Largest Organisms

It is interesting to learn which are the largest organisms amongst different species.

The largest organism found on Earth can be measured using a variety of different methods.

When we say largest organism, we have to be clear, which aspect or property of the organism is larger than the others.

For example; if we say largest tree we have to be clear, are we talking about a tree which is large by its height or breadth or volume or even age.

There might be a tree which is not very tall but very old, say 4000 years old.

There might be a tree which is very tall but its age is only 50 years.

Which of these two trees should win the largest tree contest?

This question shows that organisms should be defined as the largest by volume, mass, height/length and age.

Let's discuss a few organisms which have broken all records.

By volume and weight, the largest known animal ever to have lived is the Blue whale, an endangered species that can measure 30 m (100 feet) in length and can weigh in excess of 180 tones. There is currently no conclusive evidence that a larger animal has ever existed.

The largest land animals today are male Savannah Elephants, with one known example weighing around 12,000 kg (26,400 pounds), though many extinct species, such as dinosaurs, were much larger.

I think I am the biggest of all !!! Only on land, inside water I am

the largest.

The largest living bird is the ostrich, reaching a height of up to 2.5 m (8 feet). Eggs laid by the Ostrich can weigh 1.3 kg and are the largest eggs in the world today.

Ostrich are heavy so they cannot fly.

The largest living fish is the whale shark, recorded to be upto 12 m long.

3 The Giant Sequoia or the redwood tree is the largest tree by volume.

They grow to an average height of 70–85 m (230–280 ft) and 5–7 m (16–23 ft) in diameter.

Specimens have been reported to be 93.6 m (307 ft) in height and (not the same individual) 8.85 m (29 ft) in diameter; the largest individual is the General Sherman tree, with a volume

of 1489 m3.

Do you know which is the largest living organism on the planet?

No it is not the blue whale but a fungus!

The honey fungus of the species Armillaria ostoyae, one genetically constant group has been found over an area of more than 8.9 km2 a3.4 square miles) in the Malheur National Forest, Oregon,US.

The large clumps of yellow-brown mushrooms that appear above ground are the fruiting bodies of much larger organisms.

However, they have very large underground networks of tubular filaments called “mycelia”.

I win..I win..

5 Can you guess which is the strongest creature?

The strongest creature on earth is only a bug that fits in the palm of your hand?

What about the largest living land mammal?

You would think something as massive as an elephant would be able to carry way more weight than a little insect.

Yes, it's true. An elephant can carry a lot more weight than a rhinoceros beetle, but the definition of strength we're using here is one of proportional strength.

A huge African elephant can only carry up to 25% of its own weight on its back.

The rhinoceros beetle can carry 850 times its own weight.

There's NO CONTEST. That would be like an elephant carrying 850 elephants on its back.

I might look small but am the strongest of all.