Largest prehistoric animals
The largest prehistoric organisms include both vertebrate and invertebrate species. Many of them are described below, along with their typical range of size. Many species mentioned might not actually be the largest representative of their clade due to the incompleteness of the fossil record and many of the sizes given are merely estimates since no complete specimen have been found. Their body mass, especially, is mostly conjecture because soft tissue was rarely fossilized. Generally the size of extinct species was subject to energetic and biomechanical constraints.
Vertebrates
Mammals (Mammalia)
Monotremes (Monotremata)
- The largest-known monotreme ever was the extinct long-beaked echidna species known as Zaglossus hacketti, known from a couple of bones found in Western Australia. It was the size of a sheep, weighing probably up to.
Marsupials (Marsupialia)
- The largest-known marsupial is the extinct Diprotodon, about long, standing tall and weighing up to. Fellow Vombatiform Palorchestes azael was similar in length being around 2.5 m, with body mass estimates indicating it could exceed 1,000 kg.
- The largest-known carnivorous marsupial was Thylacoleo carnifex. Measurements taken from a number of specimens show they averaged 101 to 164 kg in weight. Thylacosmilus, Borhyaena, Proborhyaenidae were also comparable.
- The largest-known kangaroo was Procoptodon, which could grow to and weigh. Some species from the genus Sthenurus were similar in size as well.
Even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla)
- The largest-known artiodactyl was Hippopotamus gorgops with a length of and a height of. Bison latifrons reached a shoulder height of, and had horns that spanned over. Pelorovis also reached in weight. Aside from local populations and subspecies of extant species, such as the Gaur population in Sri Lanka, European Bison in British Isles, Caucasian wisent and Carpathian wisent, the largest, modern extinct bovid is Aurochs with an average height at the shoulders of in bulls and in cows, while aurochs populations in Hungary had bulls reaching. The Kouprey, reaching is also considered to be possibly extinct.
- The largest-known camel that ever lived was the Syrian camel. It was at the shoulder and tall. Titanotylopus from North America, possibly reached and a shoulder height of over.
- The largest known ruminant, aside from modern giraffe is Sivatherium with body weight at.
- Daeodon was the largest-known entelodont that ever lived, at long and at the shoulder.
- The largest-known wild suid to ever exist was Kubanochoerus gigas, having measured up to and stood more than tall at the shoulder.
- The extinct Irish elk and the stag-moose 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. Cervalces latifrons was twice as heavy as the Irish elk but its antlers were smaller.
Cetaceans (Cetacea)
- Certain rorquals from the Pliocene possibly rivaled the size of modern blue whales.
- The largest prehistoric sperm whale, or toothed whale was Livyatan melvillei weighing in at about 57 tonnes.
Odd-toed ungulates (Perissodactyla)
- The largest-known perissodactyl, and the second largest land mammal of all time was the hornless rhino Paraceratherium. The largest individual known was estimated at tall at the shoulders, in length from nose to rump, and in weight.
- Some prehistoric horned rhinos also grew to large sizes. The giant woolly rhino Elasmotherium reached long and high.
- The largest prehistoric horse was Equus giganteus of North America. It was estimated to grow to more than and at the shoulders.
- The giant tapir Tapirus augustus was the largest tapir ever, at about 1,100 lbs, 2.1 metres long and 0.9 metres tall at the shoulders to 3.5 metres long
Carnivores (Carnivora)
- The largest terrestrial known carnivoran and the largest-known bear as well as the largest-known mammalian land-predator of all time was Arctotherium angustidens or the South American short-faced bears. A humerus of A. angustidens from Buenos Aires indicate that the large males could have weighed and standing at least tall on the hind-limbs.
- The largest viverrid known to have existed is Viverra leakeyi, which was around the size of a wolf or small leopard at.
- The heaviest known felids are the Ngangdong tiger, with the largest specimen weighing up to, the American lion, weighing up to and saber-toothed cats Amphimachairodus kabir and Smilodon populator, with the males possibly reaching and respectively.
- The largest known wolf species is the dire wolf in length and weighed between. The largest canid of all time was Epicyon haydeni, which stood tall at the shoulder. The largest bear-dog was a species of Pseudocyon weighing around, representing a very large individual.
- The largest-known mustelid to ever exist was likely the giant otter, Enhydriodon. It exceeded in length, and would have weighed in at around, much larger than any other known mustelid, living or extinct. There were other giant otters, like Siamogale, at around and Megalenhydris, which was larger than a modern-day giant river otter. Another large-bodied mustelid was the superficially cat-like Ekorus from Africa, about the size of a leopard and filling a similar ecological niche before big cats came to the continent. Megalictis was thought to be around the size of a black bear according to old estimates. Newer estimates, however, significantly downgrade its size, although, at a maximum weight more than twice that of a wolverine, it is larger than most living mustelids.
- The largest known fossil hyena is Pachycrocuta, estimated at. The closely related percrocutid feliform, Dinocrocuta, was even bigger,.
Armadillos, glyptodonts and pampatheres (Cingulata)
Hedgehogs, gymnures, shrews, and moles (Erinaceomorpha and Soricomorpha)
The largest-known animal of the Erinaceomorpha and Soricomorpha groups was Deinogalerix, measuring up to in total length, with a skull up to long.Rabbits, hares, and pikas (Lagomorpha)
The largest-known prehistoric lagomorph is Minorcan giant lagomorph at.''
Cimolestids (Cimolesta)
The largest-known cimolestid is Coryphodon, high at the shoulder and long.Anteaters and sloths (Pilosa)
- The largest-known pilosan ever was Megatherium, a ground sloth with an estimated average weight of and a height of which is close to the size of the African bush elephant. Several other sloths grew to large sizes as well, such as Eremotherium, but none as large as Megatherium.
Primates (Primates)
- The largest-known primate of all time was Gigantopithecus blackii, standing tall and weighing.
- The largest-known old world monkey, the prehistoric baboon Dinopithecus weighing averagely 46 kg, It exceeds modern largest baboon, Chacma baboon's maximum weight record. Heaviest one is Theropithecus oswaldi, It weighed 72 kg.
- The largest-known new world monkey was Protopithecus, weighing up to.
- Some prehistoric prosimians grew to huge sizes as well. Archaeoindris was a lemur that lived in Madagascar and weighed, as large as a silverback gorilla. Megaladapis is another large extinct lemur at in length.
Elephants, mammoths, and mastodons (Proboscidea)
- The largest-known land mammal ever was a proboscidean called Palaeoloxodon namadicus which weighed about, and was about tall at the shoulder. The largest individuals of the steppe mammoth of Eurasia estimated to reach at the shoulders and in weight.
- Some other enormous proboscideans include the southern mammoth, the Columbian mammoth, and Deinotherium.
Rodents (Rodentia)
- Josephoartigasia monesi was the largest-known rodent of all time, approximately long and tall and weighing an estimated.
- Before the discovery of Josephoartigasia monesi, another giant rodent was known, Phoberomys insolita, but it was known from only a few fragments, so its real size is unknown. A slightly smaller relative, Phoberomys pattersoni, was found, which was long and weighed.
- The largest beaver was the giant beaver of North America. It grew over in length and weighed roughly, also making it one of the largest rodents to ever exist.
Astrapotherians (Astrapotheria)
Arsinoitheres (Arsinoitheriidae)
The largest-known arsinoithere was Arsinoitherium. When alive, it would have been tall at the shoulders, and long.Condylarths (Condylarthra)
The largest-known condylarth is Phenacodus. It was long and weighted up to.Dinoceratans (Dinocerata)
The largest-known dinoceratan was Uintatherium. It was about the size of a rhinoceros. Despite its large size, it had a brain only about as large as an orange.Desmostylians (Desmostylia)
The largest-known desmostylian was a species comparable in size to the Steller's Sea Cow.Litopterns (Litopterna)
The largest-known litoptern was Macrauchenia, which had three hoofs per foot. It was a relatively large animal, with a body length of around.Notoungulates (Notoungulata)
The largest notoungulate known of complete remains is Toxodon. It was about in body length, and about high at the shoulder and resembled a heavy rhinoceros. Although is not complete, the preserved fossils suggests that Mixotoxodon were the most massive member of the group, with a weight about.Oxyaenids (Oxyaenidae)
The largest-known oxyaenid was Sarkastodon weighing in at.Hyaenodontids (Hyaenodontidae)
The largest hyaenodontid was Simbakubwa at 1,500 kg.Mesonychids (Mesonychia)
The largest mesonychid was Mongolonyx robustus. This predator would have been tall at the shoulders and long.Non-mammal synapsids (Synapsida)
Pelycosaurs
The herbivorous Cotylorhynchus hancocki was the largest of the pelycosaurs and the largest amniote to have lived at the time, with an estimated length and weight of at least and. The biggest carnivorous pelycosaur was Dimetrodon angelensis, which could reach and. The largest members of the genus Dimetrodon was also the world's first fully terrestrial apex predators.Therapsids
The plant-eating dicynodont Lisowicia bojani is the largest-known of all non-mammal synapsids, at and. Among the largest carnivorous synapsids was the therapsid Anteosaurus, which was long, and weighed.Reptiles (Reptilia)
Crocodiles and relatives (Crocodylomorpha)
- The largest-known crocodylomorph is likely Sarcosuchus imperator at long and weighing.
- Some close contenders in size are Deinosuchus estimated at around, and Purussaurus estimated at in length. Another large crocodilian is Rhamphosuchus, estimated at in length.
- The largest terrestrial sebecid crocodylomorph is Barinasuchus, from the Miocene of South America, which reached long.
- The largest-known rauisuchian is Fasolasuchus tenax, which measured an estimated 8–10 metres. It is both the largest rauisuchian known to science, and the largest non-dinosaurian terrestrial predator ever discovered.
Lizards and snakes (Squamata)
- Giant mosasaurs are the largest-known animals within the Squamata. The largest-known mosasaur is likely Mosasaurus hoffmanni, estimated at in length. Another giant mosasaur is Tylosaurus, estimated at in length. Another large mosasaur is Hainosaurus bernardi. It was once estimated at in length, but later estimates put it at around.
- The largest-known prehistoric snake is Titanoboa cerrejonensis, estimated at in length and in weight. Another known very large fossil snake is Gigantophis garstini, estimated at around in length. A close rival in size to Gigantophis is a fossil snake, Palaeophis colossaeus, which may have been around in length.
- The largest-known land lizard is probably Megalania at in length. However, maximum size of this animal is subject to debate.
Plesiosaurs
Plesiosauroids (Plesiosauroidea)
The longest known plesiosauroid was Styxosaurus at long. Other elasmosaurs, such as Albertonectes and Thalassomedon, rivaled the aforementioned Styxosaurus in size.Pliosauroids (Pliosauroidea)
There is much controversy over the largest-known of the Pliosauroidea. Fossil remains of a pliosaur nicknamed as "Predator X" have been discovered and excavated from Norway in 2008. This pliosaur has been estimated at in length and in weight. However, in 2002, a team of paleontologists in Mexico discovered the remains of a pliosaur nicknamed as "Monster of Aramberri", which is also estimated at in length. This species is, however, claimed to be a juvenile and has been attacked by a larger pliosaur. Some media sources claimed that Monster of Aramberri was a Liopleurodon but its species is unconfirmed thus far.Another very large pliosaur was Pliosaurus macromerus, known from a single incomplete mandible. It may have reached, assuming the skull was about 17% of the total body length.
Ichthyosaurs (Ichthyosauria)
The largest-known ichthyosaur was Shastasaurus sikanniensis at in length. In April 2018, paleontologists announced the discovery of a previously unknown ichthyosaur that may have reached lengths of 26 m making it one of the largest animals known, rivaling some blue whales in size. Another, larger ichthyosaur was found in 1850 in Aust, Gloucestershire, being noted in the same paper. Its remains seemed to surpass the measurements of the lilstock monster, but the researchers commented that the remains were too fragmentary for a size estimate to be made..Turtles and tortoises (Testudines)
- The largest-known turtle ever was Archelon ischyros at long, wide and. The second largest turtle of all time was the fresh-water turtle, Stupendemys, with an estimated total carapace length of more than and weight of up to. Afterwards, the next largest turtle, and second-largest sea-turtle was Protostega at. Carbonemys cofrinii had a shell that measured about and was estimated to weigh.
- Two tortoises share the title of largest-known ever tortoise: Meiolania at long and well over, and Colossochelys atlas at and weighing over.
Cotylosaurs (Captorhinidae)
Pareiasaurs (Pareiasauridae)
The largest-known pareiasaur is Scutosaurus, up to in length, with bony armor, and a number of spikes decorating its skull.Phytosaurs (Phytosauria)
Some of the largest-known phytosaurs include Redondasaurus with a length of 6.4 meters and Smilosuchus with a size of 6.8 meters.Pterosaurs (Pterosauria)
- The largest-known pterosaur was Quetzalcoatlus northropi, at and with a wingspan of. Another close contender is Hatzegopteryx, also with a wingspan of. This estimate is based on a skull long.
- Yet another possible contender for the title is Arambourgiania which also had a wingspan.
Non-avian dinosaurs (Dinosauria)
Sauropods (Sauropoda)
- A mega-sauropod, Maraapunisaurus fragillimus, is a contender for the largest-known dinosaur in history. It has been estimated at in length and in weight. Unfortunately, the fossil remains of this dinosaur have been lost. More recently, it was estimated at in length.
- Barosaurus lentus may have been the largest sauropod and largest dinosaur yet discovered. Originally thought to reach only, a massive cervical vertebra has been recently attributed to this species, suggesting maximum length of and masses of up to.
- Other huge sauropods include Argentinosaurus, Alamosaurus, and Puertasaurus with estimated lengths of and weights of. Patagotitan was estimated at in length and in mass, and was similar in size to Argentinosaurus and Puertasaurus. Giant sauropods like Supersaurus, Sauroposeidon, and Diplodocus probably rivaled them in length but not weight.
- The "Archbishop", a large brachiosaur that was discovered in 1930. The animal was reported to get a scientific paper published by the end of 2016.
- "Brachiosaurus" nougaredi, is yet another large brachiosaur from Early Cretaceous North Africa. The remains have been lost, but the sacrum drawing remains. They suggest a sacrum of almost long, making it the largest dinosaur sacrum discovered so far.
- In 2010, the femur of a large sauropod was discovered in France. The femur suggests an animal that grew to immense sizes.
Non-avian theropods (Theropoda)
- The largest theropod as well as the largest terrestrial predator yet known is Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, with the largest specimen known estimated at in length and around in weight.
- Other large theropods were Giganotosaurus carolinii, and Tyrannosaurus rex, whose largest specimens known estimated at and in length, respectively. Some other notable giant theropods may also have rivaled them in size.
Armoured dinosaurs (Thyreophora)
Ceratopsians (Ceratopsia)
The largest ceratopsian known is Triceratops horridus, along with the closely related Eotriceratops xerinsularis both with estimated lengths of. Ojoceratops and several other ceratopsians rival them in size.Ornithopods (Ornithopoda)
The very largest-known ornithopods, like Shantungosaurus were as heavy as medium-sized sauropods at up to, and in length.Birds (Aves)
The largest-known birds of all time might have been the elephant birds of Madagascar. Of almost the same size was the Australian Dromornis stirtoni. Both were about tall. The elephant birds were up to and Dromornis stirtoni was up to in weight. The tallest bird ever was the giant moa at tall.The largest-known flight-capable bird was Argentavis magnificens with a wingspan of, and a body weight of.
Waterfowl (Anseriformes)
The largest-known waterfowl of all time belonged to the Dromornithidae.Storks and allies (Ciconiiformes)
The largest-known of Ciconiiformes was Leptoptilos robustus, standing tall and weighing an estimated.Hesperornithines (Hesperornithes)
The largest-known of the hesperornithines was Canadaga arctica at long.Gastornid (Gastornithiformes)
Individuals of Gastornis averaged in height, with large individuals up to tall.Teratorns (Teratornithidae)
The largest-known teratorn and the largest flying bird ever was Argentavis. The immense bird had a wingspan estimated up to and a weight up to. It was as high as an adult human when standing.Phorusrhacids (Phorusrhacidae)
The largest-known-ever gruiform and largest phorusrhacid or "terror bird" was Brontornis, which was about tall at the shoulder, could raise its head above the ground and could have weighed as much as. The immense phorusrhacid Kelenken stood tall with a skull long, had the largest head of any known bird. The largest North American phorusrhacid is Titanis, which is about tall, as tall as a forest elephant.Accipitriforms (Accipitriformes)
The largest-known bird of prey ever was the enormous Haast's eagle, with a wingspan of, relatively short for their size. Total length was probably up to in female and they weighed about. The largest extinct Titanohierax was a giant hawk about 8 kilograms that lived in the Antilles, where it was among the top predators., the largest bird of prey, attacking moa
Gamebirds (Galliformes)
The largest-known of the Galliformes was a giant flightless Sylviornis, a bird long and weighing up to about.Songbirds (Passeriformes)
The largest-known songbird is the extinct giant grosbeak at long.Cormorants and allies (Pelecaniformes)
The largest-known cormorant was the spectacled cormorant of the North Pacific, which became extinct around 1850, was larger still, averaging around and.Bony-toothed birds (Odontopterygiformes)
The largest-known of the Odontopterygiformes—a group which has been variously allied with Procellariiformes, Pelecaniformes and Anseriformes—and the largest flying birds of all time other than Argentavis were the huge Pelagornis, Cyphornis, Dasornis, Gigantornis and Osteodontornis. They had a wingspan of and stood about tall. Exact size estimates and judging which one was largest are not yet possible for these birds, as their bones were extremely thin-walled, light and fragile, and thus most are only known from very incomplete remains.Woodpeckers and allies (Piciformes)
The largest-known woodpecker is the possibly extinct imperial woodpecker with a total length of about. The largest woodpecker confirmed to be extant is the great slaty woodpecker.Parrots (Psittaciformes)
The largest-known parrot is the extinct heracles inexpectatus about 1 meter long.Penguins (Sphenisciformes)
The largest-known penguin of all time was Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi of New Zealand and Antarctica. It stood in height and was in weight. Similar in size were the New Zealand giant penguin with a height of and weighing possibly around and over, and Icadyptes salasi at tall.Owls (Strigiformes)
The largest-known owl of all time was the Cuban Ornimegalonyx at tall probably exceeding.Amphibians (Amphibia)
The largest-known amphibian of all time was the long temnospondyli Prionosuchus.Another huge temnospondyli was Koolasuchus at long, but only high.
Frogs (Anura)
The largest-known frog ever was an as yet unnamed species that was about.Diadectomorpha
The largest-known diacectid, Diadectes, was a heavily built animal, long, with thick vertebrae and ribs.Anthracosauria
The largest-known anthracosaur was Anthracosaurus, a predator. It could reach up to in length. Eogyrinus commonly reached ; however, it was more lightly built.Temnospondyli
The largest-known temnospondyl amphibian is Prionosuchus, which grew to lengths of.Lobe-finned fish (Sarcopterygii)
The largest-known lobe-finned fish was the long Rhizodus.Ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii)
The largest-known ray-finned fish and largest bony fish of all time was the pachycormid, Leedsichthys problematicus, at around long. Claims of larger individuals persist.Ichthyodectiformes (Ichthyodectiformes)
The largest-known of ichthyodectiform fish was Xiphactinus, which measured long.Cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes)
Mackerel sharks (Lamniformes)
An extinct megatoothed shark, C. megalodon is by far the biggest mackerel shark and largest shark known. This giant shark reached a total length of more than. C. megalodon may have approached a maximum of in total length and in mass.Symmoriid (Symmoriida)
The largest-known symmoriid was Stethacanthus at long.Eugenedont (Eugeneodontida)
The largest-known eugenedont is an as-yet unnamed species of Helicoprion discovered in Idaho. The specimens suggest an animal that possibly exceeded in length.Another fairly large eugenedont is Parahelicoprion. The specimens suggest an animal that grew to the same size, but was much more slender and overall less heavy.