Giant Animals We Can’t Believe Are Real

The animal kingdom is truly fascinating. With new discoveries happening all the time, the natural world never ceases to amaze us, especially when it comes to creatures that are almost larger than life.

Though it might seem improbable, these massive mammals, reptiles, and more really do exist. Some are harmless despite their substantial sizes, while others are best to steer clear of!

Field Marshall the bull

At almost 7 foot tall, weighing 1.5 tons, the bull called Field Marshall is considered the largest in England and became an attraction on a farm in Somerset County. But after ten years, the animal was retired by its owner. His owner expressed that animal was a beast, it was about twice the size of a normal fully-grown cow of his breed. Yet, despite its frightening size, local residents and tourists fell in love with the animal.

Brutus the croc

Brutus is one of the largest saltwater crocodiles to ever existe. At over 18 feet long and believed to be 80 years old, Brutus naturally became a tourist attraction in Australia. Besides his monstrous size, the croc became even more famous after a picture was taken with a bull shark between his jaws. The picture ended up making international headlines and it skyrocketed his celebrity status (if that’s what we should call it).

The African bush elephant

The African bush elephant is the largest and heaviest land animal. This majestical mammal can get as big as 11 feet and weigh about 13,000 pounds. They are the most massive species of elephants and they can be seen in Africa. They are also pretty fast for their size. They can run up to 25 miles per hour. They are truly incredible!

Ralph the rabbit

Looking like something straight out of a cartoon show, Ralph, the world’s biggest bunny is surely real. He’s not exactly your average hare hopper, but just as adorable. Located in the UK, Ralph took the title of the biggest bunny in the world. It is said that in order for him to keep up with his bulky stature, this mega-hare requires $22 worth of food in a weekly basis. He probably eats better than many people we know.

Nomura’s jellyfish

If you are scared of the ocean, here’s another reason to be. Meet the biggest Jellyfish’s to ever swim between the waters of Japan and China. Nomura’s jellyfish is not your average jellyfish. It’s got a width of 6.6 feet and this sea creature can weigh an astonishing 440 pounds. It’s considered the largest cnidarian in the world. We do not want to imagine what is like to be stung by it.

Moose the draft horse

Moose the draft horse is a Percheron Stallion World Champion and he makes his peers look tiny. He’s also the most colossal specimen of its kind and he can be found at the Percheron Show every year in Indianapolis, Indiana. This behemoth is the star of the show. He measures up to 6.5 feet and weighs over 2,000 pounds. We can only imagine the difficulty of mounting on this horse. We would probably need a ladder to do so.

The Hercules beetle

The Hercules beetle can be considered an outlier. Different than most, this insect is the largest species of beetle ever and is native to the rainforests of Central America and South America. It can carry up to 850 times its body mass. To put it into context, if a 150-pound person had the strength of a Hercules beetle, they would be able to lift a fully loaded truck without a problem. It comes to show that strength can be proportional.

Zeus the Great Dane

Zeus the Great Dane was no ordinary dog. Due to his massive size, Zeus became a popular figure in Michigan. He was 7.5 feet high and weighed 165 pounds. Compared to a normal dog, Zeus was a giant, he even achieved international fame after taking the Guinness title two years in a row. Unfortunately, the gentle giant passed away at the ripe age of six years old. He’s surely missed by many fellow Michiganders.

The Japanese spider crab

For all the crab meat lovers out there, expect a crab feast when ordering this meal. The Japanese Spider Crab is a super-sized Crustacean with a leg span of 3 to 4 feet. It weighs 42 pounds and it’s a Japanese delicacy. Experts say that they can travel easily over the mud due to their long legs and that helps them find their next prey. This is a great example of evolution and adaptability.

Zulu the giraffe

Zulu the Giraffe is known to be the lankiest of his kind. Just over 19 feet tall, this creature is constantly having to tower over his fellows. In fact, Zulu is four feet taller than the average giraffe. Weighing around 4,250 pounds, giraffes use their necks as weapons, but don’t be afraid of them, they are known for being friendly animals.

The oarfish

At first glance the Oarfish, can look quite intimidating, but they are harmless. They are reported to be the longest of all fishes since it can grow up to 55 foot. It can also weigh as heavy as 600 pounds. The Oarfish can be spotted anywhere where there’s warm tropical and temperate marine waters. Looking like a serpent, seeing this sea creature in open waters would surely scare anyone!

Adult gorilla

Found in the tropical forests of equatorial Africa, adult Gorillas are certainly the king of the jungle. They weigh nearly 500 pounds and can get as tall as 6 foot. They are enormous primates and unlike monkeys, they do not have tails. Interestingly, we share 95% to 99% of DNA with them, but this does not entitle us to try to become friends with them. In fact, it’s highly advised that we do not due to their sharp teeth and large muscles.

The blue whale

We all know that whales are massive sea animals and blue whale are actually the hugest of them all. This species of whale is the most gigantic creature in the planet. It can reach a length of 98 feet and can weigh up to 190 tons. That’s as long as 3 school buses. This magnificent marine mammal can be seen in any ocean. They usually spend their summers feeding in polar waters and later they migrate towards the Equator for the winter.

The goliath birdeater

Warning! This content could is not designed for people with arachnophobia. The famous goliath birdeater are known for being the hugest spider in the world by mass. Its body length can measure as much as 5.1 inches, and it can weigh up to 6.2 ounces. No, this species is not found in Australia (that’s a first!), but it can be sighted in the bushes and swampy areas of the Amazon rainforest, in South America.

The cinereous vulture

Given the title of the biggest bird of prey in the world, Cinereous Vultures can weigh over 30 pounds and have a wingspan of over 10 feet. Sadly, the sight of this European vulture soaring through the skies is quite rare. Due to human disturbance in their ecosystem, this species is becoming extinct. They are usually located in the forested hills and mountains of Spain, Portugal, France and Greece.

The giant oceanic manta ray

Endangered due to overfishing, the giant oceanic manta ray is mostly found in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters. Measuring up to an astonishing 23 feet across and weighing around 6,600 pounds, it sure looks frightening. But we do not need to worry. Different than their relatives, this type of manta ray does not have a poisonous tail stinger.

The coconut crab

The coconut crab looks like a creature straight out of the sci-fi film. This crab can grow up to 4 feet and it can weigh around 9 pounds. This is certainly a vicious species given that they can climb trees and occasionally feed on animal flesh when it’s available to them. Also, their pinching force can get to 1765.2 newtons (for reference, the human bite is about 340 newtons.) This just comes to show that nature can truly be terrifying!

The grey wolf

Known for hunting in packs and being highly social animals, the Grey Wolf can grow up to 3 feet tall. They can also weigh up to 175 pounds. They are huge canines and can been seen roaming around the wilderness of Eurasia and North America. This predator is also capable of running as fast as 37 mph. They are truly untamable, yet few people have been brave enough to try and domestic them. It must be quite risky living with a wild animal like this.

The giant grizzly bear

When hiking in places like Canada and California, we have to always keep our eyes peeled. That’s because Grizzly Bears happen to inhabit these trails and it’s not a good idea to cross paths with them. These bears can weigh more than 800 pounds and stand up to 10 feet on their hind legs. Oh, and they can run pretty fast too. Don’t be fooled by their cuteness. If you find yourself in these places, make sure to always have bear spray on hand.