The 5 Largest Animals to Have Ever Lived on Earth

Well, this list doesn't contain Godzilla or King Kong. So, you can have a glance of five humongous beasts that animals that once roamed on Earth:

1. Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus):

   - Size: The blue whale is the largest animal to have ever lived on Earth. Adult blue whales can reach lengths of up to 100 feet (30 meters) or more.

   - Weight: They can weigh as much as 200 tons (approximately 400,000 pounds).

   - Amazing Facts: The tongue of a blue whale alone can weigh as much as an elephant, and its heart can be as large as a small car. Despite their immense size, blue whales feed primarily on tiny shrimp-like animals called krill. They are known for their deep, haunting songs that can be heard over great distances.

2. Argentinosaurus (Argentinosaurus huinculensis):

- Size: Argentinosaurus is one of the largest known dinosaurs. It was a long-necked sauropod dinosaur that could reach lengths of around 100 to 130 feet (30 to 40 meters).

   - Weight: Estimates suggest that this dinosaur could weigh up to 70 to 100 tons (140,000 to 200,000 pounds).

   - Amazing Facts: Argentinosaurus lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 94 to 97 million years ago. As a herbivorous dinosaur, it likely spent its days consuming vast amounts of plant matter to sustain its massive body.

3. Spinosaurus (Spinosaurus aegyptiacus):

   - Size: Spinosaurus was one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs ever discovered. It measured around 49 to 59 feet (15 to 18 meters) in length.

   - Weight: The estimated weight of Spinosaurus is around 12 to 20 tons (24,000 to 40,000 pounds).

   - Amazing Facts: Unlike many other large theropod dinosaurs, Spinosaurus had adaptations for a semi-aquatic lifestyle. It had a long, narrow snout, conical teeth, and a sail-like structure on its back, which may have helped regulate body temperature or assist in swimming. Spinosaurus lived during the Cretaceous period, about 112 to 97 million years ago.

4. Megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon):

   - Size: Megalodon is an extinct species of giant shark, often referred to as the "biggest predatory shark in history." It could grow to lengths of around 52 to 82 feet (16 to 25 meters) or more.

   - Weight: The weight of Megalodon is estimated to be in the range of 50 to 100 tons (100,000 to 200,000 pounds).

   - Amazing Facts: Megalodon lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago during the Cenozoic Era. It had an enormous mouth equipped with rows of massive, serrated teeth, making it a formidable apex predator in the ancient oceans. Despite its immense size, it is believed to have primarily preyed upon large marine mammals such as whales.

5. Shastasaurus (Shastasaurus sikanniensis):

   - Size: Shastasaurus is one of the largest known marine reptiles to have ever existed. It could reach lengths of up to 69 to 75 feet (21 to 23 meters).

   - Weight: Estimates suggest that it could weigh around 20 to 75 tons (40,000 to 150,000 pounds).

   - Amazing Facts: Shastasaurus was an ichthyosaur that lived during the Triassic period, around 248 to 240 million years ago. Its long and slender body, along with its large flippers, indicates that it was well-adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, likely being a swift and efficient swimmer. It was a carnivorous predator that likely fed on fish and other marine animals.

These magnificent creatures from different periods in Earth's history showcase the incredible diversity of life that has existed on our planet and how certain species have adapted to reach enormous sizes.