When it comes to primates, the eastern gorilla rules in size and can measure up to 6 feet with a weight of about 400 pounds on average. These beasts generally reside in the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. Gorilla Beringei wins the title of the largest primate in the world, with a height of up to 6.2 feet and a weight of roughly 450 pounds, according to Gorillas-World.
While these behemoths roam the jungles of eastern and central Africa, the heaviest gorilla was actually found to be in St.Louis. This huge primate named Phil was raised in the zoo. Phil the eastern lowland gorilla, was slightly shorter but weighed 860 pounds. He died in 1958. Sadly, around 5000 gorillas remain in those African jungles today, making them critically endangered.
This Giant Shipworm
Recorded to be both the largest living mollusk and bivalve, (mollusks with shells like clams, oysters, scallops, and mussels) this aquatic creature, known as a giant shipworm looks as scary as it sounds. Its long gooey pipe-like appearance that looks like it comes from a George Orwell novel was discovered accidentally by a research team working in the Philippines, led Dr. Distel.
When one of Distel's students stumbled on the mollusk, they knew they had discovered something quite spectacular. This strange creature lives in a shell that resembles an elephant tusk and measures between 3 and 5 feet long. The mollusk itself is the length of a baseball bat, according to Live Science. This species is also known to be the longest-surviving bivalve in history.
That's One Shaggy Dog
This big boy looks like a Golden Doodle, but when you scroll down and see the third photo, you might think he must have another breed in the mix; how else would he have gotten so big? No matter how big this adorable pooch might get - in his mind, he will always be his owner's puppy.
He's the perfect height for a dance partner; we wonder if the local dance competition will allow this shaggy fellow as our partner when we enter for the waltz? Again, another dog on this list who looks a lot like Chewbacca from the "Star Wars" film franchise.
The Biggest Atlas Beetle
The gorilla of the insect world, the Atlas beetle is one sizeable bug. Belonging to the rhinoceros beetle species which is already a king in the beetle world can measure up to 5.1 inches (13 centimeters.) Aptly named after the Titan that was doomed to hold up the earth for eternity, this critter can certainly carry its load too.
They're also notoriously vicious and have been known to fight to the death as early as the larvae stage if there is not enough of space or food. These beetles can be found in Southern Asia, particularly Indonesia. Ironically, we wonder if these beetles like to climb any mountains from time to time.
The Largest Insect in the World
Up until the year 2016, the largest insect in the world was the stick insect named a Phobaeticus Chani. The specimen which is currently being held in the Natural History Museum measures 56.7 centimeters (22.3 in). That's when the legs are fully extended. The body alone however still measures an awesome 357 mm (14.1 in).
But there's a new sheriff in town and the longest bug is officially the Phryganistria Chinensis Zhao, a new species of stick insect. The new species named after the Zhao Li of the Insect Museum of West China has been researched for years. At the museum, it laid 6 eggs. The offspring after hatching measured 26 centimeters.