The discussion of the world’s biggest land animals is defined by a single metric: mass. The planet’s largest terrestrial creatures are all mammals, and their size is measured by the immense weight they achieve in adulthood. Comparing these animals by weight offers a factual and direct answer to the question of which species is truly the largest on land.
Defining the Largest Land Animal
The undisputed title for the heaviest living land animal belongs to the African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana), also known as the African savanna elephant. This colossal herbivore is native to the savannas and woodlands of Sub-Saharan Africa. Fully grown male bulls are substantially larger than females, and they are the primary bearers of the species’ immense weight records.
An average adult male African Bush Elephant weighs between 5.2 and 6.9 tonnes (approximately 11,500 to 15,200 pounds) and stands around 3.2 meters (10.5 feet) tall at the shoulder. The maximum recorded weights push this species into staggering territory. The largest specimen ever documented had an estimated body mass of 10.4 tonnes (about 23,000 pounds).
These elephants are characterized by their large, sail-shaped ears, which help dissipate heat, and their distinctive, curved tusks. Both males and females possess these ivory tusks, which are actually elongated incisor teeth. The sheer scale of this animal requires it to consume a massive amount of forage daily, sometimes needing up to 169 kilograms (375 pounds) of food to sustain its body mass.
The Next Tier of Terrestrial Giants
Following the African species is the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), which is the second-largest living land animal. This species is generally smaller than its African cousin, with males averaging between 3,400 and 5,200 kilograms (7,500 to 11,500 pounds).
The Asian Elephant’s maximum recorded weight is around 6.8 tonnes, showing a significant gap in mass compared to the largest African elephants. Unlike the African species, only some male Asian Elephants have visible tusks; they also have smaller ears and a different skull structure.
After the elephants, the competition for the third heaviest land animal is between the White Rhinoceros and the Hippopotamus, with experts often debating the definitive ranking due to overlapping weight ranges. The White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is the largest rhino species, with males weighing an average of 1,800 to 2,500 kilograms (4,000 to 5,500 pounds).
The Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large, semi-aquatic mammal that is comparable in size, with males typically weighing between 1,600 and 3,200 kilograms (3,500 to 7,000 pounds). The largest documented hippos can reach weights of 4.5 tonnes, which occasionally places them above the heaviest rhinos in individual mass.
Height vs. Weight: Other Notable Land Animals
The definition of “biggest” can change when the focus shifts from mass to other physical dimensions, such as height. The Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is the tallest living land animal, achieving heights that far surpass any elephant. A large male giraffe can stand up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) tall. However, the giraffe’s slender build means it only weighs up to about 1,360 kilograms (3,000 pounds), placing it far down the mass-based rankings.
In the category of land carnivores, the debate centers on the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) and the Kodiak Bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), both of which are considered the largest predators by mass. Polar bears are generally recognized as the largest bear species, with males averaging around 450 kilograms (990 pounds). The largest recorded male Polar Bear weighed over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds), securing the species’ standing as the most massive land carnivore.