The largest shark in the world. Sharks
The second largest currently existing sharks scares the Italians again.
Yesterday, April 22, in the afternoon, two vacationers on the Italian coast were “lucky” to see with their own eyes one of the largest sharks on the planet. A giant shark (Cetorhinus maximus) swam between the island of Gallinara and the city of Albenga. According to eyewitnesses, the giant “jaws” were moving towards the port of Loano, in Albengo. A specialized center for the study of cetaceans has already become interested in the elephant shark: its specialists are checking to what extent a specimen that appears on the coast can pose a danger to humans.
Gigantic elephant shark is the second largest shark extant on Earth and is second in size only to the whale shark. This species is classified as endangered. Its laterally compressed snout sometimes hangs over the mouth, like a trunk, and its laterally flattened head gives the shark a resemblance to an elephant. The weight of such a “fish” can reach 10 tons, and its length can be 14 meters. Fortunately, huge individuals They are extremely rare, but small representatives of the species, ranging from 4 to 8 meters in length and weighing up to 6 tons, are not a sight for the faint of heart. The giant shark is prone to a sedentary lifestyle, its movement speed is 3 - 5 km/h. Sometimes, in places where plankton accumulates, representatives of this species gather in small schools. A few open-mouthed elephant sharks cruising along the surface can strike fear into anyone. But ichthyologists reassure: giant sharks are not dangerous to humans, since they are not predators and feed exclusively on plankton. Their stomach can hold up to a ton of plankton, but their teeth do not grow more than 5 mm.
The length of the elephant shark spotted yesterday on the Ligurian coast did not exceed 4 meters, that is, it was quite miniature in size. Although it hardly seemed so to eyewitnesses. On the other hand, this is not the first time that giant sharks have appeared in Italy. And to tour operators in the entertainment program, in addition to clean waters and golden beaches, it’s time to include the opportunity to contemplate an endangered species of basking sharks in their natural environment a habitat.
We all know well that the largest animals, or giant animals, lived on our Earth millions of years ago - these are various dinosaurs, mammoths, terrible birds and many, many other prehistoric animals. Their gigantic size and appearance seem overwhelming to us today.
But even today our world is full of the most amazing creatures, which amaze with their shapes and sizes. It’s even hard to imagine what could have influenced their height and weight, but they are who they are, the main thing is that they feel quite comfortable among us. What kind of animals are these, and in what natural conditions do they live? We’ll talk about this today. The rating is based on the weight, height and also length of the animals.
1 place. Blue or blue whale
The largest living animal on Earth is the blue or blue whale (lat. Balaenoptera musculus). Even dinosaurs cannot compete with him - his size is impressive. This marine mammal grows up to 30 meters in length, can weigh more than 180 tons, even the tongue of this giant weighs about 2.7 tons (the size of a medium-sized Asian elephant). The weight of a blue whale's heart is about 600 kilograms - this is the most a big heart in the world.
The huge lungs of the blue whale (the volume of which is 3 thousand liters) allow it to remain at a depth without oxygen for about 20 minutes. The maximum speed developed by this mammal is about 35 km/h, and the fountain it produces when reaching the surface is up to 10 m.
2nd place. Sperm whale
The next representative is (lat. Physeter catodon) is the only representative of the sperm whale family today. It is the largest among toothed whales. The male sperm whale grows up to 20 m in length, and weighs up to 50 tons. Females are less impressive in size - from 11 to 13 m, and weigh about 15 tons.
Interestingly, the head of an adult makes up approximately 35% of the total body length. There are sperm whales and more large sizes, but this is rather an exception. In nature, sperm whales have practically no enemies. The exception is killer whales, which attack females and calves; they cannot compete with an adult male.
3rd place. African elephant
African elephant (lat. Loxodonta africana) is the largest land animal living on earth. Includes two types - and. It occupies an honorable third place in this ranking. With a height of 3 to 3.5 meters and a body length of 6-7.5 m, the mass of these animals can reach up to 6, or even 12 tons. Females African elephant smaller males: they grow up to 2.7 meters in height and 5.4-6.9 m in length.
Despite its impressive size, it can move at a speed of 35-40 km/h (it can easily overtake a person). He can eat 300 kg per day plant food. Due to its enormous mass, it sleeps standing up. A very smart animal that is capable of mutual assistance and compassion. But, despite this, it is one of the most dangerous animals on the planet.
4th place. Indian elephant
Indian or Asian elephant (lat. Elephas maximum) is the second largest land animal after the African elephant. The height can reach 2.5-3.5 m, the length of its body is about 5.5-6 m, and this elephant’s tail is not short - 1-1.5 m. This elephant can weigh from 5 to 5.5 tons . Females, just like African elephants significantly less.
These elephants are forest dwellers. Prefer light tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests with dense undergrowth, which consists of bushes and bamboo. Easily move through dense forests and marshy areas. They live in groups led by the oldest and most experienced female.
5th place. Southern elephant seal
Southern elephant seal (lat. Mirounga leonina) – considered the largest pinniped in the world. These large and corpulent animals can grow up to 6 m in length and weigh up to 4-5 tons.
They can stay under water for about 2 hours (an officially registered record), and dive to a depth of more than 1300 meters. They spend their entire lives in the ocean, and rarely come to land - mainly during the breeding season.
6th place. Hippopotamus or hippopotamus
Hippopotamus (lat. Hippopotamus amphibius) is a mammal from the order Artiodactyla and the suborder Porciniformes. Native to Africa.
Hippos can reach up to 1.5-1.65 meters, their body length can be from 3 to 5 meters, and their weight can be 3 tons or more. These animals increase their mass throughout their lives, their teeth also grow throughout their lives and can reach 0.5 m in length. Interestingly, the skin alone weighs 0.5 tons.
7th place. White rhinoceros
White rhinoceros (lat. Ceratotherium simum) – the 2nd largest herbivore on the planet. Adults grow in height - up to 1.6-2 m, in length - about 3.8-4.2 m.
Average weight The white rhinoceros weighs about 3 tons; there are specimens much larger - about 8 tons. Interestingly, the white rhinoceros is not white at all, but rather gray. It probably received this name from a distorted Boer word “wijde”, which means “wide-faced” - consonant with English word“white” (Russian white).
8th place. Walrus
Walruses (lat. Odobenus rosmarus) is one of the ancient large animals that have existed since the last ice age. Fossils found in San Francisco Bay date back approximately 28,000 years.
And even now these giants grow up to 3 m in length and weigh up to 2 tons, the thickness of the skin (on the neck and shoulders of males) is up to 10 cm, and the layer of fat is up to 15 cm. Large ones are perfectly adapted for life in harsh conditions Arctic. They feed mainly on shellfish, but can also eat fish.
9th place. Black rhinoceros
Black rhinoceros (lat. Rhinoceros bicornis) – slightly finer than white. The weight of this animal does not exceed 1.5-2 tons, body length is about 3-3.5 meters, height at the shoulders is 1.5-1.6 m. Their habit of moving along the same paths and poor vision makes them vulnerable and defenseless against poachers.
The black rhinoceros has no natural enemies, so it is not at all timid and because of this it automatically becomes an easy trophy for hunters. Interestingly, the body of the black rhinoceros is more elongated in length and it is lighter than the white one.
10th place. Saltwater crocodile
Saltwater, or saltwater crocodile (lat. Crocodylus porosus) is the largest and most massive reptile on the planet. The saltwater crocodile can grow up to 5.5-7 meters (usually 5 m) in length, the weight of an adult (male) is from 409 kg to 1.5 tons.
Interesting fact: it has a high commercial value due to its leather, which is used to make various kinds clothes, shoes, etc. It is hunted and bred on crocodile farms.
Modern species of animals are absolutely not inferior in size to prehistoric animals, however, if a person does not belong to wildlife with due respect, then they will all die out just like those who lived millions of years ago.
You stand on the ocean shore, look at the endless expanses, and the thought involuntarily creeps in, what kind of inhabitants are hidden by the thickness of the water?
Animal world People primarily associate the seas and oceans with whales and sharks, so quite often you can hear the question, what are the largest animals in the world?
Let's try to deal with giant water monsters and identify the tallest inhabitants of the oceans and seas.
Everyone knows from childhood that the largest animal on the planet is the whale. If you believe distant ancestors, then three such animals held the Earth on their backs. Well, if we turn to science, it turns out that the largest (of those who were measured) specimen of the blue (blue) whale grew to 33.58 meters, and it was a female. The heaviest blue whale ever caught weighed over 190 tons. And then, the specialists had to weigh the record holder in parts, so the error was huge. One way or another, the result is impressive. Because 190 tons is the mass of two dozen elephants.
By the way, the blue whale is also considered the most vocal animal in the world. It can make sounds that can be heard 800 kilometers and further.
However, it is not easy for a whale to win the palm in the race for the title of the largest animal on the planet. Some other inhabitants of the planet are also taking part in the dispute, which, by the way, continues even now. And all of them, oddly enough, Marine life. There are even semi-mythical ones on the list, the existence of which is only guessed at. For example, megalodon. Many fans of sensations are trying to question the fact of its extinction to this day. There are even witnesses who observed giant sharks, and they say that it was not a whale or even a whale shark. But it is worth noting the real representatives of the fauna who are fighting for the title of the largest animal on Earth. More precisely, to say the longest. This giant jellyfish lion's mane or cyanide. Broadband giant water world can grow up to 37 meters (including tentacles). The diameter of the umbrella of this living creature is approximately 250 centimeters. And if we objectively evaluate these facts, then the jellyfish is longer and larger than the whale.
Another representative of the fauna of the sea does not lag behind the jellyfish. It's gigantic sea worm bootlace. In the 19th century, a worm about 55 meters long was discovered on the coast of Scotland near St. Andrews after a storm. Its width was only 10 centimeters. However, scientists did not recognize the giant as a giant. This is because worms can stretch and contract. Whale shark However, sharks also compete for the title of the largest. And which one can call itself the largest and most big fish in the World Ocean?
Now scientists assign leadership in body size to the whale shark. Experts believe that it is the largest of known to science fish However, debates on the topic of the maximum size of fish continue among scientists to this day.
The documented record is 14 meters. But it is not uncommon for information to appear about the capture of a larger representative of the species. Some sharks grow up to 20 and more meters. For example, in 2002, near Chinese Taiwan, fishermen caught a female weighing 34 tons and 20 meters long.
Scientists note that the difficulty in setting size limits whale shark not only that large specimens are quite rare in nature. In fact, this fish is listed on the IUCN Red List and fishing is prohibited. Catching an animal is punishable by law.
But this fact rarely stops poachers, since the fins of this individual alone cost tens of thousands of dollars in Asian markets. And if fishermen manage to catch a whale shark, then, of course, the catch is hidden from prying eyes and ears, especially scientists. The fish are usually cut on site, the fins and the most valuable parts of the body are trimmed, and the rest is returned to the sea.
Despite the controversy among scientists, no one denies that the whale shark is the largest modern fish that are known to science. By the way, almost nothing is known about their method of reproduction. Until recently, it was believed that sharks lay eggs. This conclusion was made after a huge egg 36 centimeters long was found at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico in 1953. And he was mistaken for the future baby whale shark. But at the end of the last century, a pregnant female was caught, inside of which there were embryos that had already hatched. Therefore, it became clear that sharks reproduce by ovoviviparity. Small sharks are already appearing with a length of 60 centimeters.
Whale shark in the waters
By the way, the most big shark The one that the man caught was just a whale. She was harpooned off the coast of Pakistan (near Baba Island) in 1949. The weight of the giant was 20 tons, and the length was almost 13 meters. The girth of the torso is also impressive - 7 meters. The fishermen immediately killed the fish, cut them into parts and sold them.
Another inhabitant of the waters is not far from the record holder - this is a giant shark. It is known that the size of such fish reaches 11 meters. And there is information about the capture of a larger individual (up to 15 meters), but it is not documented. It is worth noting that the giant shark and whale shark are almost not dangerous to humans. They feed only on zooplankton. And they are not at all interested in humans as prey. 
And they are dangerous because with one movement of the tail fin they can break a person’s spine or cause other serious injury. Therefore, you need to be careful in the immediate vicinity of monster fish.
Largemouth shark
Largemouth sharks also grow quite large, quite rare variety underwater predators. Maximum fixed size largemouth shark– 7 meters. But who knows, maybe even larger individuals swim in the depths of the oceanBigmouth shark
White shark
In 1978 at Azores, near the San Miguel harbor, a 7-meter white shark was caught using dozens of harpoons. This is a record to date. The White Death, as it is also called, resisted the fishermen and killed two people. She broke the spine of one and bit the other in half.By the way, there are cases when white shark caught with a fishing rod. So, in 1959, the Australian Elf Dian caught a cannibal on a steel fishing line in a small motor boat in the ocean. The weight of the predator was 1207 kilograms, and the length was just over five meters.
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Go to the section table of contents:Sharks
Family: Cetornidae = Basking sharks
Genus: Cetorhinus = Basking sharks
Elephant shark = Basking shark
L.A. BELOVA
In the winter of 1939, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, near the city of Provincetown in the US state of Massachusetts, the skeleton of a huge animal, bleached by the sea, was found. Its length was about 7.5 m. And although the huge skull resembled the skull of a fish, the four truncated legs, or rather the “bones” from them, and the long elongated spine caused bewilderment. Soon people were talking about the “sea serpent” all along the coast.
But, as it turned out, 
years ago this belonged to the giant shark (Cetorhinus maximus) - the second largest shark extant today. This fish can reach 14 m in length and weigh up to 10 tons. This is only slightly less than the “record holder” - the whale shark (Rhincodon typus). The pectoral fins of a giant shark are large and powerful - they serve as “load-bearing planes” that do not allow the heavy front half of the fish’s body to fall down when swimming. When dead body If a giant shark is washed ashore and the soft tissues decompose, then the remains of these fins are preserved next to the elongated skull and long spine. And if it was a male shark, then near the skeleton you can also find a couple of meter-long pterygopodia. As a result, it seems that the remains of some mysterious four-legged creature lie on the shore.
Very large specimens of the giant shark are rare, but even “small” individuals of this species look impressive - their average length is 4–8 m, and their weight is from 3 to 6 tons. Despite its terrifying appearance, the giant shark is a harmless creature. This fish feeds on plankton, which it collects by cruising near the surface of the water at a speed of two to three knots (3–5 km/h) with its mouth wide open and filtering through its gills up to 2000, and according to other sources, up to 6000 tons of water every hour. The teeth of the giant shark are small, no more than 0.5 cm. But the gill slits are huge - they cover the head from the back to the throat, and when the fish protrudes its gills, it seems that its head is about to break off from the body. And through the open mouth you can see the inside of the gill cavity. Each gill arch carries 1000–1300 long horny gills 
ridges on which planktonic organisms settle. The stomach of the giant shark is very large; in large specimens, about 1 ton of planktonic mass was found in it.
In some young specimens of the giant shark, the laterally compressed snout hangs over the mouth like a trunk, and the head is flattened on the sides, which gives the fish a resemblance to an old elephant with sunken cheeks. Such fish were called “elephant sharks”, and they were long considered representatives of a separate species. In adult basking sharks, the snout is less curved, and the resemblance to an elephant disappears.
The giant shark lives in moderately cold and temperate waters of both hemispheres. Individual specimens are also found here - off the coast of the Kola Peninsula and even in the White Sea. In summer, basking sharks actively feed or drift slowly, protruding their dorsal and caudal fins and the tip of their snout from the water. For this, the British call them basking shark - a shark basking in the sun. These fish live alone or in small groups.
Almost nothing is known about the reproduction of the basking shark. The smallest fish of this species ever caught had a length of 165 cm. Based on indirect data, it can be judged that these sharks are ovoviviparous and give birth to 1–2 cubs, and the “pregnancy” lasts at least 3 years.
In winter, when the number of planktonic organisms drops and the water temperature becomes low, basking sharks are practically invisible. Many researchers believe that at this time, the energy expenditure when swimming to collect plankton would be much higher than the shark could obtain from food. Therefore, these fish are probably inactive during the winter, which allows them to economically use up the fat reserves accumulated in the summer. They lie passively on the ocean floor in such a position that the current ensures the flow of water through the gills. But what the situation really is is unknown - maybe the fish simply migrate south and stay far from the shores.
Fat reserves are deposited mainly in the liver, the weight of which can be up to 20% of the total weight of the fish. Because of this oil, which was used for technical purposes, giant sharks have long been hunted along Atlantic coast Europe. Seeing an animal grazing in plankton fields, hunters approached it in boats or small vessels and hurled harpoons at it. When it became known that shark liver oil contains more vitamins than classic “ fish fat» – cod, the demand for basking sharks has increased sharply. Especially many sharks were caught during World War II. Then the boom passed, but the reserves of these amazing fish turned out to be undermined. Nowadays the giant shark is rare and is listed in the International Red Book...
Our world is truly amazing. It is full of creatures big and small, low and tall. Today we offer you an extraordinary interesting selection. It contains photographs of fifteen of the largest animals in the world, broken down by various categories such as mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, etc. Some of these animals are real giants!
1. The largest animal in the world is the blue (or blue) whale.
The blue whale, also called the blue whale or vomit whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is marine mammals, which belongs to the order of cetaceans in the suborder of baleen whales. Reaching 30 meters (98 feet) in length and weighing 180 metric tons or more, it is the largest animal known to have ever lived on our planet. A blue whale's tongue can weigh about 2.7 tons (5,952 lb), which is about the same weight as an average size Asian elephant. The blue whale's heart weighs about 600 kilograms (1,300 pounds) and is the largest such organ of any living creature. Not only is the heart of a blue whale the size of a small car, but it also weighs about the same as said car. And the volume of a blue whale’s lungs exceeds 3 thousand liters.
2. The blue whale is thought to feed almost exclusively on small shrimp-like creatures known as krill.
3. The diet of the blue whale is based on plankton. Thanks to its filtering apparatus, which consists of whalebone plates, summer months a blue whale can consume a whopping 3.6 metric tons (7,900 lb) or more daily.
4. This means that he can eat up to 40 million krill per day, given that daily requirement The calories of an adult blue whale are around 1.5 million. kcal
6. The largest land animal in the world: African elephant. The African elephant is the largest land animal. Male African elephants reach 6 to 7.5 meters (19.7 to 24.6 ft) in length, 3.3 m (10.8 ft) high at the withers, and can weigh up to 6 tons (13,000 lb). Female African elephants are much smaller, measuring on average 5.4 to 6.9 m (17.7 to 22.6 ft) long, 2.7 meters (8.9 ft) high at the withers, and weighing up to reach 3 tons (6600 lb). Adult African elephants generally have no enemies in their natural habitat due to their extreme large sizes, but elephant calves (especially newborns) are one of the favorite prey species for bloodthirsty attacks by lions or crocodiles, and are also often attacked by leopards or hyenas. According to recent data, the population of African elephants in the wild ranges from 500 to 600 thousand individuals.
7. Tallest land animal in the world: giraffe.
Giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis listen)) is an African mammal from the order artiodactyl family Giraffidae It is the tallest land animal in the world. its height averages 5-6 meters (16-20 ft). Male giraffes have an average weight of 1,600 kilograms (3,500 lb), while females can weigh around 830 kilograms (1,800 lb). Distinctive characteristic The giraffe has a very long neck that can reach over 2 meters (6 ft 7 in) in length. Actually, the neck accounts for almost half vertical height animal. Long neck is the result of a disproportionate lengthening of the cervical vertebrae, and not an increase in the number of vertebrae, of which the giraffe, like almost all other mammals, has only seven
8. Top predator in the world: Southern elephant seal.
The southern elephant seal is the largest carnivore on our planet. The size of the southern elephant seal is evidence of extreme sexual dimorphism, the most significant of any mammal, as male southern elephant seals are typically five to six times heavier than females. While females on average can weigh 400 to 900 kilograms (880 to 2,000 lb) and be 2.6 to 3 meters (8.5 to 9.8 ft) in length, male southern elephant seals weigh on average approximately 2,200 to 4,000 kg (4,900 to 8,800 lb) and can reach 4.5 to 5.8 meters (15 to 19 ft) in length. The all-time record holder of the southern elephant seal, shot at Possession Bay, South Georgia, on February 28, 1913, measured 6.85 meters (22.5 ft) in length and was estimated to weigh approximately 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb).
Southern marines can dive repeatedly when hunting, remaining underwater for more than twenty minutes each time, stalking their prey, squid and fish, to depths of 400 to 1,000 meters (1,300 to 3,300 ft). The documented record for staying underwater for a juvenile elephant seal was approximately two hours. Maximum depth The depth to which southern elephant seals can dive is more than 1,400 meters (4,600 ft).
9. Largest land predator in the world: Polar bear and Kodiak bear.
The world's largest terrestrial predator is the white polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) and Kodiak brown bear, ( Ursus ARCTOS). If with white polar bear everything is more or less clear, the Kodiak bear is less known.
10. Kodiak is a subspecies of brown bears that are found on Kodiak Island and other islands of the Kodiak archipelago near south coast Alaska. Since polar polar bear and the Kodiak brown bear have approximately the same body size; it is not clear which of them actually takes first place in terms of size. In both species, the height at the withers is over 1.6 meters (5.2 ft), and the total body length can reach 3.05 m (10.0 ft). Absolute weight record for polar and brown bear was 1003 kg (2210 lb) and 1135 kg (2500 lb) respectively.
11. The largest reptile in the world: Saltwater (combed or spongy) crocodile.
Saltwater crocodile(Crocodylus porosus), is the largest reptile currently existing in the world. The habitat of saltwater crocodiles ranges from Northern Australia to South-East Asia And east coast India. An adult male saltwater crocodile can weigh between 409 and 1,000 kilograms (900-2,200 lb) and is typically between 4.1 and 5.5 meters (13-18 ft) in length. However, males can exceed 6 meters (20 ft) in length and sometimes reach weights of over 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). The saltwater saltwater crocodile is the only crocodile species that regularly reaches lengths of 4.8 m (16 ft) and even exceeds this mark. The saltwater crocodile is an active predator that feeds primarily on insects, molluscs, amphibians, crustaceans, small reptiles and fish. However, it attacks almost any animal that is on its territory, either in the water or on land. The crocodile always drags the victim it watches on land into the water, where it is more difficult for it to resist it.
12. The largest amphibian in the world: the Chinese giant salamander.
The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is the largest salamander in the world. Individual specimens of the Chinese giant salamander can reach a length of 180 centimeters (6 feet), although giants like these are now extremely rare. This species is endemic mountain rivers and lakes in China. One of the conditions necessary for the survival of the Chinese giant salamander is clean and very cold water.
13. Today this species is considered endangered due to habitat destruction, pollution environment and targeted destruction, since the meat of the giant amphibian is considered a delicacy and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
14. Largest rabbit/hare in the world: "Belgian Flanders". The Belgian Flanders is an ancient breed of domesticated rabbit that originates from the Flemish region.
15. They were first bred in the sixteenth century in the vicinity of Ghent, Belgium. Belgian Flanders rabbits can weigh up to 12.7 kilograms (28 pounds).
16. Largest bat in the world: giant golden flying fox. Pictured: a giant golden flying fox. Spectacled flying fox.
The largest of all bat species is the giant golden flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), a critically endangered species. bats from tropical forests Philippine, which is part of the fruit bat family. The main diet of giant golden flying foxes is fruit. Weight Limit Giant golden flying foxes can weigh 1.5 kg (3.3 lb), can reach 55 centimeters (22 in) in length, and have a wingspan of almost 1.8 meters (5.9 ft). The giant flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) is inferior to the golden flying fox in body weight and length, but is ahead of it in wingspan. Scientists recorded individuals with wingspans ranging from 1.83 meters (6.0 ft) to 2 meters (6.6 ft).
17. Largest rodent in the world: capybara.
The largest existing rodent is the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), a species that is found along the shores of various bodies of water in the tropical and temperate parts of the Central and South America, east of the Andes - from Panama to Uruguay to northeast Argentina. One of the main conditions for the existence of a capybara is the presence of a nearby body of water.
18. The largest capybaras can reach 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) in length and 0.9 meters (3.0 ft) in height at the withers. They can weigh up to 105.4 kg (232 lb). This is a very active species. Capybaras are social animals that live in groups of up to hundreds of individuals, but the usual size of one colony is on average 10-20 individuals.
19. Largest bony fish in the world: common sunfish (sunfish, headfish).
Osteichthyes, also called "bony fish", are a taxonomic group of fish that have bony rather than cartilaginous skeletons. The vast majority of fish belong to the species Osteichthyes. It is extremely diverse and large group, which consists of more than 29,000 species. This is the largest class of vertebrates currently existing.
20. The largest representative bony fish is the widespread common sunfish (sunfish, headfish) or Mola Mola. She is extremely strange shape body - it is compressed laterally, very high and short, which gives the fish an outlandish appearance and a disk-like shape. In fact, it does not have a body as such - the sunfish is literally a “head and tail”. Mature Common fish-head has average length 1.8 meters (5.9 feet), fin-to-fin width reaches 2.5 meters (8.2 feet), and average weight is 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds). However, scientists have recorded individuals that can be up to 3.3 meters (10.8 feet) long and 4.2 meters (14 feet) across. These giants can weigh up to 2,300 kilograms (5,100 pounds).
21. Largest lizard/ snake in the world: giant green anaconda.
The giant anaconda, sometimes also called the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), is a species of snake in the subfamily Boa constrictors. It lives in the tropical part of South America east of the Andes, Paraguay, Northern Bolivia, and French Guiana. The maximum recorded body length is 7.5 meters (25 feet), and the maximum recorded weight reaches 250 kilograms (550 pounds), although there are rumors of green anacondas being much larger. Reticulated python(Python reticulatus) from Southeast Asia is larger in body length but slimmer, and members of this species are reported to reach a maximum length of 9.7 meters (32 ft).
22. The world's largest bird: ostrich.
Ostrich, the most large bird on our planet (Struthio Camelus), found on the plains of Africa and Arabia. The scientific name of ostrich comes from Greek and means “camel sparrow.” A large male ostrich can reach a height of 2.8 meters (9.2 feet), and weigh more than 156 kilograms (345 pounds). Ostrich eggs can weigh up to 1.4 kilograms (3 pounds) and are the largest bird eggs in the world. modern world. Ostriches can develop when running maximum speed up to 97.5 km/h (60.6 mph), making the ostrich the fastest bird on earth and the fastest bipedal creature in the world.
The Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is a member of the pelican family. The Dalmatian Pelican's habitat covers a large area from South-Eastern Europe to India and China. Dalmatian pelicans live in swamps and shallow lakes. It is the largest of the pelicans, and on average members of this species can reach 160-180 centimeters (63-70 inches) in length, and weigh 11-15 kilograms (24-33 pounds). The Dalmatian Pelican has a wingspan of just over 3 meters (10 feet). With an average weight of 11.5 kilograms (25 lb), the Dalmatian Pelican is the heaviest flying bird. Although a large male bustard or swan can exceed a pelican in maximum weight.
24. Largest arthropod in the world: Japanese spider crab.
The Japanese spider crab is one of the species sea crab, which lives in the waters off the coast of Japan. It has a leg span of 3.8 meters (12 feet) and can weigh up to 41 pounds (19 kilograms).
26. In its natural habitat, Japanese spider crab feeds on shellfish and animal carcasses and its lifespan can be up to 100 years.
