When you think of the largest animal, the first animal that comes to mind is a blue whale. But did you know about all the large animals that live on land? These animals can weigh over several tons, and some are pretty tall. Each animal is unique in its own way, but they all have one thing in common: their massive size!
In this article, we’ve mentioned not only large land animals, but also listed fun facts about them. Keep on reading for fascinating information on the largest land animals.
15 Largest Land Animals Revealed
1. Giraffe
This land animal is known for its long neck and unique coat pattern. Giraffes are the tallest animals on this planet and can grow up to 18 feet. These herbivores live in grassland in east Africa. You may think that all giraffes have the same patterns on their coats, but that’s not true. Their coat patterns depend on the type of giraffe species.
Another remarkable fact about giraffes is that they only need to drink water once in a while. This saves them from bending their legs while trying to stay hydrated. They live on a diet of leaves, twigs and fruit.
2. Black Rhinoceros
Rhinos have distinct features, making them a popular land animal. Their long face, horns, and hooked lips are easily distinguishable. They are large land creatures that can weigh up to 1400 kgs or more. These animals are herbivores and eat leaves and shrubs, using their lips to pick their food.
Unfortunately, this large land animal is endangered, with less than 6500 left. While white rhinos are on the calmer side, this species can be quite aggressive. If they sense danger, they may attack by using their facial horns. The most interesting thing about rhinos is that they are intelligent and social animals. They are also strong enough to overpower a lion.
3. Asian Elephant
Elephants are the first to come to mind when you think of the largest land animals. This particular species of elephant resides in Asian countries like Nepal and India. An adult male Asian elephant can weigh as much as 4000 kgs while the females grow to be around 2700 kgs.
An interesting fact about this elephant species is that they have one extra toenail – four toenails on each foot – while the African elephant has three. Being such a big animal, elephants need to consume a lot of food and water. They can drink up to 200 litres of water in a day!
4. Hippopotamus
Hippos are semi-aquatic animals that can be found in sub-Saharan Africa. They are not only large but also quite heavy and can grow to be around 1800 kgs or more. An interesting fact about this animal is that a group of hippos is called a bloat! This name comes from the fact that hippos tend to have large, bloated bellies. But their large bellies actually serve a purpose.
The fat in a hippo’s body allows them to float on water. Their grey skin also has a pinkish tinge around the belly area. Although they seem friendly, hippos are among the deadliest animals!
5. Indian Bison
The Indian bison is native to South Asia and is also known as Gaur. This bovine species has large curled horns and a back hump. Although they are from the same family as bison, they are much larger. In fact, the Indian bison is bigger than all wild cattle out there. You may think that this large animal doesn’t have predators, but that’s far from the truth.
Some common predators of the gaur are leopards and crocodiles. Like most herbivores, gaur lives in herds of around 40 bison. These animals live on a diet of leaves and fruit.
6. Polar Bear
This white-fur carnivore is native to the Antarctic region. They are quite large and can weigh up to 450 kg or more. Polar bears live on a carnivorous diet comprising seals, penguins and even arctic foxes. When it comes to their personality, these animals like to play by the rules. A cool fact about polar bears is that their skin is actually black!
Their hair is hollow, and their icy surroundings make their fur appear white. A polar bear’s fur is also double-coated to help keep them warm in freezing regions. Although mostly seen on land, these large animals are great swimmers.
7. Ostrich
This is a large species of bird that comes from the same family as emus and kiwis. Ostriches are flightless and have long necks and tall legs. Even though they are flightless, an ostrich can run incredibly fast. They can run over 70 km/hr and take enormous strides during the sprint. An interesting fact about ostriches is that they have three stomachs!
They use these three stomachs to digest tough plant matter and other food. Ostrich will usually run away when approached by humans. This is because they think that if they can’t see you, you most likely can’t see them either.
8. Capybara
Although not the largest land animal, capybara are the largest rodents on this planet. They have a gentle nature, brown fur and large front teeth. This rodent can weigh up to 100 lbs, far larger than mice and other rodent species. They are quite friendly animals and respond well to humans. Capybaras are also related to guinea pigs and hamsters.
Another significant trait that makes them stand out is their intelligence. A cool fact about capybaras is that crocodiles avoid eating them. This is because they are far too large for crocodiles to swallow. Capybaras eat a diet of tubers, plants and fruit.
9. Cape Buffalo
This African buffalo is another large bovine and can weigh up to 900 kg. It is known for its large horns that curl upwards and aggressive temperament. They may look similar to water buffalo but aren’t the same species. This species is native to east Africa, while the water buffalo belongs to Asia. These animals are quite strong and tend to attack humans using their horns.
When it comes to their herd, cape buffalos are social and groom each other. They are emotionally sensitive and are even known to cuddle with their herd members. Cape buffalos eat grass and tend to graze.
10. Moose
The moose is way larger than you think! An adult moose can weigh over 600 kg and grow as tall as 2.1 m. Moose are known for their large antlers and long nose shape. This animal belongs to the deer family and has broad antlers covered in velvet. During winters, moose rub their antlers on trees to shed the velvet.
Their antlers tend to fall off during this time and regrow. They may be large, but moose have their fair share of predators. This includes animals like grizzly bears and wolves.
11. Brown Bear
This is another large bear species that is commonly found in North America. Brown bears are also known by their other name, grizzly bears. These bears can grow up to be a whopping 600 kg or more. Brown bears aren’t social animals and tend to live in solitary. Yet they still have the same fishing spots where they hunt for food. Speaking of food, these furry animals eat a diet of fish, fruit and honey.
A brown bear can be as tall as 7 feet when standing on their hind feet. These animals are also quite aggressive towards humans.
12. Elephant Seal
We are adding the elephant seal to the list since it’s not an exclusive marine animal. Elephant seals also spend quite a lot of time on land, making them semi-aquatic. What sets these seals apart from other seal species is their large nose. Their large noses have a function and allow them to make loud roars during mating season. Elephant seals can grow as big as a sedan car and pretty heavy too! They are also bigger than walruses.
This animal may look lazy, but elephant seals are actually fast. They can outrun humans and will chase them too, if they feel threatened. While on land, this chubby animal loves rolling around.
13. African Elephant
This majestic animal is known for its massive size, large ears and long white tusks. Out of all the elephant species, this one is the biggest. In fact, elephants are the largest land animals on this list. Their large tusks have a purpose, and use them to pick up things. They also use their long snouts for drinking water and moving things around.
Because of their large size, these animals are constantly eating. African elephants enjoy a diet of leaves, fruits and other plants. Another interesting fact about this animal is that it uses its large ears to stay cool. They flap their ears to repel heat during hot days.
14. White Rhino
This species of rhino has lighter skin and a wider mouth. While black rhinos have a hooked lips, this species has a wider hooked mouth that they use to gather food. Another factor that sets them apart from black rhinos is a noticeable hump on their back. It is also much larger than the black rhinoceros.
These animals can be traced back to prehistoric times. An adult white rhino can grow as much as 2500 kg in weight. While their bodies are hairless, they have some hair on their ears and tails. Rhinos mark their territories using their dung.
15. Indian Rhino
Lastly on this list is another species of rhino, this one native to South Asia. What makes this rhino species different from the others is its skin folds which give it a wrinkled appearance. It also has a shorter horn compared to the other rhino species. While other rhinos have two horns, the Indian rhino only has one and can grow as long as 10 inches.
This herbivorous animal enjoys a diet of fruits, leaves and even aquatic plants. A fun fact about this heavy animal is that it is sometimes called a bull! Despite this fact, rhinos have no relation to bulls.
Conclusion
Can you believe there are so many large animals? From rodents to birds, there’s a large animal in each category. We hope you learned some amazing animal facts from this article.
