Whether you’ve been on an African safari, taken a walk around a zoo, or just looked through some National Geographic magazines, you surely know that there are a number of animals on this planet that are tall! Being tall provides a lot of benefits for animals who live in open land. Taller animals are able to see predators from farther away or reach tree leaves for dinner. Which animals are the tallest in the world and just how high can they reach? Let’s explore this lofty animal kingdom of ours below.
The List: Tallest Animals in the World
1. Giraffe
Number one on the list of tallest animals in the world comes as no surprise, the giraffe. They are aptly named Giraffa camelopardalis and with good reason. The average giraffe stretches an impressive 14 to 19 feet tall, making them the undisputed champions of the animal kingdom when it comes to height. But their impressive stature isn’t just for show – their necks, reaching up to seven feet in length, are a key adaptation that allows them to munch on leaves most other animals can only dream of reaching
The most distinctive feature of the giraffe is obviously their long neck, consisting of seven vertebrae, the same number as in humans. Each giraffe vertebra can be a whopping 10 inches long, notes Write 4 Animals. This unique design trick gives them a serious advantage over other plant-eaters.
The tallest giraffe to ever be recorded is named George. He stood 20 feet tall. Even female giraffes hold the title of tallest terrestrial animal, outstretching their male counterparts. That’s right, these leading ladies reign supreme in the height department! But their impressive stature isn’t just about good looks. Giraffes, both male and female, call the vast savannas and grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa home. Their long necks allow them to browse on leaves that other animals can’t reach, making them a dominant force in the African ecosystem.
2. African Elephant
Imagine something towering over you at a staggering 13 feet tall at the shoulder – that’s the kind of impressive height we’re talking about with elephants! But size isn’t their only claim to fame. African elephants can tip the scales at a whopping six to seven tons. Believe it or not, African elephants are also highly intelligent and social animals. These gentle giants live in close-knit family groups called herds, led by experienced females known as matriarchs. They possess remarkable memories and a complex range of emotions. Imagine an elephant feeling joy at a playful mud bath, grieving the loss of a loved one, or even showing empathy towards another creature in distress!
Those magnificent African and Asian elephants we all know and love face a growing threat. The sobering reality – elephant populations are dwindling at an alarming rate, says Usopman.com. While these animals are naturally large, their numbers are shrinking due to a dangerous rise in poaching worldwide. The situation is further complicated by the fact that elephants reproduce slowly. This means that even with strong conservation efforts, it takes time for elephant populations to recover from losses.
The African elephant is not to be confused with the Indian elephant. Here’s a quick tip to tell them apart! African elephants are the undisputed heavyweight champions, All Top Everything points out. These creatures call sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the southern regions, their home. But size isn’t the only difference. While both African and Indian elephants are impressive, their Indian cousins are noticeably smaller in stature.
3. Dromedary Camel
The dromedary camel is also known as the Arabian camel. Hailing from the Middle East and North Africa, these camels are easily recognizable by their single hump – a signature feature that sets them apart from their two-humped Bactrian cousins. Standing tall at around 6.6 to seven feet at the shoulder, dromedary camels are no slouches when it comes to size.
Think camels are just walking water bags? Think again! While camels are camels for a reason – they’re incredibly well-adapted to survive scorching hot, dry environments – there are some common misconceptions about these humped wonders, explains Treehugger. First up, the hump myth. Many people believe camels store water in their humps, but that’s not quite true. Those impressive humps are actually filled with fat, a clever adaptation that provides camels with a long-lasting energy source. And while they don’t store water in their humps, they can actually guzzle up to 40 gallons of water in one sitting!
They might look wild and woolly, but the truth is they’re more like furry companions than ferocious beasts. These impressive creatures can tip the scales at a hefty 660 to 1,320 pounds, making them real powerhouses. But here’s the thing – you won’t find these camels roaming wild anymore. They’re classified as semi-domesticated. This means they’ve been living alongside humans for so long that they rely on our care. Think of them as oversized, helpful houseguests! Herdsmen often keep them safe and healthy, while others are used for riding or other practical needs.
4. Moose
Move over, Santa’s reindeer – there’s a new king of the north in town! The majestic moose is also known as the elk in some parts of Europe and Asia, although elk and moose are not the same thing. Elk is used to refer to moose in other parts of the world, and wapiti is the word for what we know as elk in the states.
Moose are the undisputed heavyweight champions of the deer family, towering over their cousins with grace and grandeur, says Write 4 Animals. Hailing from the chilly regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, moose are perfectly adapted to handle the harshest winters. But size isn’t the only thing they have going for them. Male moose, also known as bulls, can reach a staggering height of 7.5 feet at the shoulder, making them the undisputed tallest land animals in all of North America.
Moose are famous for their antlers, which can grow to be absolutely enormous – up to six feet wide. And hey, if you’re talking about height, shouldn’t the antlers count? Including their impressive headgear, moose become contenders for the top 10 tallest living land animals on Earth. That’s right, these animals can reach a height of over 10 feet when you take their antlers into account!
Massive size doesn’t mean a taste for meat, though. They are actually dedicated vegetarians. These gentle giants can pack away 70 pounds of food a day, but it’s all plants on the menu. Their impressive height makes munching on short grass a bit of a challenge. That’s why moose are strategic grazers, opting for taller grasses and delicious bushes. But their diet goes beyond what’s on land. Believe it or not, moose are excellent swimmers! This comes in handy when they need to snack on aquatic plants, a great source of sodium to keep them healthy.
5. Ostrich
The race for tallest land animal is full of surprises, and we get a bit of a curveball with the ostrich! You might not expect these flightless birds to be towering giants, but their long necks give them a sneaky advantage. Believe it or not, ostriches can reach 9.2 feet tall – that’s almost as tall as a giraffe’s back! Those long necks aren’t just for show; they help propel them to the top of the (almost) tallest land animal list.
But ostriches aren’t just tall; they’re also surprisingly fast! Imagine being chased by a bird that can zoom by at 40 miles per hour – that’s enough to make anyone reconsider that afternoon jog in ostrich territory. And here’s another fun fact: ostriches lay the biggest eggs of any bird on Earth, with each egg weighing in at three pounds! Talk about omelet overload!
Ostriches aren’t all about showing off – they’re also surprisingly dedicated parents. When it’s time to lay eggs, they dig holes in the dirt and carefully bury their treasures. However, here’s a funny quirk: to turn the eggs and keep them warm, ostriches have to lower their long necks deep into the hole. From a distance, it can look like they’re burying their heads entirely – a myth that’s been around for centuries.
6. Brown Bear
The brown bear, also known as the grizzly in North America, is one of the largest and tallest members of the animal kingdom. But here’s the cool thing: brown bears aren’t one-size-fits-all. Their size can actually vary quite a bit depending on where they live and what kind of food they have access to. Male brown bears can be real giants, standing at an impressive 6.5 to nine feet tall at the shoulder! And the weight to match? 600 to 1,500 pounds. Females, on the other hand, are typically a bit more petite, clocking in at 200 to 600 pounds.
Brown bears call a vast range of habitats across North America and Eurasia home. The good news? The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as “least concern” in most areas. However, there’s a dark spot on this map – the Mediterranean region. Sadly, brown bears in this area are classified as “vulnerable.” So, what’s causing the trouble? Habitat destruction and poaching are the main culprits. As human development continues to encroach on natural spaces, brown bears lose their homes. Poaching also poses a serious threat, with some people targeting these bears for their fur or body parts.
The Kodiak bear, a brown bear subspecies, holds the crown for the tallest among them. These adaptable giants roam across a massive range in the Northern Hemisphere. Imagine spotting a brown bear in Central Asia, Siberia, Europe, the Middle East, or even the northwestern part of North America – that’s the kind of vast territory they call home. Looking to catch sight of them in a safe space? Places like the Maryland Zoo or the Alaska Zoo offer you the chance to witness the impressive size of these bears firsthand.
7. Shire Horse
Picture this: a knight in shining armor, mounted on a horse so powerful it could carry the weight of both man and metal. That’s the Shire horse, a breed descended from the English “great horse” of yesteryear, says Treehugger. These sturdy and powerful horses were the ultimate companions for armored knights, carrying them into battle with strength and grace.
Standing at an average of 5 feet, 7 inches tall, Shire horses were a force to be reckoned with. Imagine the power it took to carry a knight in full armor – these horses were built for strength! Not only were they tall, but they also packed a punch, typically weighing between 1,870 and 2,430 pounds. The sad truth is, Shire horses aren’t as common as they once were. The Livestock Conservancy lists them as “critical,” meaning their numbers have dwindled significantly. The good news? There are still opportunities to see these magnificent creatures up close. A few zoos, like the Saginaw Children’s Zoo and the Colchester Zoo, offer visitors a chance to witness the Shire horse in all its glory.
A horse’s height is generally measured at its “withers,” the place where the neck meets the shoulders, kind of like the high point on their back. Here’s the kicker: a horse’s head usually sits considerably higher than its shoulders. So, even though the withers might not seem that high off the ground, when you factor in their long necks and proud heads held high, it’s easy to see why we humans can feel a bit dwarfed!
Sources used for our list:
- The Top Twenty
- Sprintally
- Usopman.com
- Schoolings
- Write 4 Animals
- All Top Everything
- Treehugger
- A-Z Animals
- Atlantic Ride
What’s your favorite tall animal and why? Let us know in the comments below.