Animal Hall of Fame

Biggest

Land mammal: African elephants weigh up to 14,000 pounds and can eat as much as 600 pounds of food a day!

Marine mammal: The blue whale is the world's biggest animal, even larger than any known dinosaur. An average-sized adult is 80 feet long and weighs about 120 tons. This giant is also the loudest animal on Earth. Its call, which is louder than a jet, can be heard for hundreds of miles.

Bird: The ostrich can grow to 9 feet tall and weigh as much as 350 pounds. Its eggs, the largest of all birds, weigh up to three pounds.

Fish: The whale shark , which is not a whale, reaches 46 feet in length and weighs up to 15 tons.

Reptile: The saltwater crocodile can grow to 23 feet long.

Insect: Giant walking sticks can grow to about 13 in length.

Smallest

Land mammal: The bumblebee bat tips the scales at about 2 grams and measures between 30 and 40 millimeters as an adult.

Marine mammal: Sea otters weigh between 35 and 90 pounds.

Bird: The hummingbird, which grows to only 2.5 inches long and weighs only 0.06 ounce.

Fish: The Paedocypris progenetica, which was recently discovered in Indonesia, measures just over 1/3 of an inch long.

Reptile: The British Virgin Islands gecko is about ¾ of an inch long when full grown.

Insect: Fairyflies are only about 1/5 of a millimeter long.

Fastest

Land mammal: The cheetah can run as fast as 70 m.p.h.

Marine mammal: Killer whales can reach speeds of 48 m.p.h.

Bird: The peregrine falcon dives at speeds of up to 200 m.p.h. and can fly at a rate of 90 m.p.h., making it not only the fastest bird, but also the fastest animal. Ostriches can run as fast as 43 m.p.h.

Fish: The Indo-Pacific sailfish can swim at speeds of up to 68 m.p.h.

Reptile: The spiny-tailed iguana has been clocked in at 21 m.p.h.

Insect: Hawk moths can reach a speed of about 33 m.p.h.

Meanest

(Since many animals could claim the title “meanest,”
this list is subjective rather than authoritative.)

Land mammal: The ratel, or honey badger, is one of the fiercest, most predatory animals on the planet. They prey upon many animals, including scorpions, porcupines, tortoises, crocodiles, and snakes. Attracted to honey, they also ravage beehives. Healthy ratels have no predators; their viciousness and loose skin, which make them difficult to grip, keep other animals at a distance.

Marine mammal: Leopard seals and killer whales are the most predatory of all marine mammals. Leopard seals have been known to seek out human victims. Killer whales are the only mammals that prey on leopard seals. Bird: The peregrine falcon, a fiercely aggressive hunter, preys on small mammals and other birds. It descends on its victims from the air at speeds of up to 200 m.p.h.

Fish: The stonefish, which lives at the bottom of the ocean, is the most poisonous fish in the world. Its 13 dorsal spines release deadly venom, making it dangerous to both humans and marine life.

Reptile: One bite from the inland taipan, a shy snake contains enough toxin to kill about 100 people.

Insect: The anopheles mosquito is deadliest creature on Earth. It’s responsible for more than 300 million cases of malaria each year and causes between one and three million deaths.

Fact Monster/Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

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