The weight of 800 pounds (approximately 363 kilograms) represents a significant size threshold across the animal kingdom. This mass often falls within the range of a mature female, a sub-adult male, or an average individual within a larger breed. Animals that fit this weight class range from the largest deer species in North America to massive reptiles and specialized marine mammals.
Land Mammals of North America
Several large native North American mammals regularly reach or exceed the 800-pound mark. The moose, the largest member of the deer family, often has females that average around this size, with adult cows from populations like those in Maine averaging 836 pounds. While these cows can range up to 1,300 pounds, a smaller bull moose will typically start at 800 pounds, though prime males can weigh twice that.
The elk, or wapiti, is another prominent North American grazer that fits this category. A large male elk (bull) commonly weighs between 700 and 1,100 pounds, making 800 pounds a common weight for a healthy, mature male. Weight variation in these wild ungulates is substantial, depending on the animal’s age, season, and nutritional quality.
Bears also encompass this weight class, with 800 pounds generally representing the larger end of the male grizzly bear spectrum. Adult male grizzly bears, a subspecies of brown bear, typically range from 400 to 790 pounds, but large individuals can easily cross the 800-pound threshold. In contrast, even the largest male black bears rarely exceed 600 pounds, making the 800-pound class exclusive to the biggest brown bears.
Heavyweights of Global Livestock and Wild Game
The 800-pound measurement is a common baseline for numerous domesticated and wild species found globally. Many breeds of domestic livestock have individuals that weigh in at this level. While mature cows from breeds like Angus or Hereford often weigh over 1,000 pounds, 800 pounds is a typical minimum weight for a mature cow in a beef herd, or a common weight for a smaller bull or a large pony.
Among wild bovids, the largest African antelopes provide several examples near this weight. Mature males of the Greater Kudu, a striking species with long spiral horns, can approach 800 pounds. Similarly, the Common Eland, the world’s largest antelope, has individuals that start their adult weight range at or just above 800 pounds.
Water buffalo, a species widely domesticated across Asia, features individuals that fit the 800-pound class. While mature females often weigh significantly more (up to 1,765 pounds), 800 pounds represents the smaller end of a mature female or approximately two-thirds the size of a large male. This weight frequently captures the average size of a female within a species where males are substantially larger.
Aquatic and Reptilian Species
The 800-pound category includes several notable aquatic and cold-blooded creatures. Among marine mammals, the grey seal is a classic example, as adult males in the western North Atlantic population can reach 880 pounds. These large pinnipeds use their substantial blubber layer for insulation and energy storage, contributing to their bulk.
Reptiles that reach this size are usually younger or smaller individuals of the largest species. The Nile crocodile and the saltwater crocodile, the world’s largest living reptiles, can weigh over a ton when fully grown. An 800-pound crocodile would typically be a large sub-adult or a smaller mature male of either species, as a 4-meter Nile crocodile is generally around 550 to 660 pounds.
The massive Galápagos and Aldabra giant tortoises, the largest terrestrial reptiles, can also enter this weight class. While the average adult Aldabra male weighs around 550 pounds, the largest recorded Galapagos tortoises have reached up to 880 pounds. This weight represents the upper size limit for the largest individual specimens of these slow-moving giants.