Animal world records

FASTEST DIVE

389 km/h

Peregrine falcon

Speed ​​reached in a dive, never in horizontal flight.

THE LARGEST ANIMAL

30 m

Blue whale

The largest known animal, current or fossil.

FASTEST TO RUN

110 km/h

Cheetah

Point held for only a few hundred meters.

THE HEAVIEST ON EARTH

6 t

African savanna elephant

Mass noted in adult males in the wild.

THE BIGGEST BIRD

2.8 m

Common ostrich

Height to top of head in adult males.

THE DEEPEST DIVE

500 m

Emperor penguin

Maximum depth recorded on individuals equipped with tags.

LION'S POINT

80 km/h

Lion

Over a short distance only, never in prolonged pursuit.

THE BEST HUNTING SUCCESS RATE AMONG FELINES

around 50% success

Serval

Estimated proportion of hunting attempts resulting in capture, observed in wild servals in the wild.

LONGEST TONGUE RELATIVE TO BODY SIZE

up to 60 cm in length

Giant anteater

Measured in adults, the extendable, mucus-covered tongue can capture thousands of insects per day.

ONLY KNOWN VENOMOUS DEWCLAW MAMMAL OF THIS TYPE

Venom delivered by a femoral spur in males

Platypus

Measured in adult males during territorial behaviors and intraspecific fights.

CUBIC DROPPINGS

Flat-faced droppings

Common wombat

Unique form in the animal kingdom, resulting from an intestine with variable elasticity, observed in this species.

LONGEST WINGSPAN OF A LIVING BIRD

up to 3.5m

Wandering albatross

Measurement taken from wing to wing of adult individuals deployed in flight or captured during field studies.

THE LONGEST TOOTH IN A MAMMAL

up to 2.5 to 3 m

Narwhal

Measurement of spiral defense observed in adult males.

THE LARGEST RAY IN THE WORLD

up to 7 m wingspan

Giant manta ray

Maximum span measured between the tips of the pectoral fins in the largest individuals recorded.

THE LARGEST LIVING LIZARD

up to 3 m and 90 kg

Komodo dragon

Measurement carried out on wild adult specimens in Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

LONGEST VENOM FANGS

up to approximately 5 cm

Gaboon viper

Measurement carried out on adult specimens, hooks retracted in the upper jaw at rest.

AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST LIZARD

up to 2.5 m in length

Perentie

Measurement taken from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail on wild adult individuals.

THE ONLY ALPINE PARROT

Unique species

Kea

The kea is recognized as the only parrot in the world living in an alpine environment and adapted to cold and snow.

LARGEST LAND MAMMAL IN NORTH AMERICA

up to 1,000 kg

Bison

Measurement taken on wild adult males in good physical condition.

THE LARGEST CURRENT DEER

up to 2.1 m at the withers / 700 kg

Momentum

Measurement taken on adult males of the Alaskan subspecies, the largest.

LONGEST LAND MIGRATION

up to approximately 5000 km per year

Caribou

Cumulative distance traveled annually by certain migratory populations between summering and wintering areas.

EXCEPTIONAL LONG JUMP FOR AN ANTELOPE

up to 10 m in length and 3 m in height

Impala

Leap measured when fleeing from a predator, allowing you to overcome bushes and obstacles.

LONGEST SPIRAL ANTELOPE HORNS

Up to 1.2 m along the spiral

Kudu

Measurement taken on the horns of adult male greater kudu.

THE VERTICAL JUMP CHAMPION AMONG ANTELOPES

up to 3-4 m in height

Springbok

Measured during pronking behavior used to escape predators.

THE LARGEST RODENT IN EURASIA AND NORTH AMERICA

up to 30 kg

Beaver

Measurement taken on wild adult individuals, making the beaver the second largest rodent in the world after the cabiai.

THE LARGEST RODENT IN THE WORLD

up to 65 kg and 130 cm long

Capybara

Measurement taken in wild adult individuals in South America.

THE SMALLEST CARNIVORE IN THE WORLD

Approximately 15 to 25 cm of body for 30 to 250 g

Weasel

Measurement taken on adult individuals, the weasel being the smallest member of the order Carnivora.

THE MOST POWERFUL BITE RELATIVE TO SIZE

approximately 553N

Tasmanian Devil

Bite force measured in adults, the highest in the kingdom of current mammals relative to body weight.

ONLY MAMMAL WITH AN ARTICULATED BONY CARAPACE

About 20 living species

Armadillo

Unique group of current mammals with a carapace made up of mobile dermal bony plates.

THE SMALLEST BEAR IN THE WORLD

60 to 70 cm at the withers / up to 65 kg

Sun bear

Comparative measurement between the eight current bear species, the sun bear being the smallest.

LARGEST APE (NON-ANTHROPOID)

up to 95 cm head-body length

Mandrill

Measurement carried out in adult males, larger than females.

SINGLE VENOMOUS PRIMATE

Toxic brachial glands

Loris

The slow loris mixes a secretion from its brachial glands with its saliva to produce a toxic bite, a unique case among primates.

THE LARGEST EYES IN RELATION TO THE BODY

Approximately 16mm in diameter per eye

Tarsier

Relative measurement in a mammal, in proportion to the largest in the animal kingdom in relation to body size.

THE LARGEST PINNIPED

up to 4000 kg / 6 m

Elephant seal

Measurement taken on adult males of southern elephant seals, the largest pinniped species in the world.

THE LARGEST PINNIPED

up to 4,000 kg / 6 m

Seal

Measurement observed in the adult male of the southern elephant seal, the largest known species of seal.

LONGEST TUSKS AMONG PINNIPEDS

up to 1 meter

Walrus

Maximum length observed in large adult males.

THE LARGEST BRAIN IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

up to 8 kg

Sperm whale

Brain mass measured in adult individuals, the highest known in an animal.

THE LONGEST PECTORAL FINS IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

up to 5 m in length

Humpback whale

Measured in adults, these pectoral fins represent about a third of the total body length, a proportional record among all cetaceans.

THE FASTEST SHARK

up to 74 km/h peak

Mako shark

Estimated peak speed during hunting or jumping phases, measured by scientific monitoring.

PROPORTIONALLY LONGEST CAUDAL FIN

up to 3 m, or almost 50% of the total length

thresher shark

Measurement carried out on adult specimens of pelagic thresher shark.

SECOND LARGEST FISH IN THE WORLD

up to approximately 12 m

Basking shark

Maximum length reported in a measured individual, behind the whale shark.

NATURAL ELECTRIC DISCHARGE

up to about 200 volts depending on the species

Torpedo ray

Electrical power measured in certain large species of torpedoes during defensive or hunting discharges.

THE LARGEST FRESHWATER FISH

up to 7 m and more than 1000 kg

Sturgeon

Record measurement recorded in the beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) of the Caspian Sea.

ONE OF THE FASTEST FISH

approximately 60 to 100 km/h peak

Swordfish

Estimated top speed during short accelerations in open water.

ONE OF THE FASTEST FISH

up to 80 km/h

Marlin

Estimated top speed during short chase accelerations.

THE FASTEST FISH

up to 110 km/h

Sailboat

Estimated top speed measured during short sprints in the open ocean.

ONE OF THE LARGEST FRESHWATER FISH IN EUROPE

up to 2.5-3 m and more than 100 kg

Catfish

Measurement carried out on exceptional specimens captured in major European rivers such as the Danube or the Ebro.

ONE OF THE LARGEST FRESHWATER FISH

up to 4 m / 200 kg

Arapaima

Measurements taken from exceptional wild specimens from the Amazon basin.

THE FISH WITH THE HIGHEST VOLTAGE

up to approximately 860 volts

Electric eel

Maximum discharge measured in some individuals during laboratory studies, a record among electricity-producing animal species.

THE MOST POISONOUS FISH

Neurotoxic and myotoxic venom among the most powerful in the fish kingdom

Stonefish

Measured by the potency of venom injected through the dorsal spines during accidental contact.

THE HEAVIEST BONY FISH

approximately 2,300 kg

Sunfish

Measurement based on the largest specimens of Mola mola recorded to date.

THE OLDEST LIVING VERTEBRATE LINEAGE

lineage approximately 400 million years old

Coelacanth

Estimate based on actinistian fossils compared to current specimens.

THE LARGEST SEA TURTLE

up to 1.8 m long and 700 kg

Leatherback turtle

Measurement taken on exceptional adult individuals observed in the North Atlantic.

THE LARGEST LIVING LAND TURTLE

up to approximately 1.8 m carapace / more than 400 kg

Galapagos tortoise

Measurement taken on the largest known wild or captive individuals.

THE LARGEST LAND TURTLE

up to 1.3 m long and 400 kg

giant turtle

Measurement taken on the largest wild adult individuals from Galapagos and Aldabra.

ONE OF THE HEAVIEST FRESHWATER TURTLES

up to 100 kg

Alligator turtle

Maximum weight observed in adult wild individuals from the southeastern United States.

THE THINNEST SNOUT OF CROCODILIANS

Highest muzzle length/width ratio

Gharial

Measured among all living species of crocodilians, suitable for the exclusive capture of fish.

THE ONLY LIZARD CAPABLE OF RUNNING ON WATER

up to approximately 1.5 m/s at the surface

Basil

Measured in young basilisks fleeing a predator over short distances.

ONE OF THE ONLY VENOMOUS LIZARDS IN THE WORLD

2 known species (genus Heloderma)

Gila monster

Observation based on the presence of functional venom glands in current lizards.

THE LARGEST LIZARD IN CONTINENTAL EUROPE

up to 90 cm

Ocellated Lizard

Maximum total length measured in the largest adult individuals.

ONE OF THE FASTEST SNAKES IN THE WORLD

up to 11-19 km/h

Mamba

Maximum speed measured for a black mamba moving on flat, open ground.

ONE OF THE LONGEST SNAKES IN THE WORLD

up to approximately 6 to 7 m

Python

Measurement reported in adult reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) in a natural environment.

ONE OF THE MOST TOXIC VENOMS IN THE WORLD

LD50 estimated very low in mice

Taipan

Measurement of venom toxicity carried out in the laboratory by subcutaneous injection in mice.

LARGEST WINGSPAN AMONG TERRESTRIAL RAPTORS

up to 3.3m

Condor

Measurement of maximum wing span recorded in wild adult males.

THE LONGEST RELATIVE BEAK IN BIRDS

up to 19 cm in the toco toucan

Toucan

The beak can measure nearly one-third of the total body length in an adult toco toucan.

THE WORLD'S SMALLEST BIRD

about 5 cm / 2 g

Hummingbird

Measurement recorded in the bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) at adult age.

ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST FLYING BIRDS

up to 15 kg / 2.4 m wingspan

Swan

These measurements are from adult male mute swans, among the largest flying bird species in existence.

FASTEST DIVE SPEED IN A SEABIRD

up to 100 km/h

Northern Gannet

Speed reached during a steep vertical dive to catch fish near the surface.

THE LOWEST WEIGHT-TO-WINGSPAN RATIO IN A SEABIRD

Wingspan up to 2.3 m for approximately 1.5 kg

Frigatebird

Comparative measurement in adult seabirds, enabling prolonged flight without landing.

SECOND-LARGEST LIVING BIRD

up to 1.9 m tall

Emu

Measurement taken in standing adults; the emu ranks just behind the ostrich in size.

THE MOST DANGEROUS BIRD TO HUMANS

Inner claw up to 12 cm

Cassowary

Measurement taken on the inner toe of adult specimens, capable of inflicting serious wounds during defensive attacks.

THE LARGEST EGG RELATIVE TO BODY SIZE

up to about 20% of the female's weight

Kiwi

Relative measure of egg weight compared to the adult female's body weight, a record among birds.

THE LARGEST LEG-TO-BODY RATIO IN BIRDS

Leg length up to approximately 20 cm, representing roughly half the bird's total height

Black-winged Stilt

Comparative measurement of leg length relative to body size in wading birds.

MOST STUDIED STRUCTURAL COLORATION IN BUTTERFLIES

Blue iridescence without pigment

Morpho

Caused by the microstructure of wing scales that diffract light, widely studied in optics.

THE DEADLIEST ANIMAL TO HUMANS

approximately 700,000 human deaths per year

Mosquito

Estimate based on diseases transmitted by insect bites (malaria, dengue, etc.) according to public health organizations.

ONE OF THE LOUDEST INSECT CALLS

up to about 100 dB

Cicada

Measurement of the call produced by males of certain cicada species at close range.

ONE OF THE STRONGEST ANIMALS RELATIVE TO ITS SIZE

up to around 1,000 times its own body weight

Dung Beetle

Measurement taken in certain species of dung beetles capable of pulling loads during laboratory tests.

ONE OF EUROPE'S LARGEST BEETLES

up to 75 mm

Stag Beetle

Measurement taken including mandibles in adult males.

THE LARGEST ARTHROPOD

up to 3.7 m leg span

Crab

Measurement taken on the giant Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi), with legs fully extended.

ONE OF THE LARGEST CRUSTACEANS SOLD COMMERCIALLY

up to 12 kg / 1.5 m leg span

King crab

Measurements taken from adult males captured in North Pacific fisheries.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST TERRESTRIAL ARTHROPOD

up to 1 m wingspan / 4 kg

Coconut crab

Measurement taken with legs extended in the largest adult individuals observed in the wild.

ONE OF THE LARGEST ANIMAL BIOMASSES

several hundred million tonnes

Krill

Estimate of the total biomass of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in the Southern Ocean.

THE MOST EXTREME REGENERATION

Complete restoration from 1/279th of the body

Planarian

Observed in laboratory settings in certain species of planarians that were experimentally cut into fragments.

THE MOST RESILIENT ANIMAL TO EXTREME CONDITIONS

Survival in the vacuum of space and extreme radiation

Tardigrade

Demonstrated notably during experiments with direct exposure in orbital space on dehydrated individuals in cryptobiosis.

ONE OF THE LONGEST COLONIAL ORGANISMS

up to approximately 40-45 m (Praya dubia)

Siphonophore

Maximum estimated length for a colony fully extended in open water in the deep ocean.

THE LARGEST GIBBON

Up to 90 cm and 13 kg

Siamang

This measurement is taken in adults and compared to other genera in the Hylobatidae family.

THE LARGEST LIVING LEMUR

60 to 90 cm in length

Indri

This measurement is from wild adult specimens including the short tail, making it the largest lemur currently living in Madagascar.

THE ONLY FLIGHTLESS PARROT

1 species out of around 400

Kakapo

This finding is based on all parrot species known worldwide.

AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST CARNIVOROUS MARSUPIAL

up to 75 cm of body length excluding the tail

Spotted-tailed Quoll

Measurement taken in the largest adult males since the thylacine disappeared in the wild.

THE LONGEST-LIVED AMPHIBIAN

over 70 years

Olm

Estimate based on monitoring of captive and wild populations in Slovenia.

THE LONGEST BONY FISH

up to 11 m

Oarfish

Maximum length recorded in stranded specimens, making the oarfish the longest known bony fish.

THE MOST CRITICALLY ENDANGERED CETACEAN

Fewer than 10 individuals estimated

Vaquita

Population estimate based on acoustic and visual surveys conducted in the Gulf of California in the early 2020s.

THE BEST VOCAL MIMIC IN THE AVIAN WORLD

Accurate reproduction of dozens of distinct sounds

Lyrebird

Assessed through field observation of males imitating bird calls and ambient artificial sounds.

THE RODENT MOST RESISTANT TO CANCER

Virtually no incidence of tumors

Naked Mole-rat

Finding documented in laboratory colonies studied over several decades.

THE MOST FEARLESS ANIMAL

Title awarded by Guinness World Records in 2002

Honey badger

Recognition based on its fearlessness in the face of predators much larger than itself.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST OTTER

up to approximately 1.8 to 2 m long

Giant Otter

Total length measured in the largest adult individuals, including the tail.

LE PELAGE LE PLUS DENSE DU RÈGNE ANIMAL

jusqu'à 1 million de poils/cm²

Sea Otter

Mesure de la densité pilaire relevée chez des individus adultes en milieu naturel.

EUROPE'S LARGEST WILD LAND MAMMAL

up to approximately 900–1000 kg

European Bison

Measurement taken from adult males in good physical condition in reintroduced populations.

FASTEST LAND MAMMAL OVER LONG DISTANCES IN NORTH AMERICA

up to 88 km/h

Pronghorn

Top speed measured during running, sustained over several kilometres—an endurance record at high speed among terrestrial mammals.

LONGEST SPIRAL HORNS AMONG CAPRINES

up to 1.6 m long

Markhor

Measurement taken along the spiral in fully developed adult males.

THE LARGEST LAND ARTHROPOD

up to 1 m wingspan and 4 kg

Coconut Crab

Measurement taken with legs extended in the largest adult individuals observed in the wild.

THE LARGEST LIVING ARTHROPOD BY WINGSPAN

up to 3.7 m leg span

Japanese spider crab

Measurement taken between the tips of the outstretched legs in the largest specimens captured off the coast of Japan.

THE LARGEST KNOWN ISOPOD

up to 50 cm

Giant Isopod

Maximum size recorded in an adult Bathynomus giganteus specimen in the abyssal environment.

THE LONGEST KNOWN INVERTEBRATE

up to about 13 m in total length

Giant squid

Measurement including the mantle and the two long extended tentacles, based on the largest documented stranded specimens.

THE LARGEST EYES RELATIVE TO BODY SIZE IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

about 2.5 cm in diameter for a body length of 15 to 30 cm

Vampire Squid

Measurement of eye diameter in relation to body size in the deep-sea cephalopods studied.

THE FASTEST JAW PROJECTION SPEED IN A SHARK

approx. 3.1 meters per second

Goblin shark

Speed of jaw projection measured during prey attack in filmed specimens.

LONGEST KNOWN GESTATION PERIOD IN A VERTEBRATE

approximately 3.5 years (disputed estimate) / typically 1 to 2 years

Frilled Shark

Estimate based on the analysis of embryo growth in captured females.

ONE OF THE LARGEST AMPHIBIANS ALIVE TODAY

up to 5 feet

Japanese Giant Salamander

Total length measured in the largest known wild and captive specimens.

ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST SALAMANDERS

up to 74 cm

Hellbender

Total length measured in the largest wild specimens recorded in the United States.

THE WORLD'S MOST TOXIC ANIMAL

About 1 mg of batrachotoxin is enough to kill an adult human

Golden Poison Frog

Measurement based on the amount of skin toxin secreted by an adult wild individual.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST FROG

up to 32 cm (body length) and 3.2 kg

Goliath Frog

Measurement taken from snout to cloaca on the largest wild specimens captured in Cameroon.

THE LARGEST CENTIPEDE

Up to 38.5 cm long

Giant Millipede

Length measured in an adult specimen, the reference for the longest known myriapod species.

THE LONGEST ANIMAL MIGRATION

up to 70,000 km per year

Arctic Tern

Distance covered during the annual round trip between the Arctic and Antarctic, measured by satellite tracking.

AMONG THE LARGEST WINGSPANS OF TERRESTRIAL BIRDS

up to 3.20 m wingspan

African Marabou

Measurement taken from adult individuals with their wings fully extended.

LAST REPRESENTATIVE OF A REPTILE ORDER

1 surviving order out of 2 main reptile orders

Tuatara

The tuatara is the only living species of Rhynchocephalia, an order otherwise extinct for approximately 60 million years.

ONLY LIVING MARINE LIZARD

unique species

Galápagos Marine Iguana

The only living lizard reptile capable of feeding regularly in a marine environment.

THE LIZARD THAT CAN RUN ON WATER

up to 1.5 m/s across the water surface

Green basil

Recorded in young individuals fleeing from a predator over short distances, thanks to their webbed and fringed hind feet.

ONE OF THE WORLD'S ONLY VENOMOUS LIZARDS

2 venomous lizard species known

Gila monster

Only the genus Heloderma, which includes the Gila monster and the beaded lizard, possesses a confirmed functional venom apparatus among lizards.

THE WORLD'S MOST VENOMOUS SNAKE

LD50 ≈ 0.025 mg/kg

Central Taipan

Toxicity measured by median lethal dose (LD50) in mice, by subcutaneous injection.

SECOND MOST VENOMOUS LAND SNAKE

Highly potent neurotoxic and coagulant venom

Eastern Brown Snake

Ranking based on venom toxicity measured by LD50 in mice.

THE HEAVIEST VENOMOUS SNAKE IN AMERICA

approximately 7 kg / 2.4 m

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Maximum weight recorded for a large wild specimen.