The largest animal on the planet, which lives in the depths of the ocean, can reach weights of up to 150 tons. This entity holds the title of the largest animal in existence. Did you know that the largest mammal on the planet is a whale? Specifically, it is the Antarctic blue whale, scientifically known as Balaenoptera musculus intermedia. This magnificent animal can weigh over 150 tons and reach lengths of up to 30 meters. Classified as a mysticete cetacean, it is a member of the Balaenopteridae family.
In this article we are going to tell you What is the largest mammal in the world?, its characteristics and curiosities.
What is the largest mammal in the world?
The name of this entity is attributed to its completely blue hue when observed under the surface of the water. However, it exhibits a considerably more greyish coloration above the water. Furthermore, an intriguing aspect of its physical characteristics is the yellowish tint of its belly, which arises from the significant population of microorganisms residing on its skin.
What are the characteristics of the blue whale?
The blue whale has a slender, elongated body, complemented by a large, flattened head that is U-shaped and makes up about a quarter of its total length. This species of whale features a huge heart, comparable in size to a small car, and exhibits a crest that extends from the blowholes to the anterior portion of its head. The anterior section of its mouth is robust and contains between 300 and 400 barbels on each side.
Each barbel can measure up to a metre long and approximately 50 centimetres wide. They also have between 55 and 88 grooves located on their throat, called ventral folds. Since they have no teeth, the barbels function as a filtration system, allowing them to feed themselves gradually by absorbing all the available material. They ingest the food and then expel the water through the various layers of skin that make up their enormous tongue.
The weight of a blue whale's tongue can be comparable to that of an elephant. The blue whale's main diet consists of krill, a very abundant planktonic crustacean. A blue whale is capable of consuming several tons of krill daily. It also feeds on squid, but this only happens when squid is available in significant quantities.
The blue whale has the distinction of being the loudest animal on the planet, with its vocalizations reaching a staggering 188 decibels. This low-frequency whistle, used to attract the attention of other blue whales, can be detected hundreds of miles away.
Habitat and future of the blue whale
These sea creatures inhabit oceans around the world, from tropical regions to polar waters, although they tend to stay away from extreme environments. They can be found in all major oceans, including the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Blue whales undertake seasonal migrations in search of feeding grounds. During the warmer months, they tend to feed in polar or subpolar waters, while in winter they migrate to warmer regions to breed.
The outlook for the blue whale is optimistic, as widespread hunting of this species has been banned, thus alleviating its risk of extinction. In the Antarctic region, It is estimated that there has been a 7,3% increase in the blue whale population. However, their survival remains threatened by various factors, including global warming, extensive fishing practices and the presence of large vessels.
As we move down the list of the largest creatures that inhabit our planet, we come across the fin whale, scientifically known as Balaenoptera physalus, recognized as the second largest animal on Earth. This marine species can reach a length of up to 27 meters.
The list includes the giant squid (Architeuthis), the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and the great white shark. Beyond the realm of marine life, there are also the elephant shark, the giraffe, the anaconda, the crocodile and the polar bear.
Other large mammals
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
Recognized as the largest land predator, the polar bear exhibits a unique classification as a terrestrial-maritime species due to the extensive time spent in polar waters and on the ice. Males typically weigh between 350 and 680 kg, and have been reported to Some individuals reach weights of up to 1000 kg, and can grow to a length of 2,6 metres.
In contrast, females are slightly smaller, measuring around 2 metres in length and weighing about half as much as their male counterparts, although they can weigh similarly before giving birth. The polar bear is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which designates it as “vulnerable”.
Sharing the distinction of largest bear is the Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), also known as the Alaskan giant bear, which is the largest subspecies of brown bear, weighing between 350 and 675 kg. When bipedal, This animal can reach a height of up to 2,85 meters, and when it is on all fours, the cross (where the spine intersects an imaginary line joining the shoulders) is 1,3 metres from the ground. Despite its considerable size, caution is advised as it is capable of running at speeds of up to 56 km/h.
The African elephant (Loxodonta africana)
It has the distinction of being the largest land animal. It measures 6–7 metres (3–3,5 ft) long and 5,5–5.500 metres (XNUMX–XNUMX ft) tall at the shoulders, and typically weighs approximately XNUMX tonnes (XNUMX kg). A remarkable specimen on display in Washington measures 4,2 metres tall and weighs 12.274 kg. These magnificent creatures are capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h at certain times.
There is also another species known as the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), which was previously considered a subspecies of the African elephant. This species is smaller, with a height of around 2,5 metres. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), The third extant species measures between 5,5 and 6,4 metres in length, reaching a height of 2 to 3,5 metres. Both species of African elephant are classified as vulnerable, while the Asian elephant faces the threat of extinction.
Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Currently, this species holds the title of the tallest animal on Earth, with its head capable of reaching heights of 5,8 meters above the ground. Originally from Africa, Giraffes typically weigh between 750 and 1.600 kilograms.. They possess tendons exceeding 2 meters in length. The scientific designation of this creature roughly translates as “tall camel leopard,” reflecting a mix of nomenclature derived from Roman and Arabic influences. While the species is not classified as threatened due to populations sheltered in reserves, its range has declined significantly and two subspecies face the risk of extinction.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about what is the largest mammal in the world and its characteristics.