It may be hard to believe, but there are nearly 8 million species of animals on Earth. From the furry to the feathery to the downright slimy, the creatures that share the planet with us come in all sorts of shapes and colors. Some of them require a microscope to be seen, and others… well, not so much. Nature has created some seriously huge animals over time, and when you see them, you might have to suppress the urge to run away from your screen!
It's crazy to think that so many animals that look so much alike can vary so drastically in size. For instance, just as we have tiny Yorkies and Chihuahuas that can fit in your purse, we also have these massive dog breeds that would have no trouble at all knocking you right to the ground! Of course, dogs aren't the only creatures that can grow to unbelievable sizes — these massive, strange-looking creatures seem like they'd be more at home in a Jurassic Park movie than on today's planet Earth!
If you've ever wondered just how big your favorite animals could get, check out these huge critters that almost look too gigantic to be real. I thought for sure that number 10 was Photoshopped, but it actually exists!
Make sure you SHARE these colossal critters with everyone you know!
1. Shire Horse
These draft horses are the largest equines around, with males averaging over 17 hands tall. A Shire named Goliath held a place in the Guinness World Records as the largest horse in the world at over 19 hands until he passed away in 2001.
2. Giant African Snail
As its name suggests, this gastropod hails from Africa… and it's very, very big. The shells of these creatures can grow up to seven inches in length!
3. Cane Toad
The largest toads in the world are native to Central and South America, but they can now be found as far as Australia, too. Adult cane toads normally grow to be a maximum of six inches in length, but the largest one on record was a whopping 15 inches!
4. Chinese Giant Salamander
At one time, these ginormous amphibians could reach up to six feet in length. Nowadays, though, they're critically endangered, and they normally hit "only" four feet from nose to tail.
5. Giant Weta Cricket
These insects are part of the genus Deinacrida, which is Greek for "terrible grasshopper." Being as these creatures have been known to reach up to four inches in length and weigh more than a bird when filled with eggs, it's pretty easy to see where they got that name from.
6. Saltwater Crocodile
As both the largest living reptile and the largest predator on land, the saltwater crocodile is not a creature you want to mess with. The biggest males can reach over 20 feet in length and 3,000 lbs!
7. Flemish Giant Rabbit
The largest Flemish giant rabbit on record was 32 inches long. Most of these big bunnies weigh an average of 15 pounds and are often used for show purposes.
8. Capybara
The capybara is the largest rodent on Earth, able to grow up to two feet tall at the withers and tipping the scales at a maximum of 146 lbs. If you want to see one in the wild, you can do so in every South American nation except Chile.
9. Giant Freshwater Stingray
You won't find these animals in the ocean. These rays swim along rivers in Indochina and Borneo, and they can grow to be 1,300 lbs. and over six feet across!
10. Japanese Spider Crab
They look like something out of a bad horror film, but Japanese spider crabs are 100 percent real. They have a "claw-span" of 12 feet and can weigh over 40 lbs.
11. Irish Wolfhound
The largest single dog on record is a Great Dane, but the largest overall breed is the Irish Wolfhound. These shaggy gentle giants can stand nearly three feet tall at the withers!
12. Giant Huntsman Spider
It's hard to believe that a spider that can reach over a foot in leg span could stay hidden for very long, but this species wasn't even discovered until 2001. They can hunt and eat some pretty large prey, including birds and small reptiles, but don't worry — humans aren't on the menu.
13. Goliath Frog
Unless you live in Cameroon or Equatorial Guinea, you're not likely to come across these frogs, which can grow to be nearly 13 inches in length and weigh over 7 lbs.
14. Monster Pig
Thankfully, this massive boar nicknamed "Monster Pig" that allegedly weighed in at over 1,000 lbs. seems to be one-of-a-kind rather than part of a subspecies of supersize swine. It was shot in 2007 by an 11-year-old boy.
15. Sunflower Starfish
One of the largest sea stars in the world, these creatures can have up to 24 arms, which can span up to three feet in length from one end of the animal to the other.
16. Hercules Beetle
As the longest beetle on the planet, the Hercules can reach up to almost seven inches in length. Unless you travel to Central or South America, though, you're not likely to find one crawling on you.
17. Gaur
The gaur is the largest bovine species in the world. They can grow up to eight feet in length and seven feet at the withers, and some males are known to weigh up to 3,300 lbs!
18. Ocean Sunfish
With the largest specimen on record coming in at over 5,000 lbs. and nearly 11 feet in length, it's no surprise that the sunfish is the biggest bony fish in the water. Its strange appearance might be intimidating, but don't worry — these creatures are docile with humans and feed on jellyfish.
19. Golden-Crowned Flying Fox
This cute bat is the largest of its kind with a wingspan of 5.6 feet, but sadly, the destruction of its habitat is causing it to near extinction.
20. Maine Coon
Unless you work at a zoo, you're unlikely to come across a cat bigger than a Maine Coon. These kitties can weigh as much as 35 lbs. and be as long as four feet from their nose to the tip of their tail!
Make sure you SHARE these massive creatures with everyone you know!
