List of largest mammals

• The largest of these insectivorous mammals is the giant otter shrew (Potamogale velox), native to Central Africa. This species can weigh up to and measure in total length. • The larger of the two species of bibymalagasy (Plesiorycteropus madagascariensis), extinct tenrec relatives from Madagascar, is estimated to have weighed from 10 to 18 kilograms (21 to 40 lb). == Even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla) ==

is the most massive of the even-toed ungulates. is the tallest living land animal. is the largest extant bovid. is the largest living deer. • 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 , long and tall. 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 sp.), measuring up to tall to the top of the head, and despite being relatively slender, reaching a top weight of . • 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 , in total length and stand at the shoulder. The wild yak (B. mutus) reaches in height, and a weight of . The living American bison (B. bison) of North America is long, the tail adding . Shoulder heights in the species can range from . Weights can range from . The European bison (B. bonasus) may be less heavy than the American species, The heads and forequarters of American species are massive, and both sexes have short, curved horns that can grow up to long, which they use in fighting for status within the herd and for defense. Wild water buffaloes (Bubalus arnee) of Asia are larger and heavier than domestic buffaloes, and weigh from . Their head-to-body-length is with a tail long, and a shoulder height of . Both sexes carry horns that are heavy at the base and widely spreading up to The extinct giant bison (Bison latifrons) may be the largest bovid in the fossil record, with an estimated shoulder up to and a weight over . Pelorovis also reached 2,000 kg in weight. Domestic cattle (Bos taurus) are usually smaller, although obese steers have been reported to weigh up to . The largest antelope is the giant eland (Taurotragus derbianus) from Africa. They are typically between in head-and-body length, stand approximately at the shoulder, and weigh . • The largest species in the pig family is generally the giant forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni), a native of the African rainforests, at up to , in length and high at the shoulder. Although wild boars (Sus scrofa) have reportedly reached historically, especially the Manchurian subspecies (Sus scrofa ussuricus) and obese domestic pigs (S. domesticus) which have been weighed at . The largest wild suid to ever exist was Kubanochoerus gigas, having measured up to and stood more than tall at the shoulder. • The largest living cervid is the moose (Alces alces), particularly the Alaskan subspecies (A. a. gigas), verified at up to , a total length of and a shoulder height of . The largest deer of all time was C. latifrons estimated to have reached With the body mass of C. latifrons was around . In some cases, this species could have weighed perhaps up to with the largest specimens perhaps reaching at the shoulder. It, the extinct Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus) and the stag-moose (Cervalces scotti) were of similar size to the Alaskan moose. However, the Irish elk could have antlers spanning up to across, about twice the maximum span for a moose's antlers. • 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 , in total length, tall at the shoulder and a height of at the hump. Several giant camels are known from fossils, the previous record holders, including Titanotylopus from North America, both possibly reached and a shoulder height of over . An extinct species of camel from Syria, also known as the "Syrian camel", may have been even larger, at an estimated shoulder height of 3.6 or even 4 m (12–13 ft). Whales (Cetacea) are the largest of all toothed whales. • The largest whale (and largest mammal, as well as the largest animal known ever to have existed) is the blue whale, a baleen whale (Mysticeti). The longest confirmed specimen was 33.58 m (110.17 ft) in length and the heaviest was 190 tonnes. Its closest competitors are also baleen whales, the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), which can reach a size of in length and weight of 109 tonnes, and the bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) and North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica), both measured up to and estimated at that length to weigh about 133 tonnes. • The largest toothed whale (Odontoceti) is the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), bulls of which usually range up to long and a mass of 50 tonnes. • The orca or killer whale (Orcinus orca) is the largest species of the oceanic dolphin family. The largest orca ever recorded was a male off the coast of Japan, measuring long and weighed 10 tonnes. is the largest oceanic dolphin. • The largest porpoise is the Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), at up to and in length. • The largest beaked whale is the Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) at up to 14 tonnes and long. • The largest of the beluga and narwhal is the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas). Adult male beluga whales can range from , while the females measure . • The largest river dolphin is the Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) from Amazon basin at a length of , depending on subspecies. Females are typically larger than males. The largest female Amazon river dolphins can range up to long. • Fragmentary fossils of extinct rorquals from the Pliocene epoch suggest they rivaled the size of the largest whales today. • Perucetus, the largest Archaeoceti, has an estimated length exceeding 17.0–20.1 meters and weight ranging from 85–340 t which also rivaled the size of the largest whales today. However, a 2024 study proposed a much smaller size of 17 m to 20 m and 98-114t. With a 2025 study further downsizing it to 15m to 16m and 35-40t. == Carnivorans (Carnivora) ==

'' was the largest bear to ever live. s are the largest living felids. '' was the largest ever canid. • The largest carnivoran 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. • The largest living species of the family Felidae is the tiger (Panthera tigris), • Among the largest members of the family Felidae were the extinct American lion, averaging , the sabertooth Smilodon populator, of which the largest males might have exceeded , and sabertooths of genus Adeilosmilus (e.g., A. kabir), with an estimated mass of and the Ngangdong tiger (Panthera tigris soloensis), estimated to have weighed up to • In the wilderness, 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 and measure up to in total length and tall at the shoulder. Eurasian wolves from the Russian area have even been reported to weigh as much as , though these figures require verification. Domestic dogs however can occasionally grow heavier, up to . • The largest known canid is an extinct member of subfamily Borophaginae, Epicyon haydeni. The largest known specimen of this species weighed an estimated . • 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 , and (by length) the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) of the Amazonian rainforests, at up to in total. The largest mustelid to ever exist was likely the odd cat-like Ekorus from Africa, about the size of a modern 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 of a modern 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 and long. • The largest species in the viverrid family is the Asian binturong (Arctictis binturong), at up to and long, about half of which is tail. The largest viverrid known to have existed is Viverra leakeyi, which was around the size of a modern wolf or small leopard at . • 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 . Spotted hyenas can range up to in total length and tall at the shoulder. • The largest living procyonid is the raccoon (Procyon lotor) of North America, having a body length of and a body weight of . The extinct Chapalmalania of South America was the largest known member of this family, about in body length. • The largest skunk is generally considered the striped skunk, which can weigh up to and reaches lengths of up to . The American hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus) is longer, reaching lengths of up to , but is usually less heavy, at up to . == Bats (Chiroptera) ==

is the largest bat by wingspan. • The large flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) is generally reported as the largest bat. Its wingspan has been verified to and may possibly reach . • The spectral bat (Vampyrum spectrum) of the Neotropics, at up to , long and about in wingspan, is the largest member of the family Phyllostomidae and is also believed to be the largest member of the microbat suborder. • The great evening bat (Ia io), at long with an average wingspan of and a weight of , is the largest vesper bat. == Armadillos (Cingulata) ==

• The largest of the armadillos is the giant armadillo (P. maximus). The top size for this species is , high at the shoulder and in length, although captive specimens can weigh up to . • Much larger prehistoric examples are known, especially Doedicurus of South America, which probably averaged around 2 tonnes, though one specimen may have weighed 2.3 tonnes, and could reach in total length and high at the top of the shelled back. == 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 (Galeopterus variegatus). The maximum size is and in length. == 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 and . 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 modern house cat. == Hyraxes (Hyracoidea) ==

• The largest species of hyrax seems to be the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis), at up to and long. Prehistorically, the hyraxes were, for a time, the primary terrestrial herbivores in Africa, and some forms grew as large as modern horses.. Genera such as Titanohyrax could reach or even as much as over . With Megalohyrax from the upper Eocene-lower Oligocene reaching the size of a tapir. == Rabbits, hares, and pikas (Lagomorpha) ==

is one of the largest living lagomorphs. • The largest extant wild species may be the European hare (Lepus europaeus), native to western and central Eurasia. This lagomorph can range up to in weight and in total length. However, the Alaskan hare (Lepus othus) has almost the same exact body-proportions and weighs slightly more, averaging and reaching a maximum mass of . Also, an occasional Arctic hare (L. arcticus) can also weigh as much as but is typically smaller overall than the European and Alaskan species. • The largest pika species, the Chinese red pika (Ochotona erythrotis), reaches a body length of . • The largest domestic rabbit breed is the Flemish Giant, which can attain a maximum known weight of . • The largest lagomorph ever was Nuralagus rex, native to Menorca, which could have possibly grow anywhere from to . == 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 treeshrews) 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 and a length of . == Marsupials (Marsupialia) ==

is the largest living marsupial. '', the largest marsupial of all time • 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). • The largest possum is the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) from Australia 32–58 cm with a tail length of 24–40 cm. It weighs 1.2-4.5 kg. • The red kangaroo (Osphanter rufus) of Australia is the largest living marsupial, and the largest member of the kangaroo family. These lanky mammals have been verified to and when standing completely upright. Prehistoric kangaroos reached even larger sizes. Procoptodon goliah was one of the largest known kangaroos that ever existed, standing approximately and weighing about . 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 and a weight of up to . Prehistorically, this suborder contained many huge marsupials, including the largest to ever exist: Diprotodon. This rhino-sized herbivore would have reached more than in length and stood at shoulder and was estimated to weigh up to . • The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), endemic to Tasmania, is the largest living marsupial carnivore. These stocky mammals can range up to and in total length. 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 from nose to tail. • The largest carnivorous marsupials known to ever exist were the Australian marsupial lion (Thylacoleo carnifex) and the South American saber-toothed marsupial (Thylacosmilus) both ranging from long and weighing between . Neither were 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. == Monotremes (Monotremata) ==

:The largest extant monotreme (egg-bearing mammal) is the western long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bruijni) weighing up to and measuring long. The largest monotreme ever was the extinct echidna species Murrayglossus hacketti, known only from a few bones found in Western Australia. It was about 1 m long and probably weighed about . == Odd-toed ungulates (Perissodactyla) ==

. '' (skull pictured) was the second largest odd-toed ungulate, and one of the largest land mammals, of all time. was most likely the largest odd-toed ungulate and may be a leading contender alongside Palaeoloxodon namadicus'' for the title of the largest land mammal. • The largest extant species is the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). The largest size this species can attain is , in total length, and tall at the shoulder. It is slightly larger than the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), which can range up to a weight of . The extinct Elasmotherium sibricum was the largest rhino to ever exist. It stood approximately tall at the shoulder, up to long (excluding horn), and weighed from . • The largest extant wild equids are the Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), at up to , a shoulder height of and total length of . Until it was domesticated into extinction the wild horse (E. ferus) was the largest equid. Domestic horses can reach a maximum weight of and shoulder height of , probably far greater than the sizes attained by the wild horse. 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 large extant tapir is the Malayan tapir (Acrocodia indica), the only member of the family outside of South America. Maximum size is about in length, tall at the shoulder, and up to in weight. The largest known tapir is the Giant Tapir (Tapirus augustus) with a 2018 study estimating a body mass of approximately 623 kilograms (1,373 lb). • The second largest land mammal ever was Paraceratherium, a member of this order. The largest known species (Paraceratherium transouralicum) is believed to have stood up to tall at the shoulder, measured over long and may have weighed about 17 tonnes. Though an unnamed species of the related Dzungariotherium may have been slightly larger at 20.6 tonnes in weight, making it the largest paraceratheriid and a serious contender for the largest land mammal. == Pangolins (Pholidota) ==

• The largest species is the giant pangolin (Manis gigantea), at up to and at least . == Anteaters and sloths (Pilosa) ==

• The largest species is the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). A large adult can weigh as much as , be over tall at the shoulder and measure in overall length. is one of the largest neotropical mammals. • 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 and long. == Primates (Primates) ==

is the largest living primate. • The gorillas (Gorilla gorilla & G. beringei) are the most massive living primates. The largest race is eastern lowland gorilla (G. b. graueri), with males average , tall at the shoulder while on all fours and tall when standing. The tallest wild gorilla (from the mountain gorilla race, G. b. beringei) stood and the heaviest wild one massed , although heavier weights have been observed in captivity. However this is disputed and may only have been half of that weight. • The largest of the Old World monkeys is the mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) with large males being up to , long and at the shoulders. 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 and in total length. • The largest lemur is the indri (Indri indri) which can weigh up to and in total length, though one fossil lemur, Archaeoindris, was gorilla-sized at . • Humans (Homo sapiens) can attain weights of up to as well as heights of up to , although 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. The largest man without growth abnormalities was tall and weighed at least . == Elephants and allies (Proboscidea) ==

, the largest living terrestrial animal. • The African bush elephant, with a largest recorded weight of 10.4 tonnes, is the largest extant member of the order Proboscidea. Though various contenders vie for the title of largest proboscid ever, including the steppe mammoth (M. trogontherii) of Asia, the columbian mammoth (M. columbi) of North America, and Paleoloxodon recki of Africa (each of these species possibly reaching a shoulder height of and 14.3 tonnes in weight), the largest so far discovered species is believed to have been Palaeoloxodon namadicus. A recent estimate puts the largest individuals at a shoulder height of and a weight of about 22 tonnes. This would make it the largest land mammal known to ever exist, surpassing even Paraceratherium/Indricotherium. Though this estimate is highly speculative and the author of this estimate stated that it should be taken with "a grain of salt" as the material has been missing for nearly 200 years and is either stored in the Indian Museum of Kolkata or is lost. In 2023, a publication by Gregory S. Paul and Larramendi estimated that another specimen identified as cf. P. namadicus, also only known from a partial femur, would have weighed . Other authors have noted that weight estimates for proboscideans based on single bones can lead to estimates that are "highly improbable" compared to accurate estimates from complete skeletons. • Deinotherium "thraceiensis", at tall and a weight of , rivaled those proboscideans in size, and was the largest member of its family (Deinotheriidae). == Rodents (Rodentia) ==

is the largest living rodent. '' was the largest rodent of all time. • 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 long and tall at the shoulder and a maximum weight of . The extinct Neochoerus pinckneyi from North America, at 90 to 113 kg (200 to 250 pounds), was 40% larger than the living capybara. • 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 , which is about twice the normal weight for a beaver, and in total length. The Eurasian beaver (C. fiber) is close to the same average size, but is known to top out around a mass of . The largest of this family is the extinct giant beaver of North America. It grew over in length and weighed roughly , 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 and long. • The largest porcupine is the Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) of Central Africa long from the head to the base of the tail, with the tail adding a further . They weigh from , with exceptionally large specimens weighing up to ; males and females are not significantly different in size. • The largest guinea pig, the greater guinea pig (Cavia magna), grows to a total length of and weight of for males and a total length of and weight of for females. • The largest Muroid is the Gambian pouched rat of Africa. It grows up to in total length and can weigh up to . • The largest known rodent ever is Josephoartigasia monesi, an extinct species known only from fossils found in Uruguay. It was approximately long and tall, and is estimated to have weighed 1.5–2.5 tonnes. 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 long, with an additional tail, and probably weighed around . • The largest dipodid is the great jerboa (Allactaga major), with a body length of and a tail of . == Treeshrews (Scandentia) ==

• The largest of the treeshrews seems to be the common treeshrew (Tupaia glis), at up to 187 g (6.6 oz) and . == Dugongs and manatees (Sirenia) ==

, the largest living sirenian, can weigh well over a ton. • 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 and a total length of . • The extinct Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) was the largest member to ever exist, growing up to at least long and weighing up to 11 tonnes. It was a member of the dugong family. == Shrews and moles (Soricomorpha) ==