Tortoises are big, but none surpassed the size of Goliath. In the 1960s, this hatchling found a home at Seffner’s Life Fellowship Bird Sanctuary. He continued to grow until reaching a weight of 919 lbs. Although most tortoises reach their maximum height when they are 30 years old, Goliath never stopped growing.
These types of tortoises thrive in the Galapagos Islands and the Aldabra Atoll. There are an estimated 25,000 of them, which seems like a lot of these heavy creatures, but they were once more widespread. Although Goliath passed away in 2002, his legacy as the largest tortoise lives on.
Largest Land Carnivores
Our list would be incomplete without the Polar Bear and Kodiak bear. These are the world's largest land carnivores. A male polar bear can weigh between 772 to 1,543 pounds. Females can weigh half that amount. The polar bear uses sea ice to hunt seals. As a result of climate change and the sea ice melting, Polar Bears are being deeply impacted.
There are an estimated 20-25,000 polar bears currently alive. While Polar Bears are huge and often get the reputation of being aggressive, this is actually hardly the case. When faced with a confrontation, they choose to walk away if possible.
I'm Ready For My Lap Time Now
Here is a different type of Mastiff breed we haven't seen before, a Spanish Mastiff, and his size sure stays true to the Mastiff name. Often owners adopt these dogs as puppies when they are still quite small, unaware of how big they really get! We are sure there is some photo trickery going on here. It's all about perspective, folks.
But nevertheless, there is no denying that this dog is much bigger than your average canine. And oh boy, do they get big. Just look how big he is compared to his human companion, he hasn't realized yet that he has outgrown her lap...
Things Are Kind Of Fishy With This Gigantic Goldfish
While huge carp sometimes is greater than 90lbs, goldfish aren't known for their size. If anything, they are known for their tiny size. But, in the wild, they can grow to be pretty big. Many kids keep goldfish as pets. When they are tired of caring for them, they may think to go dump them in the lake.
That's actually the worst thing that you can do for a goldfish. The invasive species has several natural predators and the number continues to grow. Recently, researchers discovered a four-pound goldfish. I assume that's bigger than the small pet you won at the carnival last year.
The Leatherback Sea Turtle
Meet the leatherback sea turtle, the largest turtle alive today. It is also one of the heaviest reptiles alive in the world. Although it's a turtle, the leatherback doesn’t have a bone shell. While most turtles have a shell, the leatherback is with its skin exposed. The average size of leatherbacks is 6 to 7 feet in length.
They can weigh between 550 to 1,540 pounds. Leatherbacks around the Caribbean hold the average in size per region. There, they can weigh around 847 pounds. Not much is known about their lifespans. These turtles feast mostly on jellyfish. They reside in oceans all over the world.