North America, a continent with diverse ecosystems, is home to an impressive array of wildlife. This includes some of the largest creatures on Earth, leading to questions about which animal holds the title of “biggest.”
How Animal Size is Measured
Defining the “biggest” animal is complex, as different metrics offer varying perspectives. Scientists commonly use measurements like total length, height, and weight to quantify an animal’s size. An animal might be the longest, while another is the heaviest, leading to different contenders for the “biggest” title. For example, length is measured from nose to tail, while weight reflects overall bulk.
North America’s Largest Land Dwellers
Several species stand out for their impressive dimensions among North American land animals. The American bison is the largest terrestrial mammal on the continent. Male bison, known as bulls, can weigh up to 2,400 pounds and stand around 6 feet tall at the hump, while females typically weigh up to 1,000 pounds.
The Kodiak bear, a brown bear subspecies from Alaska, is another large land animal. Large males can weigh up to 1,500 pounds and stand over 10 feet tall on their hind legs, or about 5 feet on all fours. Moose, the largest members of the deer family, are also notable for their size. An Alaskan bull moose, the largest subspecies, can weigh around 1,600 pounds and stand nearly 7 feet tall at the shoulder.
Giants of North American Waters
North America’s aquatic environments host creatures that far surpass their terrestrial counterparts in size. The fin whale, for example, is the second-largest whale species globally and can be found in North American waters. These streamlined whales can reach lengths of 75 to 85 feet and weigh between 40 to 80 tons.
The great white shark, a top predator in coastal waters, also reaches large dimensions. While most males range from 11 to 13 feet, and females from 15 to 16 feet, some large females have been verified up to 20 feet in length and can weigh over 4,000 pounds. These sharks are found in North American coastal waters. However, even these marine predators are dwarfed by the true giants of the deep.
The Absolute Largest Animal in North America
The largest animal in North America, and the world, is the blue whale. This marine mammal, a baleen whale, can be found in North American waters. Blue whales reach lengths up to 100 feet and weights up to 200 tons. Some individuals have been estimated to weigh over 330,000 pounds, making them the heaviest animals known to have ever existed. Their immense size is supported by a diet of tiny crustaceans called krill.