Field Guide |access-date=23 September 2019 |date=12 February 2015}}</ref>


A spatial genetic analysis estimated that a specimen of ''Armillaria ostoyae'' growing over {{convert|91|acre|ha}} in northern ], United States weighs 440 ]s (4 x 10<sup>5</sup> kg).<ref name="Anderson">{{Cite journal A spatial genetic analysis estimated that a specimen of ''Armillaria ostoyae'' growing over {{convert|91|acre|ha}} in northern ], United States weighs 440 ]s (4 x 10<sup>5</sup> kg).<ref name="Anderson">{{Cite journal
Line 515: Line 37:
| journal = Journal of Pacific Archaeology | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | pages = 89–109 | journal = Journal of Pacific Archaeology | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | pages = 89–109
| year = 2010 | hdl = 10289/5404 | year = 2010 | hdl = 10289/5404
}}</ref><ref name="daley">{{cite web |author1=Jason Daley |title=This humongous fungus is as massive as three blue whales: A new estimate suggests this mushroom is 2,500 years old and weighs 440 tons |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mushroom-massive-three-blue-whales-180970549/ |publisher=Smithsonian.com |access-date=23 September 2019 |date=15 October 2018}}</ref> Approximations of the land area of the Oregon "humongous fungus" are {{convert|3.5|sqmi|sqkm}} ({{convert|2240|acre|ha}}, possibly weighing as much as 7,500 tons as the world's most massive living organism.<ref name="patton">{{cite web |author1=Vince Patton |title=Oregon Humongous Fungus Sets Record As Largest Single Living Organism On Earth (7 minute documentary video)|url=https://www.opb.org/television/programs/ofg/segment/oregon-humongous-fungus/ |publisher=Oregon Field Guide |access-date=23 September 2019 |date=12 February 2015}}</ref> }}</ref><ref name="daley">{{cite web |author1=Jason Daley |title=This humongous fungus is as massive as three blue whales: A new estimate suggests this mushroom is 2,500 years old and weighs 440 tons |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mushroom-massive-three-blue-whales-180970549/ |publisher=Smithsonian.com |access-date=23 September 2019 |date=15 October 2018}}</ref>


In '']'', each individual mushroom (the fruiting body, similar to a flower on a plant) has only a {{convert|5|cm|in|abbr=on}} stipe, and a pileus up to {{convert|12.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} across. There are many other fungi which produce a larger individual size mushroom. The largest known fruiting body of a fungus is a specimen of '']'' (formerly ''Fomitiporia ellipsoidea'') found on ].<ref name=BBCFungalFruitingBody>Walker, Matt. (2011-08-01) . Bbc.co.uk</ref> The fruiting body masses up to {{convert|500|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=ScienceFruitingBody>{{Cite journal | last1 = Dai | first1 = Y. C. | last2 = Cui | first2 = B. K. | doi = 10.1016/j.funbio.2011.06.008 | title = Fomitiporia ellipsoidea has the largest fruiting body among the fungi | journal = Fungal Biology | volume = 115 | issue = 9 | pages = 813–814 | year = 2011 | pmid = 21872178}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1= Cui|first1= Bao-Kai|last2= Decock|first2= Cony|year= 2013|title= ''Phellinus castanopsidis'' sp. nov (Hymenochaetaceae) from southern China, with preliminary phylogeny based on rDNA sequences|journal=Mycological Progress|volume=12|issue=2|pages= 341–351|doi= 10.1007/s11557-012-0839-5|s2cid= 17570036}}</ref> In '']'', each individual mushroom (the fruiting body, similar to a flower on a plant) has only a {{convert|5|cm|in|abbr=on}} stipe, and a pileus up to {{convert|12.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} across. There are many other fungi which produce a larger individual size mushroom. The largest known fruiting body of a fungus is a specimen of '']'' (formerly ''Fomitiporia ellipsoidea'') found on ].<ref name=BBCFungalFruitingBody>Walker, Matt. (2011-08-01) . Bbc.co.uk</ref> The fruiting body masses up to {{convert|500|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=ScienceFruitingBody>{{Cite journal | last1 = Dai | first1 = Y. C. | last2 = Cui | first2 = B. K. | doi = 10.1016/j.funbio.2011.06.008 | title = Fomitiporia ellipsoidea has the largest fruiting body among the fungi | journal = Fungal Biology | volume = 115 | issue = 9 | pages = 813–814 | year = 2011 | pmid = 21872178}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1= Cui|first1= Bao-Kai|last2= Decock|first2= Cony|year= 2013|title= ''Phellinus castanopsidis'' sp. nov (Hymenochaetaceae) from southern China, with preliminary phylogeny based on rDNA sequences|journal=Mycological Progress|volume=12|issue=2|pages= 341–351|doi= 10.1007/s11557-012-0839-5|bibcode= 2013MycPr..12..341C|s2cid= 17570036}}</ref>


Until ''P. ellipsoideus'' replaced it, the largest individual fruit body came from '']''. ''R. ulmarius'' can grow up to {{convert|284|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, {{convert|1.66|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall, {{convert|1.46|m|ft|abbr=on}} across, and has a circumference of up to {{convert|4.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Until ''P. ellipsoideus'' replaced it, the largest individual fruit body came from '']''. ''R. ulmarius'' can grow up to {{convert|284|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, {{convert|1.66|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall, {{convert|1.46|m|ft|abbr=on}} across, and has a circumference of up to {{convert|4.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

===Lichen===
'']'' is among the largest lichens in the world. The ] of ''U. mammulata'' is usually {{convert|4|to|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter, but specimens have been known to reach {{convert|63|cm|ft|adj=on}} in the ] of ].<ref name=Brodo>{{cite book | last = Brodo | first = Irwin | title = Lichens of North America | publisher = Yale University Press | location = New Haven | year = 2001 | isbn = 978-0-300-08249-4 }}</ref>

The longest lichen is '']'', which may grow to exceed {{convert|20|feet}} in length.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Usnea longissima'' |url=https://www.lichen.com/bigpix/Ulongissima.html |website=lichen.com |publisher=Lichens of North America |access-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503045319/https://www.lichen.com/bigpix/Ulongissima.html |archive-date=3 May 2012}}</ref>


==Protists== ==Protists==
]'', the largest species of giant kelp]] ]'', the largest species of giant kelp|283x283px]]
(Note: the group ] is not used in current taxonomy.) (Note: the group ] is not used in current taxonomy.)


===Amoebozoans (])=== ===Amoebozoans (])===
:Among the organisms that are not ], the largest are the ]s, such as '']'', some of which can reach a diameter over {{convert|12|in|cm|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref>. Waynesword.palomar.edu</ref> These organisms are ], but they are ]. :Among the organisms that are not ], the largest are the ]s, such as '']'', some of which can reach a diameter over {{convert|12|in|cm|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630192009/http://waynesword.palomar.edu/slime1.htm |date=2015-06-30 }}. Waynesword.palomar.edu</ref> These organisms are ], but they are ].


===Euglenozoans (])=== ===Euglenozoans (])===
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===Rhizarians (])=== ===Rhizarians (])===
:The largest species traditionally considered ] are giant ]s like ]ns. One such species, the ] '']'', can attain a size of {{convert|20|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Deep Sea News (2008-10-10).</ref> :The largest species traditionally considered ] are giant ]s like ]ns. One such species, the ] '']'', can attain a size of {{convert|20|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-10-10|title=The 27 Best Deep-Sea Species: #22 Xenophyophores &#124; Deep Sea News|url=https://www.deepseanews.com/2008/10/the-27-best-deep-sea-species-22-xenophyophores/|access-date=2022-12-26|website=www.deepseanews.com|language=en-US}}</ref>


===Alveolates (])=== ===Alveolates (])===
:The largest ]s, such as '']'', can attain a length over {{convert|4|mm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>Wim van Egmond. . Microscopy-uk.org.uk.</ref> :The largest ]s, such as '']'', can attain a length over {{convert|4|mm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Micscape Microscopy and Microscope Magazine|url=http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artoct98/spiro.html|access-date=2022-12-26|website=www.microscopy-uk.org.uk}}</ref>


===Stramenopiles (])=== ===Stramenopiles (])===
:The largest ] are ] from the northwestern Pacific. The floating stem of ''] pyrifera'' can grow to a height of over {{convert|45|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>. Nhm.ac.uk. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102122749/http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/biodiversity/climate-change/macrocystis-pyrifera/index.html |date=November 2, 2011 }}</ref><ref>. Montereybayaquarium.org</ref> :The largest ] are ] from the northwestern Pacific. The floating stem of ''] pyrifera'' can grow to a height of over {{convert|45|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Discover|url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover.html|access-date=2022-12-26|website=www.nhm.ac.uk|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Giant kelp|url=https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/giant-kelp|access-date=2022-12-26|website=www.montereybayaquarium.org}}</ref>
:Macrocystis also qualifies as the largest ], the largest ], and the largest protist generally. :Macrocystis also qualifies as the largest ], the largest ], and the largest protist generally.


==Bacteria== ==Bacteria==
The largest known species of ] is named '']'', which grows to {{convert|1|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Carissa |title=Largest known bacteria in the world are visible to the naked eye |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2325909-largest-known-bacteria-in-the-world-are-visible-to-the-naked-eye/ |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=New Scientist |language=en-US}}</ref> making it visible to the naked eye and also about five thousand times the size of more typical ].<ref name="science1">{{cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/largest-bacterium-ever-discovered-has-unexpectedly-complex-cells |first = Elizabeth |last = Pennisi|author-link = Elizabeth Pennisi|title=Largest bacterium ever discovered has unexpectedly complex cells |date=|work=]|publisher=science.org|accessdate=2022-02-24|language=en}}</ref> ] described it as possessing the "size and shape of a human ]."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-23 |title=Record bacterium discovered as long as human eyelash |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-61911817 |access-date=2022-06-24}}</ref> ] published a new paper on the bacterium on June 23, 2022.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Volland |first1=Jean-Marie |last2=Gonzalez-Rizzo |first2=Silvina |last3=Gros |first3=Olivier |last4=Tyml |first4=Tomáš |last5=Ivanova |first5=Natalia |last6=Schulz |first6=Frederik |last7=Goudeau |first7=Danielle |last8=Elisabeth |first8=Nathalie H. |last9=Nath |first9=Nandita |last10=Udwary |first10=Daniel |last11=Malmstrom |first11=Rex R. |date=2022-06-24 |title=A centimeter-long bacterium with DNA contained in metabolically active, membrane-bound organelles |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abb3634 |journal=Science |language=en |volume=376 |issue=6600 |pages=1453–1458 |doi=10.1126/science.abb3634 |pmid=35737788 |bibcode=2022Sci...376.1453V |s2cid=249990020 |issn=0036-8075}}</ref> According to a study coauthored by Jean-Marie Volland, a marine biologist and scientist at California's Laboratory for Research in Complex Systems, and an affiliate at the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, ''T. magnifica'' can grow up to 2 centimeters long.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Amarachi Orie |date=June 23, 2022 |title=World's largest bacterium discovered is the size of a human eyelash |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/23/world/worlds-largest-bacteria-magnifica-intl-scli-scn/index.html |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=CNN}}</ref>
]'', a rare bacterium visible to the naked eye]]
The largest known species of ] is '']'', which grows to {{convert|0.75|mm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter, making it visible to the naked eye and a thousand times the size of more typical ].


*'''Cyanobacteria''' *'''Cyanobacteria'''
:One of the largest "]" is '']'', whose filamentous cells can be 50 μm wide.<ref name = Stal2007>{{Cite book|last = Stal|first = Lucas J.|year = 2007|contribution = Diversity and Versatility, Clues to Life in Extreme Environments|title = Algae and Cyanobacteria in Extreme Environments|series = Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology|volume = Volume 11, Part 7|editor = Seckbach, J.|pages = |place = Dordrecht, The Netherlands|publisher = Springer|doi = 10.1007/978-1-4020-6112-7_36|isbn = 978-1-4020-6111-0|url = https://archive.org/details/algaecyanobacter0000unse/page/659}}</ref> :One of the largest "]" is '']'', whose filamentous cells can be 50 μm wide.<ref name = Stal2007>{{Cite book|last = Stal|first = Lucas J.|year = 2007|contribution = Diversity and Versatility, Clues to Life in Extreme Environments|title = Algae and Cyanobacteria in Extreme Environments|series = Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology|volume = 11, Part 7|editor = Seckbach, J.|pages = |place = Dordrecht, The Netherlands|publisher = Springer|doi = 10.1007/978-1-4020-6112-7_36|isbn = 978-1-4020-6111-0|url = https://archive.org/details/algaecyanobacter0000unse/page/659}}</ref>


==Viruses== ==Viruses==
]
]
The largest virus on record is the '']'' with the length of 1.5 micrometres, comparable to the typical size of a bacterium and large enough to be seen in light microscopes. It was discovered in March 2014 in an ice core sample collected from a ] in ]. Prior to this discovery, the largest virus was the peculiar virus genus '']'', which have a size of approximately 1 ] and whose genome contains 1,900,000 to 2,500,000 base pairs of DNA.<ref name="Brumfiel">{{cite news | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/07/18/203298244/worlds-biggest-virus-may-have-ancient-roots | title=World's Biggest Virus May Have Ancient Roots | work=National Public Radio | date=18 July 2013 | access-date=18 July 2013 | author=Brumfiel, Geoff}}</ref> The largest virus on record is '']'', with the length of 4 micrometres, comparable to the typical size of a bacterium and large enough to be seen in light microscopes. It was discovered in 2018 (being mistaken for ]s beforehand), having been found on an ] in the genus '']''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Barthélémy |first1=Roxane-Marie |title=Serendipitous Discovery in a Marine Invertebrate (Phylum Chaetognatha) of the Longest Giant Viruses Reported till Date |journal=Biology |date=8 January 2019}}</ref> Prior to this discovery, the largest virus was the peculiar virus genus '']'', which have a size of approximately 1 ] and whose genome contains 1,900,000 to 2,500,000 base pairs of DNA.<ref name="Brumfiel">{{cite news | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/07/18/203298244/worlds-biggest-virus-may-have-ancient-roots | title=World's Biggest Virus May Have Ancient Roots | work=National Public Radio | date=18 July 2013 | access-date=18 July 2013 | author=Brumfiel, Geoff}}</ref>


'']'' infects ] specifically, however '']'' infects '']'' ].
Both these viruses infect ] specifically.


==See also== ==See also==
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* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
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==References== ==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}
{{Notelist}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|35em}}


== External links == == External links ==
* Melissa Breyer. ] April 28, 2015 * Melissa Breyer. ] April 28, 2015
{{Records}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Largest Organisms}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Largest Organisms}}

Latest revision as of 00:47, 18 January 2025

List of largest organisms on Earth
Although it appears to be multiple trees, Pando is a clonal colony of an individual quaking aspen with an interconnected root system. It is widely held to be the world's most massive single organism.

This article lists the largest organisms for various types of life and mostly considers extant species, which found on Earth can be determined according to various aspects of an organism's size, such as: mass, volume, area, length, height, or even genome size. Some organisms group together to form a superorganism (such as ants or bees), but such are not classed as single large organisms. The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest structure composed of living entities, stretching 2,000 km (1,200 mi) but contains many organisms of many types of species.

When considering singular entities, the largest organisms are clonal colonies which can spread over large areas. Pando, a clonal colony of the quaking aspen tree, is widely considered to be the largest such organism by mass. Even if such colonies are excluded, trees retain their dominance of this listing, with the giant sequoia being the most massive tree. In 2006, a huge clonal colony of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica was discovered south of the island of Ibiza. At 8 kilometres (5 mi) across, and estimated at 100,000 years old, it may be one of the largest and oldest clonal colonies on Earth.

Among animals, the largest species are all marine mammals, specifically whales. The blue whale is believed to be the largest animal to have ever lived. The living land animal classification is also dominated by mammals, with the African bush elephant being the largest of these.

Plants

Main article: List of largest plants

The largest single-stem tree by wood volume and mass is the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), native to Sierra Nevada and California; it typically grows to a height of 70–85 m (230–280 ft) and 5–7 m (16–23 ft) in diameter.

The largest organism in the world, according to mass, is the aspen tree whose colonies of clones can grow up to 8 kilometres (5 mi) in size. The largest such colony is Pando, in the Fishlake National Forest in Utah.

A form of flowering plant that far exceeds Pando as the largest organism on Earth in area and potentially also mass, is the giant marine plant, Posidonia australis, living in Shark Bay, Australia. Its length is about 180 km (112 mi) and it covers an area of 200 km (77 sq mi). It is also among the oldest known clonal plants.

Another giant marine plant of the genus Posidonia, Posidonia oceanica discovered in the Mediterranean near the Balearic Islands, Spain may be the oldest living organism in the world, with an estimated age of 100,000 years.

The largest individual flower in the world is Rafflesia arnoldii, while the flowering plant with the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world is Amorphophallus titanum. Both are native to Sumatra in Indonesia.

Green algae

Green algae are photosynthetic unicellular and multicellular green plants that are related to land plants. The thallus of the unicellular mermaid's wineglass, Acetabularia, can grow to several inches (perhaps 0.1 to 0.2 m) in length. The fronds of the similarly unicellular, and invasive Caulerpa taxifolia can grow up to a foot (0.3 m) long.

Animals

The blue whale is the largest animal alive today.
Bruhathkayosaurus is potentially the largest animal to have walked the earth.
This section is an excerpt from Largest and heaviest animals. Clockwise from top left: an African bush elephant, the largest extant terrestrial animal; a blue whale, the largest animal ever to exist; and a colossal squid, the largest invertebrate

The largest animal currently alive is the blue whale. The maximum recorded weight was 190 tonnes (209 US tons) for a specimen measuring 27.6 metres (91 ft), whereas longer ones, up to 33 metres (108 ft), have been recorded but not weighed. It is estimated that this individual could have a mass of 250 tonnes or more. The longest non-colonial animal is the lion's mane jellyfish (37 m, 120 ft).

In 2023, paleontologists estimated that the extinct whale Perucetus, discovered in Peru, may have outweighed the blue whale, with a mass of 85 to 340 t (94–375 short tons; 84–335 long tons). However, more recent studies suggest this whale was much smaller than previous estimates putting its weight at 60 to 113 tonnes. While controversial, estimates for the weight of the sauropod Bruhathkayosaurus suggest it was around 110–170 tons, with the highest estimate being 240 tons, if scaled with Patagotitan, although actual fossil remains no longer exist, and that estimation is based on described dimensions in 1987. In April 2024, Ichthyotitan severnensis was established as a valid shastasaurid taxon and is considered both the largest marine reptile ever discovered and the largest macropredator ever discovered. The Lilstock specimen was estimated to be around 26 metres (85 ft) whilst the Aust specimen was an even more impressive 30 to 35 metres (98 to 115 ft) in length. While no weight estimates have been made as of yet, Ichthyotitan would have easily rivalled or surpassed the blue whale. The upper estimates of weight for these prehistoric animals would have easily rivaled or exceeded the largest rorquals and sauropods.

The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest living land animal. A native of various open habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, males weigh about 6.0 tonnes (13,200 lb) on average. The largest elephant ever recorded was shot in Angola in 1974. It was a male measuring 10.67 metres (35.0 ft) from trunk to tail and 4.17 metres (13.7 ft) lying on its side in a projected line from the highest point of the shoulder, to the base of the forefoot, indicating a standing shoulder height of 3.96 metres (13.0 ft). This male had a computed weight of 10.4 to 12.25 tonnes.

Fungi

Armillaria ostoyae
Main article: Largest fungal fruit bodies

The largest living fungus may be a honey fungus of the species Armillaria ostoyae. A mushroom of this type in the Malheur National Forest in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, U.S. was found to be the largest fungal colony in the world, spanning 8.9 km (2,200 acres) of area. This organism is estimated to be 2,400 years old. The fungus was written about in the April 2003 issue of the Canadian Journal of Forest Research. If this colony is considered a single organism, then it is the largest known organism in the world by area, and rivals the aspen grove "Pando" as the known organism with the highest living biomass. It is not known, however, whether it is a single organism with all parts of the mycelium connected. Approximations of the land area of the Oregon "humongous fungus" are 3.5 square miles (9.1 km) (2,240 acres (910 ha), possibly weighing as much as 35,000 tons as the world's most massive living organism.

A spatial genetic analysis estimated that a specimen of Armillaria ostoyae growing over 91 acres (37 ha) in northern Michigan, United States weighs 440 tons (4 x 10 kg).

In Armillaria ostoyae, each individual mushroom (the fruiting body, similar to a flower on a plant) has only a 5 cm (2.0 in) stipe, and a pileus up to 12.5 cm (4.9 in) across. There are many other fungi which produce a larger individual size mushroom. The largest known fruiting body of a fungus is a specimen of Phellinus ellipsoideus (formerly Fomitiporia ellipsoidea) found on Hainan Island. The fruiting body masses up to 500 kg (1,100 lb).

Until P. ellipsoideus replaced it, the largest individual fruit body came from Rigidoporus ulmarius. R. ulmarius can grow up to 284 kg (626 lb), 1.66 m (5.4 ft) tall, 1.46 m (4.8 ft) across, and has a circumference of up to 4.9 m (16 ft).

Lichen

Umbilicaria mammulata is among the largest lichens in the world. The thallus of U. mammulata is usually 4 to 15 cm (1.6 to 5.9 in) in diameter, but specimens have been known to reach 63-centimetre (2.07 ft) in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

The longest lichen is Usnea longissima, which may grow to exceed 20 feet (6.1 m) in length.

Protists

Macrocystis pyrifera, the largest species of giant kelp

(Note: the group Protista is not used in current taxonomy.)

Amoebozoans (Amoebozoa)

Among the organisms that are not multicellular, the largest are the slime molds, such as Physarum polycephalum, some of which can reach a diameter over 30 cm (12 in). These organisms are unicellular, but they are multinucleate.

Euglenozoans (Euglenozoa)

Some euglenophytes, such as certain species of Euglena, reach lengths of 400 μm.

Rhizarians (Rhizaria)

The largest species traditionally considered protozoa are giant amoeboids like foraminiferans. One such species, the xenophyophore Syringammina fragilissima, can attain a size of 20 cm (7.9 in).

Alveolates (Alveolata)

The largest ciliates, such as Spirostomum, can attain a length over 4 mm (0.16 in).

Stramenopiles (Stramenopila)

The largest stramenopiles are giant kelp from the northwestern Pacific. The floating stem of Macrocystis pyrifera can grow to a height of over 45 m (148 ft).
Macrocystis also qualifies as the largest brown alga, the largest chromist, and the largest protist generally.

Bacteria

The largest known species of bacterium is named Thiomargarita magnifica, which grows to 1 cm (0.39 in) in length, making it visible to the naked eye and also about five thousand times the size of more typical bacteria. BBC News described it as possessing the "size and shape of a human eyelash." Science published a new paper on the bacterium on June 23, 2022. According to a study coauthored by Jean-Marie Volland, a marine biologist and scientist at California's Laboratory for Research in Complex Systems, and an affiliate at the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, T. magnifica can grow up to 2 centimeters long.

  • Cyanobacteria
One of the largest "blue green algae" is Lyngbya, whose filamentous cells can be 50 μm wide.

Viruses

A collection of viruses along with the bacterium E. coli, including M. horridgei - the largest virus

The largest virus on record is Megaklothovirus horridgei, with the length of 4 micrometres, comparable to the typical size of a bacterium and large enough to be seen in light microscopes. It was discovered in 2018 (being mistaken for bristles beforehand), having been found on an arrow worm in the genus Spadella. Prior to this discovery, the largest virus was the peculiar virus genus Pandoravirus, which have a size of approximately 1 micrometer and whose genome contains 1,900,000 to 2,500,000 base pairs of DNA.

Pandoravirus infects amoebas specifically, however Megaklothovirus infects Spadella arrow worms.

See also

Records
World records
People
Sporting records
Athletics
Weightlifting
In Australia
In the US
In India
National records
Motion records
Speed
Vehicle
Distance
Endurance
Structures
Physical phenomena

References

Notes

  1. The organism sizes listed are frequently considered "outsized" and are not in the normal size range for the respective group.

Citations

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External links

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World records
People
Sporting records
Athletics
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In Australia
In the US
In India
National records
Motion records
Speed
Vehicle
Distance
Endurance
Structures
Physical phenomena
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