Largest and heaviest animals

showing the size of marine megafauna is the heaviest living animal. The heaviest living animals are all whales. There are considerable obstacles to overcome in obtaining accurate weights for them, however, as no scale can accommodate the whole body of a large whale. Whaling factories are usually enlisted to help accomplish the task, but it still remains difficult, and most weighings have been done by parts of flensed whales, leaving much room for error. Mathematical formulas have also been devised to estimate the average weight of various whale species based on body length, but this method is equally prone to inaccuracy. == Heaviest terrestrial animals ==

The heaviest land animals are all mammals. The African elephant is now listed as two species, the African bush elephant and the African forest elephant, as they are now generally considered to be. == Vertebrates ==

Mammals (Mammalia) (dark grey) compared to a human and other rhinos (though studies suggest that Palaeoloxodon namadicus and Dzungariotherium'' may have been larger land mammals) The blue whale is the largest animal, and therefore the largest mammal, of all time, with the longest known specimen being long and the heaviest weighted specimen being 190 tonnes. The extinct whale species Perucetus colossus was shorter than the blue whale, at but it is estimated to have rivaled or surpassed it in weight, at 85–340 tonnes. At the highest estimates, this would make Perucetus the heaviest known animal in history, In 2015, a study suggested that the extinct elephant Palaeoloxodon namadicus may have been the largest land mammal ever, based on a fragmentary femur estimated to belong to an individual with maximum weight of 22 tonnes. This author also suggested that the extinct mastodon "Mammut" borsoni may have rivalled P. namadicus in size.. However, these estimates remain debated due to the fragmentary nature of the fossil material and the uncertainties involved in scaling from limited remains. In 2022, a study proposed that Dzungariotherium may be the largest paracerathere, surpassing even Paraceratherium thus it represents another contender for the largest terrestrial mammal ever, with estimates of approximately 20.6 tonnes. === Stem-mammals (Synapsida) === '', likely the biggest non-mammal synapsid ever, compared to a human The Late Triassic Lisowicia bojani, from what is now southern Poland, probably was the largest of all non-mammalian synapsids (most of which became extinct 250 million years ago), at in length, in height and in weight. The largest carnivorous synapsid was Anteosaurus at and . ==== Caseasaurs (Caseasauria) ==== The herbivorous Alierasaurus was the largest caseid and the largest amniote to have lived at the time, with an estimated length around . Another huge caseasaur is Cotylorhynchus hancocki, with an estimated length and weight of at least and more than . ==== Sphenacodontids (Sphenacodontidae) ==== '' fossil The biggest carnivorous synapsid of Early Permian was Dimetrodon, which could reach and . The largest members of the genus Dimetrodon were also the world's first fully terrestrial apex predators. Tappenosaurids (Tappenosauridae) The Middle Permian Tappenosaurus was estimated at in length which is comparable in size with the largest dinocephalians. ==== Therapsids (Therapsida) ==== The plant-eating dicynodont Lisowicia bojani is the largest-known of all non-mammalian synapsids, at and . The largest carnivorous therapsid was the aforementioned Anteosaurus from what is now South Africa during Middle Permian epoch. It reached long, and about in weight. Also, a living specimen estimated at and has been accepted by the Guinness Book of World Records. However, due to the difficulty of trapping and measuring a very large living crocodile, the accuracy of these dimensions has yet to be verified. A specimen named Lolong caught alive in the Philippines in 2011 (died February 2013) was found to have measured in length. The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), also known as the "Komodo monitor", is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, Nusa kode and Padar. A member of the monitor lizard family (Varanidae), it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of more than in rare cases and weighing up to approximately . Nevertheless, current extant reptiles are still dwarfed by their prehistoric ancestors. The largest non-dinosaurian terrestrial reptile to have ever lived were crocodilomorphs such as Deinosuchus, Sarcosuchus and Purussaurus, each have weight varying between 5–10 metric tons. The largest snake to have ever lived was Titanoboa which could grow up to and weigh up to . Prehistoric marine reptiles from the Mesozoic were even larger. Archelon was the largest testudines, being around long from head to tail and in weight. Mosasaurus hoffmanni was the largest squamate lizard to have ever lived, with a length of and a body mass of However, the largest reptiles were the shastasaurids, specifically Ichthyotitan, which approached lengths rivalling to exceeding those of a blue whale, with confirmed the holotype specimen and a referred specimen from Lilstock measuring . There is also an undescribed shastasaurid from the Aust cliffs around in length. ==== Sauropods (Sauropoda) ==== The largest dinosaurs, and the largest animals to ever live on land, were the plant-eating, long-necked Sauropoda. The tallest and heaviest sauropod known from a complete skeleton is a specimen of an immature Giraffatitan discovered in Tanzania between 1907 and 1912, now mounted in the Museum für Naturkunde of Berlin. It is tall and weighed 23.3–39.5 tonnes. The longest is a long specimen of Diplodocus discovered in Wyoming, and mounted in Pittsburgh's Carnegie Natural History Museum in 1907. A Patagotitan specimen found in Argentina in 2014 is estimated to have been long and tall, with a weight of 69–77 tonnes. There were larger sauropods, but they are known only from a few bones. The current record-holders include Argentinosaurus, which may have weighed 100 tonnes; Supersaurus which might have reached in length and Sauroposeidon which might have been tall. Some abnormal specimens such as specimen BYU 9024 of the Barosaurus/Supersaurus genus could reach an astounding 45–50 meters long, with mass varying from the 'modest' 60–66 tons to the more immense 92–120 tons. Maraapunisaurus might have been approximately 35–40 m long and weighed 80–120 tonnes or more. Each of these two 'super-sauropods' might have rivalled the largest blue whale in size. though other figures, such as Hartman's 2013 estimate of 8,400 kg, have been lower. But due to sample bias, it has been difficult to identify what the largest theropod was, thus Tyrannosaurus rex has not been given the title of the absolute largest (heaviest) theropod. Another giant theropod is Spinosaurus aegyptiacus from the mid-Cretaceous of North Africa. Size estimates have been fluctuating far more over the years, with length estimates ranging from 12.6 to 18 m and mass estimates from 7 to 20.9 t. Recent findings favor a length exceeding 15 m and a body mass of 7.5 tons.. With the most recent study favouring a length and mass of and 7.4 tonnes respectively. Other contenders known from partial skeletons include Giganotosaurus carolinii (est. 12.2–13.2 m and 6–13.8 tonnes) and Carcharodontosaurus saharicus (est. 12–13.3 m and 6.2–15.1 tonnes). ==== Armored dinosaurs (Thyreophora) ==== The largest thyreophorans were Ankylosaurus and Stegosaurus, from the Late Cretaceous and Late Jurassic periods (respectively) of what is now North America, both measuring up to in length and estimated to weigh up to 6 tonnes. ==== Ornithopods (Ornithopoda) ==== , one of the largest Ornithopods and heaviest non-sauropod dinosaurs ever The largest ornithopods were the hadrosaurids Shantungosaurus, a late Cretaceous dinosaur found in the Shandong Peninsula of China, and Magnapaulia from the late Cretaceous of North America. Both species are known from fragmentary remains but are estimated to have reached over in length and were likely the heaviest non-sauropod dinosaurs, estimated at over 23 tonnes. and in length and 9.77 metric tons (10.77 short tons) in weight for Magnopaulia ==== Ceratopsians (Ceratopsia) ==== The largest ceratopsians were Triceratops and its ancestor Eotriceratops from the late Cretaceous of North America. Both estimated to have reached about in length and weighed 12 tonnes. ==== Birds (Aves) ==== is the largest living bird. The largest living bird, a member of the Struthioniformes, is the common ostrich (Struthio camelus), from the plains of Africa. A large male ostrich can reach a height of and weigh over . A mass of has been cited for the common ostrich but no wild ostriches of this weight have been verified. Eggs laid by the ostrich can weigh and are the largest eggs in the world today. The largest bird in the fossil record may be the extinct elephant birds (Aepyornithidae) of Madagascar, which were related to the kiwis. Aepyornis exceeded in height and , while Vorombe could reach a similar height and a mass of . The last of the elephant birds became extinct about 300 years ago. Of almost exactly the same upper proportions as the largest elephant birds was Dromornis stirtoni of Australia, part of a 26,000-year-old group called mihirungs of the family Dromornithidae. The largest carnivorous bird was Brontornis, an extinct flightless bird from South America which reached a weight of and a height of about . The tallest carnivorous bird was Kelenken, which could reach 3 to 3.2 meters in height and 220 to 250 kilograms. The tallest bird ever was the giant moa (Dinornis maximus), part of the moa family of New Zealand that went extinct around 1500 AD. This particular species of moa stood up to tall, Pelagornis sandersi is thought to have had an even larger wingspan of about , but is only about , half the mass of the former. ranks as the largest toad in the world. ==== Frogs (Anura) ==== The largest member of the largest order of amphibians is the African goliath frog (Conraua goliath). The maximum size this species is verified to attain is a weight of and a snout-to-vent length of . Another large frog is the largest frog in North America, the American bullfrog, which can reach weights of up to and snout-to-vent-length (SVL) of . However, the toad Beelzebufo ampinga, found in fossil from the Cretaceous era in what is now Madagascar, was estimated to grow to long and weigh up to , making it the largest frog ever known. But in more recent studies, animals of this species have been estimated to have grown to at least (snout-vent length), which is around the size a modern African bullfrog can reach. The largest tree frog is the Australasian white-lipped tree frog (Litoria infrafrenata), the females of which can reach a length of from snout to vent and can weigh up to . The family Leptodactylidae, one of the most diverse anuran families, also has some very large members. The largest is the Surinam horned frog (Ceratophrys cornuta), which can reach in length from snout to vent and weigh up to . While not quite as large as Ceratophrys cornuta, Leptodactylus pentadactylus is often heavier; it can reach long and weigh . The largest dendrobatid is the Colombian golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis), which can attain a length of and nearly . Most frogs are classified under the suborder Neobatrachia, although nearly 200 species are part of the suborder Mesobatrachia, or ancient frogs. The largest of these are the little-known Brachytarsophrys or Karin Hills frogs, of South Asia, which can grow to a maximum snout-to-vent length of and a maximum weight of . ==== Caecilians (Gymnophiona) ==== The largest of the worm-like caecilians is the Colombian Thompson's caecilian (Caecilia thompsoni), which reaches a length of , a width of about and can weigh up to about . The largest of the newts is the Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl), which can grow up to in length. Fish '' is the largest fish and thus shark to ever exist is the largest extant fish The largest fish of all time was likely Megalodon, estimated to have reached sizes of . The largest extant bony fish is the giant sunfish, with the largest recorded individual having a weight of 2,744 kg (6049 lb) == Invertebrate chordates ==

Tunicates (Tunicata) The largest tunicate is Synoicum pulmonaria, found at depths of , and are up to in diameter. It is also present in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, around the coasts of Greenland and Newfoundland, but is less common here than in the east, and occurs only at depths between . ;Entergonas (Enterogona) :The largest entergona is Synoicum pulmonaria it is usually found at depths between about and can grow to over a metre (yard) in length. It is also present in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, around the coasts of Greenland and Newfoundland, but is less common here than in the east, and occurs only at depths between . In colour it is off-white or a garish shade of reddish-purple. The stalk is two thirds to three quarters the length of the whole animal which helps distinguish it from certain invasive tunicates not native to New Zealand such as Styela clava and Pyura stolonifera. It is one of the largest species of tunicates and can grow to over a metre (yard) in length. ;Aspiraculates (Aspiraculata) :The largest aspiraculate is Oligotrema large and surrounded by six large lobes; the cloacal syphon is small. They live exclusively in deep water and range in size from less than one inch (2 cm) to 2.4 inches (6 cm). ==== Thaliacea ==== '' is the largest thaliacean. The largest thaliacean, Pyrosoma atlanticum, is cylindrical and can grow up to long and 4–6 cm wide. The constituent zooids form a rigid tube, which may be pale pink, yellowish, or bluish. One end of the tube is narrower and is closed, while the other is open and has a strong diaphragm. The outer surface or test is gelatinised and dimpled with backward-pointing, blunt processes. The individual zooids are up to long and have a broad, rounded branchial sac with gill slits. Along the side of the branchial sac runs the endostyle, which produces mucus filters. Water is moved through the gill slits into the centre of the cylinder by cilia pulsating rhythmically. Plankton and other food particles are caught in mucus filters in the processes as the colony is propelled through the water. P. atlanticum is bioluminescent and can generate a brilliant blue-green light when stimulated. ==== Doliolida (Doliolida) ==== The largest doliolida is Doliolida The doliolid body is small, typically 1–2 cm long, and barrel-shaped; it features two wide siphons, one at the front and the other at the back end, and eight or nine circular muscle strands reminiscent of barrel bands. Like all tunicates, they are filter feeders. They are free-floating; the same forced flow of water through their bodies with which they gather plankton is used for propulsionnot unlike a tiny ramjet engine. Doliolids are capable of quick movement. They have a complicated lifecycle consisting of sexual and asexual generations. They are nearly exclusively tropical animals, although a few species are found as far north as northern California. ==== Salps (Salpida) ==== The largest salp is Cyclosalpa bakeri s) long. There are openings at the anterior and posterior ends of the cylinder which can be opened or closed as needed. The bodies have seven transverse bands of muscle interspersed by white, translucent patches. A stolon grows from near the endostyle (an elongated glandular structure producing mucus for trapping food particles). The stolon is a ribbon-like organ on which a batch of aggregate forms of the animal are produced by budding. The aggregate is the second, colonial form of the salp and is also gelatinous, transparent and flabby. It takes the shape of a radial whorl of individuals up to about in diameter. It is formed of approximately 12 zooids linked side by side in a shape that resembles a crown. are largest thetyses: Thetys vagina Individuals can reach up to long. ==== Larvaceans (Larvacea) ==== The largest larvacean is Appendicularia in body length (excluding the tail). === Cephalochordates (Leptocardii) === The largest lancelet is the European lancelet (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) "primitive fish". It can grow up to long. == Invertebrate non-chordates ==

'' is the longest known echinoderm. Echinoderms (Echinodermata) The largest species of echinoderm in terms of bulk is probably the starfish species Thromidia gigas, of the class Asteroidea, which reaches a weight of over , but it might be beaten by some giant sea cucumbers such as Thelenota anax. However, at a maximum span of , Thromidia gigas is quite a bit shorter than some other echinoderms. ==== Sea urchins and allies (Echinoidea) ==== :The largest sea urchin is the species Sperosoma giganteum from the deep northwest Pacific Ocean, which can reach a shell width of about . Another deep sea species Hygrosoma hoplacantha is only slightly smaller. If the spines enter into count, the biggest species may be a Diadematidae like Diadema setosum, with a test up to only, but its spines can reach up to in length. ==== Sea cucumbers (Holothuroidea) ==== :The bulkiest species of sea cucumber are Stichopus variegatus and Thelenota anax, weighing several pounds, being about in diameter, and reaching a length of when fully extended. Synapta maculata can reach an extended length of , but is extremely slender (3-5cm) and weigh much less than stichopodids. ==== Sea stars (Asteroidea) ==== , the heaviest sea star and largest echinoderm by weight :The heaviest sea star is Thromidia gigas from the Indo-Pacific, which can surpass in weight, but only has a diameter of about . ;Flukes (Trematoda) :The largest known species of fluke is Fasciolopsis buski, which most often attacks humans and livestock. One of these flukes can be up to long and thick. ;Tapeworms (Cestoda) :The largest known species of tapeworm is the whale tapeworm, Polygonoporus giganticus, which can grow to over . === Arrow Worms (Chaetognatha) === , the longest arrow worm The largest arrow worm is Parasagitta setosa, which grows to a maximum length of , its tail being up to a quarter of this length. Segmented worms (Annelida) The largest of the segmented worms (including earthworms, leeches, and polychaetes) is the African giant earthworm (Microchaetus rappi). Although it averages about in length, this huge worm can reach a length of as much as and can weigh over . Only the giant Gippsland earthworm, Megascolides australis, and a few giant polychaetes, including the notorious Eunice aphroditois, reach nearly comparable sizes, reaching , respectively. Mollusks (Mollusca) . Both the largest mollusks and the largest of all invertebrates (in terms of mass) are the largest squids. The colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) is projected to be the largest invertebrate. Current estimates put its maximum size at long and , based on analysis of smaller specimens. In 2007, authorities in New Zealand announced the capture of the largest known colossal squid specimen. It was initially thought to be and . It was later measured at long and in weight. The mantle was long when measured. The giant squid (Architeuthis dux) was previously thought to be the largest squid, and while it is less massive and has a smaller mantle than the colossal squid, it may exceed the colossal squid in overall length including tentacles. One giant squid specimen that washed ashore in 1878 in Newfoundland reportedly measured in total length (from the tip of the mantle to the end of the long tentacles), head and body length , in circumference at the thickest part of mantle, and weighed about . This specimen is still often cited as the largest invertebrate that has ever been examined. However, no animals approaching this size have been scientifically documented and, according to giant squid expert Steve O'Shea, such lengths were likely achieved by greatly stretching the two tentacles like elastic bands. Aplacophorans (Aplacophora) :The largest known of these worm-like, shell-less mollusks are represented in the genus Epimenia, which can reach long. Most aplacophorans are less than long. Chitons (Polyplacophora) :The largest of the chitons is the gumboot chiton, Cryptochiton stelleri, which can reach a length of and weigh over . , the largest bivalve Bivalves (Bivalvia) :The largest of the bivalve mollusks is the giant clam, Tridacna gigas. Although even larger sizes have been reported for this passive animal, the top verified size was for a specimen from the Great Barrier Reef. This creature weighed , had an axial length of and depth of . ==== Gastropods (Gastropoda) ==== '' is the largest land snail :The "largest" of this most diverse and successful mollusk class of slugs and snails can be defined in various ways. :The living gastropod species that has the largest (longest) shell is Syrinx aruanus with a maximum shell length of , a weight of and a width of . Another giant species is Melo amphora, which in a 1974 specimen from Western Australia, measured long, had a maximum girth of and weighed . with a arm span (with the tentacles fully extended) and a head-to-tentacle-tip length of . Specimens have been reported up to but are unverified. A weight of 10–50kg is a much more common size. is a parasite found in the placentas of sperm whales which can reach up to in length. Velvet worms (Onychophora) The largest velvet worm known is Solórzano's velvet worm (Peripatus solorzanoi). An adult female was recorded to have a body length of 22 cm (approximately 8.7 in). Water bears (Tardigrada) '', the largest water bear The largest tardigrade is Echiniscoides sigismundi, which is less than long. Typical tardigrades are about long. Only the larger tardigrades are visible to the naked eye, but since they're also transparent, magnification is needed to see them. Arthropods (Arthropoda) . The largest arthropod known to have existed is the eurypterid (sea scorpion) Jaekelopterus, reaching up to in body length, followed by the millipede relative Arthropleura at around in length. Among living arthropods, the Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) is the largest in overall size, the record specimen, caught in 1921, had an extended arm span of and weighed about . However the most massive arachnids, of comparable dimensions and possibly even greater mass, are the Chaco golden knee (Grammostola pulchripes), and the Brazilian salmon pink (Lasiodora parahybana). The huntsman spider may span up to across the legs, while in the New World tarantulas like Theraphosa can range up to . ===== Scorpions (Scorpiones) ===== :The largest of the scorpions is the species Heterometrus swammerdami of the Indian subcontinent, which have a maximum length of and weigh around . Another extremely large scorpion is the African emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator), which can weigh but is not known to exceed a length of . and the aquatic Brontoscorpio, at up to which is only known from a free finger. ===== Pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones) ===== : The largest pseudoscorpion is Garypus titanius, from Ascension island, which can be long. Thecostracans (Thecostraca) The largest known thecostracan Facetotecta y-larvae are Hansenocaris cristalabri, about 0.5 millimeters long. ==== Barnacles and allies (Cirripedia) ==== The largest barnacle is Balanus nubilus, reaching a diameter of and a height of up to , and containing the largest known muscle fibres. ==== Crustaceans (Crustacea) ==== (see below) The largest crustacean is the Tasmanian giant crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas), with a weight of and a carapace width of up to . It is the only species in the genus Pseudocarcinus. Males reach more than twice the size of females. At a length of up to , Lysiosquillina maculata is the largest mantis shrimp in the world. Tasmanian giant freshwater crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) in weight and over long have been known in the past, but now, even individuals over are rare. The species is only found in Tasmanian rivers flowing north into the Bass Strait below above sea level, and is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List. ===== Branchiopods (Branchiopoda) ===== :The largest of these primarily freshwater crustaceans is probably Branchinecta gigas, which can reach a length . ===== and allies (Maxillopoda) ===== :The largest species is Pennella balaenopterae, a copepod and ectoparasite specialising in parasitising marine mammals. The maximum size attained is 32 cm (about 13 in). The largest of the barnacles is the giant acorn barnacle, Balanus nubilis, reaching in diameter and high. ===== Ostracods (Ostracoda) ===== :The largest living representative of these small and little-known but numerous crustaceans is the species Gigantocypris australis females of which reaching a maximum length of . ===== Amphipods, isopods, and allies (Peracarida) ===== :The largest species is the giant isopod (Bathynomus pergiganteus), which can reach a length of 45 cm (18 inches) and a weight of 1.7 kg (3.7 lb). ===== Remipedes (Remipedia) ===== :The largest of these cave-dwelling crustaceans is the species Godzillius robustus, at up to . Horseshoe crabs (Xiphosura) The four modern horseshoe crabs are of roughly the same sizes, with females measuring up to in length and in weight. Sea spiders (Pycnogonida) The largest of the sea spiders is the deep-sea species Colossendeis colossea, attaining a leg span of nearly . Trilobites (Trilobita) Some of these extinct marine arthropods exceeded in length. A nearly complete specimen of Isotelus rex from Manitoba attained a length over , and an Ogyginus forteyi from Portugal was almost as long. Fragments of trilobites suggest even larger record sizes. An isolated pygidium of Hungioides bohemicus implies that the full animal was long. ==== Myriapods (Myriapoda) ==== '' ===== Centipedes (Chilopoda) ===== :The biggest of the centipedes is Scolopendra gigantea of the neotropics, reaching a length of . ===== Millipedes (Diplopoda) ===== :Two species of millipede both reach a very large size: Archispirostreptus gigas of East Africa and Scaphistostreptus seychellarum, endemic to the Seychelles islands. Both of these species can slightly exceed a length of and measure over in diameter. ==== Insects (Insecta) ==== Insects, a class of Arthropoda, are easily the most numerous class of organisms, with over one million identified species, and probably many undescribed species. The heaviest insect is almost certainly a species of beetle, which incidentally is the most species-rich order of organisms. Although heavyweight giant wētās (Deinacrida heteracantha) are known, the elephant beetles of Central and South America, (Megasoma elephas) and (M. actaeon), the Titan beetle (Titanus giganteus) of the neotropical rainforest or the Goliath beetles, (Goliathus goliatus) and (G. regius), of Africa's rainforest are thought to reach a higher weight. The most frequently crowned are the Goliath beetles, the top known size of which is at least and . The Brazilian giant cockroach (Blaberus giganteus) of the neotropics reaches greater sizes of up to 10 cm in length and 15 cm in wingspan, although it is not as massive and heavy as the burrowing species. The termites, traditionally classified in their own order (Isoptera), have recently been re-considered to belong in Blattodea. The largest of the termites is the African species Macrotermes bellicosus. The queen of this species can attain a length of and breadth of across the abdomen; other adults, on the other hand, are about a third of the size. As of 2014, with the declaring of the organism extinct by the IUCN, this may no longer be the case, although some believe a small number of individuals are still extant. ===== True flies (Diptera) ===== '', the largest fly :The largest species of this order, which includes the common housefly, is the neotropical species Gauromydas heros, which can reach a length of and a wingspan of . ===== True bugs (Hemiptera) ===== walking over land :The largest species of this diverse order is usually listed as the giant water bug in the genus Lethocerus, with L. maximus from the Neotropics being the absolutely largest. They can surpass in length, with some suggesting that the maximum size is . It is more slender and less heavy than most other insects of this size (principally the huge beetles). The largest cicada is Megapomponia imperatoria, which has a head-body length of about and a wingspan of . The cicadas of the genus Tacua can also grow to comparably large sizes. The largest type of aphid is the giant oak aphid (Stomaphis quercus), which can reach an overall length of . The biggest species of leafhopper is Ledromorpha planirostris, which can reach a length of . '', the largest bee. ===== Ants and allies (Hymenoptera) ===== :The largest of the ants, and the heaviest species of the order, are the females of the African Dorylus helvolus, reaching a length of and a weight of . and a maximum wingspan which is confirmed to while unconfirmed specimens have spanned up to . The largest species overall is often claimed to be either the Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae), a butterfly from Papua New Guinea, or the Atlas moth (Attacus atlas), a moth from Southeast Asia. Both of these species can reach a length of , a wingspan of and a weight of . One Atlas moth allegedly had a wingspan of but this measurement was not verified. However, an undescribed species from the Cameroon jungle is allegedly much larger than any other mantis and may rival the larger stick insects for the longest living insect. Among widespread mantis species, the largest is the Chinese mantis (Tenodera aridifolia). The females of this species can attain a length of up to . ; Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) :The largest scorpionfly, the common scorpionfly (Panorpa communis), can reach a body length of about . ; Alderflies and allies (Megaloptera) :This relatively small insect order includes some rather large species, many of which are noticeable for their elongated, imposing mandibles. The dobsonflies reach the greatest sizes of the order and can range up to in length. ; Net-winged insects (Neuroptera) ) :These flying insects reach their largest size in Palparellus voeltzkowi, which can have a wingspan over . The largest lacewing is the "blue eyes lacewing" (Nymphes myrmeleonides) of Australia, which can measure up to in length and span across the wings. Some forms of this ancient order could grow extremely large during the Jurassic period. Found in the Early Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, Makarkinia adamsi had wings nearly in length, implying a wingspan similar to the present-day largest moths. ; Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) :The largest species of Odonata is the damselfly Megaloprepus caerulatus of the neotropics, attaining a size of as much as across the wings and a body length of over . The American eastern lubber grasshopper (Romalea guttata) can allegedly range up to in length. However, the greatest grasshopper sizes known, to , have been cited in the South American giant grasshopper (Tropidacris violaceus). The longest members of this order (although much lighter than the giant wētās) is the katydid Macrolyristes corporalis of Southeast Asia which can range up to with its long legs extended and can have a wingspan of . ; (Phasmatodea) :The longest known stick insects are also the longest known insects, notably species in the tribe Pharnaciini, but they are generally relatively lightweight because of their slender shape. The longest is an unnamed species of Phryganistria discovered in China in 2016, where a specimen held at the Insect Museum of West China in Chengdu has a total length of . The second-longest species is the Australian Ctenomorpha gargantua, females of which have been measured at over in total length. Other very large species, formerly believed to be longest but now considered third longest is Sadyattes chani; a specimen held in the Natural History Museum in London has a total length of . These measurements are, however, with the front legs fully extended; it has a body length measuring . Another very large species is Phobaeticus kirbyi where the total length (including extended legs) is up to and the body alone up to . Another of the longest insect in terms of total length is Phobaeticus serratipes of Malaysia and Singapore, measuring up to . Another extremely long stick insect is Pharnacia maxima, which measured with its legs extended. ;Caddisflies (Trichoptera) :The largest of the small, moth-like caddisflies is Eubasilissa maclachlani. This species can range up to across the wings. ;Lice (Phthiraptera) :These insects, which live parasitically on other animals, are as a rule quite small. The largest known species is the hog louse, Haematopinus suis, a sucking louse that lives on large livestock like pigs and cattle. It can range up to in length. ;Booklice (Psocoptera) :The largest of this order of very small insects are the barklice of the genus Psocus, the top size of which is about . ;Fleas (Siphonaptera) :The largest species of flea is Hystrichopsylla schefferi. This parasite is known exclusively from the fur of the mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa) and can reach a length of . ;Angel insects (Zoraptera) :The largest angel insect species, Hubbard's angel insect (Zorotypus hubbardi), grows up to in length. ;Silverfish and allies (Zygentoma) :The largest extant silverfish is Acrotelsa collaris, at up to . Cnidarians (Cnidaria) , one of the longest extant animals The lion's mane jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) is the largest cnidarian species, of the class Scyphozoa. The largest known specimen of this giant, found washed up on the shore of Massachusetts Bay in 1870, had a bell diameter of , a weight of . The tentacles of this specimen were as long as and were projected to have a tentacular spread of about making it one of the longest extant animals. Longer, but much less massive overall, are the anemones of the genus Ceriantharia, at up to tall. Communities of coral can be truly massive, a single colony of the genus Porites can be over , even though the individual polyps are quite small. In 2024, the largest ever was found off Malaulalo island in the Solomon Islands, a clonal colony of Pavona clavus over 32 by 34 meters — the size of two basketball courts. ;Hydrozoans (Hydrozoa) The colonial siphonophore Praya dubia can attain lengths of . The Portuguese man o' war's (Physalia physalis) tentacles can attain a length of up to . On 6 April 2020 the Schmidt Ocean Institute announced the discovery of a giant Apolemia siphonophore in submarine canyons near Ningaloo Coast, measuring diameter with a ring approximately long, claiming it was possibly the largest siphonophore ever recorded. Stygiomedusa, commonly known as the giant phantom jelly, is the only species in the monotypic genus of deep sea jellyfish, Stygiomedusa. It is in the Ulmaridae family. With only around 110 sightings in 110 years, it is rarely seen, but is believed to be widespread throughout the world, with the exception of the Arctic Ocean. ;Box jellyfishes (Chirodropida) The largest box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri is the largest of the cubozoans (collectively called box jellyfish), many of which may carry toxic venom. Its bell usually reaches about in diameter but can grow up to . Each of the four corners of the bell trails a cluster of 15 tentacles. Some of these creatures have been estimated to be over 2,400 years of age. ==== Calcareous sponges (Calcarea) ==== The largest known of these small, inconspicuous sponges is probably the species Pericharax heteroraphis, attaining a height of . Most calcareous sponges do not exceed tall. ==== Hexactinellid sponges (Hexactinellida) ==== A relatively common species, Rhabdocalyptus dawsoni, can reach a height of once they are of a very old age. This is the maximum size recorded for a hexactinellid sponge. == See also ==