List of largest mammals

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The following is a list of largest mammals by family.

Tenrecs and allies (Afrosoricida)

  • The largest of these insectivorous mammals is the giant otter shrew (Potamogale velox), native to Central Africa. This species can weigh up to 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) and measure 0.64 metres (2.1 ft) in total length.[1][2]
The hippopotamus is the most massive of the even-toed ungulates.

Even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla)

  • The largest species in terms of weight is the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), native to the rivers of sub-Saharan Africa. They can attain a size of 4,500 kg (9,900 lb), 4.8 m (16 ft) long and 1.66 m (5.4 ft) tall.[3] Prehistoric hippos such as H. gorgops and H. antiquus rivaled or exceeded the modern species as the largest members of the family and order to ever exist.
  • The longest-bodied species, and tallest of all living land animals, is the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), measuring up to 5.8 m (19 ft) tall to the top of the head, and despite being relatively slender, reaching a top weight of 2,000 kg (4,400 lb).[4]
  • The largest extant representative of the bovids, a diverse and well-known family, is the Asian forest-dwelling gaur (Bos gaurus), in which bulls can weigh up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb), 4.5 m (15 ft) in total length and stand 2.2 m (7.2 ft) at the shoulder.[5][6] The living American Bison (Bison bison) of North America 2 to 3.5 m (6.6 to 11.5 ft) long, the tail adding 30 to 91 cm (12 to 36 in). Shoulder heights in the species can range from 152 to 186 cm (60 to 73 in). Weights can range from 318 to 1,000 kg (701 to 2,205 lb)[7][8] The heaviest wild bull ever recorded weighed 1,270 kg (2,800 lb).[9] When raised in captivity and farmed for meat, the bison can grow unnaturally heavy and the largest semidomestic bison weighed 1,724 kg (3,801 lb).[7] The heads and forequarters are massive, and both sexes have short, curved horns that can grow up to 2 ft (61 cm) long, which they use in fighting for status within the herd and for defense. are Wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) of Asia are larger and heavier than domestic buffalo, and weigh from 700 to 1,200 kg (1,500 to 2,600 lb). Their head-to-body-length is 240 to 300 cm (94 to 118 in) with a tail 60 to 100 cm (24 to 39 in) long, and a shoulder height of 150 to 190 cm (59 to 75 in). Both sexes carry horns that are heavy at the base and widely spreading up to 2 m (79 in) The extinct giant bison (Bison latifrons) may be the largest bovid in the fossil record, with an estimated shoulder up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) and a weight over 2,000 kg (4,400 lb).[10] Domestic cattle (Bos primigenius taurus) are usually smaller, although obese steers have been reported to weigh up to 2,140 kg (4,720 lb).[11] The largest antelopes and gazelles is the giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus) from Africa[12][13][14][15] They are typically between 220 and 290 cm (7.2 and 9.5 ft) in head-and-body length and stand approximately 130 to 180 cm (4.3 to 5.9 ft) at the shoulder. Giant elands exhibit sexual dimorphism, as males are larger than females. The males weigh 400 to 1,000 kg (880 to 2,200 lb) and females weigh 300 to 600 kg (660 to 1,320 lb).[16] The tail is long, having a dark tuft of hair, and averages 90 cm (35 in) in length. The life expectancy of giant elands is up to 25 years in the wild, and about 20 years in captivity.[16]
  • The largest species in the pig family is generally the giant forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni), a native of the African rainforests, at up to 275 kg (606 lb), 2.55 m (8.4 ft) in length and 1.1 m (3.6 ft) high at the shoulder.[17] Although wild boars (Sus scrofa) have reportedly reached 320 kg (710 lb) historically, especially the Manchurian subspecies (Sus scrofa ussuricus)[18] and obese domestic pigs (S. s. domesticus) which have been weighed at 1,157 kg (2,551 lb). The largest wild suid to ever exist was Kubanochoerus gigas, having measured up to 550 kg (1,210 lb) and stood more than 1.3 m (4.3 ft) tall at the shoulder.[19]
  • The largest living cervid is the moose (Alces alces), particularly the Alaskan subspecies, verified at up to 820 kg (1,810 lb), a total length of 3.5 m (11 ft) and a shoulder height of 2.4 m (7.9 ft).[20] The extinct Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus) and the stag-moose (Cervalces scotti) were of similar or of slightly larger size than the Alaskan moose. However, the Irish elk could have antlers spanning up to 4.3 m (14 ft) across, about twice the maximum span for a moose's antlers.[21]
  • The largest members of the camel family are either the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), which is still wild in the steppe of central Asia, or the similarly sized dromedary (Camelus dromedarius), which no longer exists as a purely wild species but is widespread in the Middle East as a domestic animal, with a large introduced feral population in Australia. Both camels can weigh up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), 4 m (13 ft) in total length, 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall at the shoulder and a height of 3.45 m (11.3 ft) at the hump.[22][23][24] Several giant camels are known from fossils, the previous record holders, Gigantocamelus and Titanotylopus from North America, both possibly reached 2,485.6 kg (5,480 lb) and a shoulder height of over 3.4 m (11 ft).[25][26] A newly discovered, unnamed fossil species commonly called the Syrian camel may have been even larger, at an estimated shoulder height of 3.6 or even 4 m (12–13 ft).[27]
A beachmaster southern elephant seal

Carnivores (Carnivora)

  • The largest carnivore as well as the largest pinniped is the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), attaining sizes up to 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) in weight and 6.9 m (23 ft) in length.[20]
  • The largest living land carnivore, on average, is the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). It can reach a shoulder height of over 1.6 m (5.2 ft) and total length of as much as 3.1 m (10 ft). The heaviest wild polar and weight recorded was 1,002 kg (2,209 lb). The Kodiak bear, a brown bear subspecies rivals the polar bear in size, but is slightly smaller. It has a similar body length with the largest wild specimen weighing 750 kg (1,650 lb). The largest panda is Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanouca) of China 1.2 to 1.9 m (4 to 6 ft) long, including a tail of about 10–15 cm (3.9–5.9 in), and 60 to 90 cm (2.0 to 3.0 ft) tall at the shoulder.[28][29] Males can weigh up to 160 kg (350 lb).[30] Females (generally 10–20% smaller than males)[31] can weigh as little as 70 kg (150 lb), but can also weigh up to 125 kg (276 lb).[32][28][33] Average adult weight is 100 to 115 kg (220 to 254 lb).[34] The largest bear, and possibly the largest known mammalian land carnivore of all time, was Arctotherium angustidens. The largest specimen yet found is estimated to weigh up to 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) and stood up to 3.29 m (10 ft 10 in) tall on the hind-limbs[35]
  • The largest living members of the family Felidae and the largest tiger subspecies are the Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and the Bengal tiger (P. t. tigris) reaching up 3.5 m (11 ft) in total length and standing up to 1.21 m (4.0 ft) at the shoulder.[20] with reports of males up to 384 and 389 kg (847 and 858 lb) respectively, males average around 230 kg (510 lb) and normally reach as much as 310 kg (680 lb). The largest members of the family Felidae were the extinct American lion (Panthera leo atrox), averaging 256 kg (564 lb) and the saber-toothed cat Smilodon populator of which the largest males might have exceeded 400 kg (880 lb), matched by captive ligers (hybrids between lions and tigers) which can grow up to non-obese weights over 410 kg (900 lb).[36]
  • The largest living member of Canidae is the gray wolf (Canis lupus). The largest specimens from the Mackenzie Valley wolf (C. l. occidentalis) or the Eurasian wolf (C. l. lupus) weigh up to 80–86 kg (176–190 lb) and measure up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in total length and 0.9 m (3.0 ft) tall at the shoulder. Eurasian wolves from the Russian area have even been reported to weigh as much as 90–96 kg (198–212 lb), though these figures require verification.[37][38] Domestic dogs can occasionally grow heavier, up to 155.6 kg (343 lb).[39] The largest known canid is an extinct member of subfamilly Borophaginae, Epicyon haydeni. The largest known specimen of this species weighed an estimated 170 kg (370 lb).[40]
  • The largest and most diverse family of carnivores, the mustelids, reaches their maximum size (by mass) in the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) of the North Pacific coasts, at up to 54 kg (119 lb), and (by length) the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) of the Amazonian rainforests, at up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft) in total.[41][42] The largest mustelid to ever exist was likely the odd cat-like Ekorus from Africa, about the size of a leopard and filling a similar ecological niche before big cats came to the continent. Another contender for largest of this family is the wolverine-like Megalictis, which according to older estimates could have reached the size af a black bear. Newer estimates, however, significantly downgrade its size, although, at a maximum weight more than twice that of a wolverine, it is larger than most (if not all) living mustelids.
  • The largest species in the mongoose family is the African white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda), at up to 6 kg (13 lb) and 1.18 m (3.9 ft) long.
  • The largest species in the viverrid family is the Asian binturong (Arctictis binturong), at up to 27 kg (60 lb) and 1.85 m (6.1 ft) long, about half of which is tail.[43][44] The largest viverrid known to have existed is Viverra leakeyi, which was around the size of a wolf or small leopard at 41 kg (90 lb).[45]
  • The largest modern species in the hyena family is the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) of sub-Saharan Africa, at up to a maximum weight of 86–90 kg (190–198 lb).[46] Spotted hyenas can range up to 2.13 m (7.0 ft) in total length and 93 cm (37 in) tall at the shoulder.[44] The largest fossil hyena is the lion-sized Pachycrocuta, estimated at 200 kg (440 lb).[47]
  • The largest living procyonid is the raccoon (Procyon lotor) of North American, having a body length of 40 to 70 cm (16 to 28 in) and a body weight of 3.5 to 9 kg (8 to 20 lb). The extinct Chapalmalania of South America was the largest known member of this family, about 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in body length.
  • The largest skunk is generally considered the striped skunk, which can weigh up to 6.35 kg (14.0 lb) and reaches lengths of up to 70 cm (2.3 ft). The American hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus) is longer reaching lengths of up to 82.5 cm (2.71 ft), but is usually less heavy, at up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg).
The killer whale is the largest oceanic dolphin.

Whales (Cetacea)

  • The largest whale (and largest mammal) is the blue whale, a baleen whale (Mysticeti). Its closest competitors are also baleen whales, the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), which can reach a size of 27 m (89 ft) in length and weight of 109 tonnes, and the bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) and North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica), both measured up to 21.2 m (70 ft) and estimated at that length to weigh about 133 tonnes.[20][48]
  • The largest toothed whale (Odontoceti) is the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), bulls of which usually range up to 18.2 m (60 ft) long and a mass of 50 tonnes.
  • The killer whale or orca (Orcinus orca) is the largest species of the oceanic dolphin family. The largest killer whale ever recorded was a male off the coast of Japan, measuring 9.7 m (32 ft) long and weighed 10 tonnes.[49]
  • The largest porpoise is the Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), at up to 220 kg (490 lb) and 2.3 m (7.5 ft) in length.[48]
  • The largest beaked whale is the Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) at up to 14 tonnes and 13 m (43 ft) long.[50]
  • The largest beluga and narwhals is the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Adult male beluga whales can range from 3.5 to 5.5 m (11 to 18 ft), while the females measure 3 to 4.1 m (9.8 to 13.5 ft).
  • The largest river dolphin is the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) from Amazon basin 1.53 to 2.4 m (5.0 to 7.9 ft), depending on subspecies. Females are typically larger than males. The largest female Amazon river dolphins can range up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
  • Fragmentary fossils of extinct rorquals from the Pliocene epoch suggest they rivaled the size of the largest whales today.[51]
The largest bat, the giant golden-crowned flying fox is about as large as a hare and only found in The Philippines.

Bats (Chiroptera)

  • The largest bat species is the giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus), an endangered fruit bat from the rainforests of the Philippines that is part of the megabat family. The maximum size of this species is 1.5 kg (3.3 lb), 55 cm (22 in) a length, and a wingspan that may be almost 1.8 m (5.9 ft). The large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) is smaller in body mass and length, but it has been known to exceed the golden-crowned species in wingspan. Specimens have been verified to 1.83 m (6.0 ft) and possibly up to 2 m (6.6 ft) in wingspan.[20]
  • The neotropical spectral bat (Vampyrum spectrum), at up to 95 g (3.4 oz), 14 cm (5.5 in) long and about 0.9 m (3.0 ft) in wingspan, is believed to be the largest carnivorous bat, belonging to the microbat suborder.[52]

Armadillos (Cingulata)

  • The extant giant of this group is the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), native to tropical South America. The top size for this species is 54 kg (119 lb), 0.55 m (1.8 ft) high at the shoulder and 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in length, although captive specimens can weigh up to 80 kg (180 lb).[53][54]
  • Much larger prehistoric examples are known, especially Glyptodon of the Americas, which probably averaged around 2 tonnes and could reach 4 m (13 ft) in total length and 1.53 m (5.0 ft) high at the top of the shelled back.[55][56]

Colugos (Dermoptera)

  • Of the two colugo species in the order Dermoptera of gliding arboreal mammals in southeast Asia, the largest and most common is the Sunda flying lemur (Cynocephalus varigatus). The maximum size is 2 kg (4.4 lb) and 73 cm (29 in) in length.[57]

Hedgehogs and gymnures (Erinaceomorpha)

  • The largest of this order and family of prickly-skinned, small mammals is the greater moonrat (Echinosorex gymnura), native to the rainforests of the Malaysian Peninsula as well as Sumatra and Borneo. The maximum size of this species is over 2 kg (4.4 lb) and 60 cm (24 in).[20] The moonrat is a member of the same family as hedgehogs, which are typically much smaller than the moonrat. Even larger was the giant gymnure Deinogalerix from Miocene Europe. It was estimated to grow larger than a house cat.

Hyraxes (Hyracoidea)

  • The largest species of hyrax seems to be the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), at up to 5.4 kg (12 lb) and 73 cm (29 in) long. Prehistorically, the hyraxes were, for a time, the primary terrestrial herbivores in Africa, and some forms grew as large as horses.[58]
The European hare is one of the largest living lagomorphs

Rabbits, hares, and pikas (Lagomorpha)

  • The largest extant wild species may be the European hare (Lepus europaeus), native to western and central Eurasia. This lagomorph can range up to 7 kg (15 lb) in weight and 0.85 m (2.8 ft) in total length.[59] However, the Alaskan hare (Lepus othus) has almost the same exact body-proportions and weighs slightly more, averaging 4.8 kg (11 lb) and reaching a maximum mass of 7.2 kg (16 lb).[60] Also, an occasional Arctic hare (L. arcticus) can also weigh as much as 7 kg (15 lb) but is typically smaller overall than the European and Alaskan species.[61] The largest domestic rabbit breed is the Flemish Giant, which can attain a maximum known weight of 12.7 kg (28 lb). The largest lagomorph ever was Nuralagus rex, native to Minorca, which could have possibly grown up to 23 kg (51 lb).[62]

Elephant shrews (Macroscelidea)

  • The elephant shrews are named for their combination of long, trunk-like snouts and long legs combined with a general shrew-like body form, but these animals are in fact not closely related to any other extant order (including tree shrews) and are a unique group behaviorally and in appearance. The largest species is the recently discovered grey-faced sengi (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis), known only from the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya. This elephant shrew can range up to 0.75 kg (1.7 lb) and a length of 0.6 m (2.0 ft).[63][64]

Marsupials (Marsupialia)

The red kangaroo is the largest living marsupial
  • The largest opossum is the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) from North America. Virginia opossums can vary considerably in size, with larger specimens found to the north of the opossum's range and smaller specimens in the tropics. They measure 13–37 inches (35–94 cm) long from their snout to the base of the tail, with the tail adding another 8.5–19 inches (21.6–47 cm). Weight for males ranges from 1.7 to 14 pounds (0.8–6.4 kg) and for females from 11 ounces to 8.2 pounds (0.3–3.7 kg).[65]
  • The largest possum is the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) from Australia 32–58 cm[66] with a tail length of 24–40 cm.[67] It weighs 1.2-4.5 kg.[67] Males are generally larger than females.
  • The red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) of Australia is the largest living marsupial, and the largest member of the kangaroo family. These lanky mammals has been verified to 91 kg (201 lb) and 2.18 m (7.2 ft) when standing completely upright.[20] Unconfirmed specimens have been reported up to 150 kg (330 lb).[68] Prehistoric kangaroos reached even larger sizes. Procoptodon goliah was one of the largest known kangaroo that ever existed, standing approximately 2 m (6.6 ft) and weighing about 230 kg (510 lb).[69] Some species from the genus Sthenurus were similar in size as well.
  • The northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus kreffti) is the largest vombatiform alive today with a head and body length up to 102 cm (40 in) and a weight of up to 40 kg (88 lb). Prehistorically, this suborder contained many huge marsupials, including the largest to ever exist: Diprotodon. This rhino-sized herbivore would have reached more than 3.3 m (11 ft) in length and stood 1.83 m (6.0 ft) at shoulder and was estimated to weigh up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb).[70][71]
  • The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), endemic to Tasmania, is the largest living marsupial carnivore. These stocky mammals can range up to 14 kg (31 lb) and 1.1 m (3.6 ft) in total length.[72][73] The recently extinct thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus), a close relative of the devil, grew larger and was the largest member of the group to survive into modern times. The largest measured specimen was 290 cm (9.5 ft) from nose to tail.
  • The largest carnivorous marsupials known to ever exist would have been the Australian marsupial lion (Thylacoleo) and the South American saber-toothed marsupial (Thylacosmilus) both ranging from 1.5 to 1.8 m (4.9 to 5.9 ft) long and weighing between 100 and 160 kg (220 and 350 lb).[74][75] Interestingly, both were not closely related to the true marsupial carnivores of today. Rather, the marsupial lion was most closely related to the herbivorous koalas, while Thylacosmilus was a member of the order Sparassodonta, a group which may not have even been true marsupials.

Monotreme mammals (Monotremata)

The largest extant monotreme (egg-bearing mammal) is the western long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijni) weighing up to 16.5 kg (36 lb) and measuring 1 m (3.3 ft) long.[76] The largest monotreme ever was the extinct echidna species Zaglossus hacketti, known only from a few bones found in Western Australia. It was about 1 m long[77] and probably weighed about 30 kg (66 lb).[78]
The largest odd-toed ungulate is the white rhinoceros

Odd-toed ungulates (Perissodactyla)

  • The largest extant species is the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). The largest size this species can attain is 4,500 kg (9,900 lb), 4.7 m (15 ft) in total length, and 2 m (6.6 ft) tall at the shoulder.[79] It is slightly larger than the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), which can range up to a weight of 4,000 kg (8,800 lb).[80] The extinct Elasmotherium sibricum was the largest rhino to ever exist. It stood approximately 2 m (6.6 ft) tall at the shoulder, up to 5 m (16 ft) long (excluding horn), and weighed from 3,000 to 5,000 kg (6,600 to 11,000 lb).[81]
  • The largest extant wild equids are the Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), at up to 450 kg (990 lb), a shoulder height of 1.6 m (5.2 ft) and total length of 3.8 m (12 ft).[82] Until it was domesticated into extinction the wild horse (E. ferus) was the largest equid. Domestic horses can reach a maximum weight of 1,524 kg (3,360 lb) and shoulder height of 2.2 m (7.2 ft), probably far greater than the sizes attained by the wild horse.[83] The largest prehistoric horse was Equus giganteus of North America. It was estimated to grow around the same size as the aforementioned domestic horse.
  • The largest of the tapirs is the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), the only member of the family outside of South America. Maximum size is about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in length, 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall at the shoulder, and up to 540 kg (1,190 lb) in weight.[84]
  • The second largest land mammal ever was Paraceratherium or Indricotherium (formerly known as the Baluchitherium), a member of this order. The largest known species (Paraceratherium orgosensis) is believed to have stood up to 5.5 m (18 ft) tall, measured over 9 m (30 ft) long and may have weighed up to 20 tonnes.[85]

Pangolins (Pholidota)

File:Giant Anteater.jpg
The giant anteater is one of the largest neotropical mammals

Anteaters and sloths (Pilosa)

  • The largest species is easily the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). A large adult can weigh as much as 65 kg (143 lb), be over 0.6 m (2.0 ft) tall at the shoulder and measure 2.4 m (7.9 ft) in overall length.[86]
  • The largest living sloths are the Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) and Hoffmann's two-toed sloths (C. hoffmanni), which both can range up to 10 kg (22 lb) and 0.86 m (2.8 ft) long.[87][88]
  • The sloths attained much larger sizes prehistorically, the largest of which were Megatherium which, at an estimated average weight of 4.5 tonnes and standing height of 5.1 m (17 ft), was about the same size as the African bush elephant.[89]
The eastern lowland gorilla is the largest living primate.

Primates (Primates)

  • The gorillas (Gorilla gorilla & G. beringei) are the most massive living primates. The largest race is the eastern lowland gorilla (G. b. graueri), with males average 140–200 kg (310–440 lb), 1 m (3.3 ft) tall at the shoulder while on all fours and 1.65–1.75 m (5.4–5.7 ft) tall when standing.[90] The tallest wild gorilla (from the mountain gorilla race, G. b. beringei) stood 1.94 m (6.4 ft) and the heaviest wild one massed 266 kg (586 lb), although heavier weights have been observed in captivity.[20] The great ape Gigantopithecus, which lived in Asia between 1 million and 300,000 years ago, is the largest primate known to have existed. It was estimated to stand 3 m (9.8 ft) tall and to weigh up to 550 kg (1,210 lb).[91]
  • The largest of the Old World monkeys is the mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) with large males being up to 50 kg (110 lb), 90 cm (3.0 ft) long and 50 cm (20 in) at the shoulders.[92] The prehistoric baboon Dinopithecus grew even larger than modern mandrills, weighing as much as a grown man.
  • The largest New World monkey is the southern muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides), up to 15 kg (33 lb) and 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in total length.[93]
  • The largest lemur is the indri (Indri indri) which can weigh up to 12 kg (26 lb) and 90 cm (3.0 ft) in total length, though one fossil lemur, Archaeoindris, was gorilla-sized at 200 kg (440 lb).[94][95]
  • Humans can attain weights of up to 636 kg (1,402 lb) as well as heights of up to 2.72 m (8.9 ft), however, these are cases of morbid obesity, tumor, gigantism or other medical malady. However, even when not afflicted with gigantism, humans are the tallest living primates.
File:African Elephant in Kenya.jpg
The African bush elephant, the largest living terrestrial animal.

Elephants, mammoths, and mastodons (Proboscidea)

  • The African bush elephant, with an average weight of around 5 tonnes, is the largest extant member of the order Proboscidea. Extinct species did not generally dwarf it but some could grow somewhat larger, including the steppe mammoth (M. trogontherii) of Asia and Elephas recki of Africa, each of these species possibly exceeding a shoulder height of 4.5 m (15 ft) and 14.3 tonnes in weight.
  • Deinotherium giganteum rivaled those proboscideans in size, and was the largest member of its family (Deinotheriidae).
  • Palaeoloxodon namadicus was the largest land mammal at a weight of about 22 tonnes.
The capybara is the largest living rodent.

Rodents (Rodentia)

  • The largest living rodent is the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), native to most of the tropical and temperate parts of South America east of the Andes, always near water. Full-grown capybaras can reach 1.5 m (4.9 ft) long and 0.9 m (3.0 ft) tall at the shoulder and a maximum weight of 105.4 kg (232 lb). the extinct Neochoerus pinckneyi from North America At 90 to 113 kg (200 to 250 pounds), 40% larger than the living capybara,[96]
  • The second largest living rodent is the North American beaver (Castor canadensis), which favors water perhaps even more than its larger cousin. Outsized male beaver specimens have been recorded up to 50 kg (110 lb), which is about twice the normal weight for a beaver, and 1.7 m (5.6 ft) in total length.[97][98] The Eurasian beaver (C. fiber) is close to the same average size, but is known to top out around a mass of 31.7 kg (70 lb).[99] The largest of this family is the extinct giant beaver of North America. It grew over 8 ft (2.4 m) in length and weighed roughly 60 to 100 kg (130 to 220 lb), also making it one of the largest rodents to ever exist.
  • The largest species in the squirrel family is the hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) of the Pacific Northwest, at up to 13.5 kg (30 lb) and 0.8 m (2.6 ft) long.[100][101]
  • The largest porcupine is the Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) of Central Africa 63 to 81 centimetres (25 to 32 inches) long from the head to the base of the tail, with the tail adding a further 11–20 centimetres (4.3–7.9 inches).[102] They weigh from 10 to 24 kilograms (22 to 53 pounds), with exceptionally large specimens weighing up to 30 kg (66 lb);[103][104] males and females are not significantly different in size.[102]
  • The largest hutia are Desmarest's Hutia (Capromys pilorides) of Cuba 31–60 cm (12–24 in), a tail that is 14–29 cm (5.5–11.4 in) long, and weigh 2.8–8.5 kg (6.2–18.7 lb).[105] The largest extinct Blunt-toothed giant hutia to have weighed between 50 and 200 kg (110 and 440 lb).[106]
  • The largest Muroid is the Gambian pouched rat of Africa. It grows up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in total length and can weight up to 4 kg (8.8 lb).[107]
  • The largest known rodent ever is Josephoartigasia monesi, an extinct species known only from fossils found in Uruguay. It was approximately 3 m (9.8 ft) long and 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall, and is estimated to have weighed 1.5–2.5 tonnes.[108] Prior to the description of J. monesi, the largest known rodent species were from the genus Phoberomys, of which two species have been discovered. An almost complete skeleton of the slightly smaller Late Miocene species, Phoberomys pattersoni, was discovered in Venezuela in 2000; it was approximately 3 m (9.8 ft) long, with an additional 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tail, and probably weighed around 700 kg (1,500 lb).[109]

Tree shrews (Scandentia)

  • The largest of the tree shrews seems to be the common treeshrew (Tupaia glis), at up to 187 g (6.6 oz) and 40 cm (16 in).[110]
A good-sized West Indian manatee, the largest living sirenian, can weigh well over a ton.

Dugongs and manatees (Sirenia)

  • The largest living species in the order Sirenia of dugongs and manatees is the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). The largest manatees are found in the Florida subspecies. The maximum recorded size of this species was 1,655 kg (3,649 lb) and a total length of 4.6 m (15 ft).[20][111]
  • The extinct Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) was the largest member to ever exist, growing up to at least 7.9 m (26 ft) long and weighing up to 11 tonnes.[112] It was a member of the dugong family.

Shrews and moles (Soricomorpha)

  • The largest species of this order is the Hispaniolan solenodon, males of which can weigh up to 1 kg (35.3 oz) and reach lengths of 32 cm (13 in).
  • The largest species of shrew, typically among the smallest-bodied of mammals, is the Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus), weighing up to 100 g (3.5 oz) and reach lengths of up to 16 cm (6.3 in).[113]
  • The largest mole is the amphibious Russian desman (Desmana moschata), with a total length of up to 43 cm (1.41 ft) and an upper weight of 520 g (1.15 lb).[114]

Aardvark (Tubulidentata)

  • The only species in this order is the unique ardvark (Orycteropus afer) of sub-Saharan Africa. Aardvarks are typically up to 1.3 m (4.3 ft) in length with an average weight of up to 65 kg (143 lb) and a shoulder height up to 0.65 m (2.1 ft).[115] However, individuals as large as 2.2 m (7.2 ft) and as heavy as 100 kg (220 lb) are recorded.[116]

Other mammals

  • An ancient relative of ungulates, Andrewsarchus, may have been the largest carnivorous land mammal ever, despite almost all living species being herbivorous. Known only from a 0.83 m (2.7 ft) skull found in Mongolia, about twice the length of a brown bear skull, this great beast has been estimated to range as high in size as 2 m (6.6 ft) at the shoulder and 4.5 m (15 ft) in length.[117] Weight estimates range anywhere from 454 to 1,816 kg (1,001 to 4,004 lb) based on the unknown proportion of the skull's size relative to the body size.[118]
  • Taeniolabis taoensis is the largest non-therian mammal known, at a weight possibly exceeding 100 kg.[119]

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  119. ↑ Thomas E. Williamson, Stephen L. Brusatte, Ross Secord, Sarah Shelley, A new taeniolabidoid multituberculate (Mammalia) from the middle Puercan of the Nacimiento Formation, New Mexico, and a revision of taeniolabidoid systematics and phylogeny, 5 OCT 2015, doi: 10.1111/zoj.12336: "Taeniolabidoids underwent a modest taxonomic radiation during the early Palaeocene of North America and underwent a dramatic increase in body size, with Taeniolabis taoensis possibly exceeding 100 kg"
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