The largest carnivore is the blue whale at up to 100 feet long and weighing 200 tons. It is larger and weighs more than any other mammal. The blue whale eats krill which are tiny shrimp-like creatures.
The polar bear is the largest land carnivore. Adult males weigh 400–600 kg with a length of 2.4–2.6 m. In 2021, paleontologists in China discovered a new species of giant rhino, the largest land mammal ever on earth.
The South American short-faced bear, weighing between 3501–3856 lb, is the largest mammal ever. The Andean condor is the largest carnivorous bird on earth at up to 33 lb and a wingspan nearing 10 ft.
In the Paleogene and early Neogene, hyainailourine hyaenodonts were among the largest land carnivores. Simbakubwa kutokaafrika from Kenya is the most complete hyainailourine from sub-Saharan Africa. It had lingually oriented molar protocones, gracile metastyles, and compressed, shearing canines.
Spinosaurus was the largest carnivorous dinosaur, larger than Tyrannosaurus and Giganotosaurus. It lived 112 to 97 million years ago in North Africa.
Although only its skull has been found, based on size and relationships Andrewsarchus was likely the largest meat-eating land mammal ever at 6 feet high, 12 feet long.
The largest land carnivoran and bear was Arctotherium angustidens, the South American short-faced bear. It was likely the largest land predator ever.
Of gliding mammals in southeast Asia, the largest is the Sunda flying lemur at up to 2 kg and 73 cm long. The greater moonrat, in the same family as hedgehogs but much larger at over 2 kg and 60 cm, is the biggest insectivore.
The polar bear is the largest land carnivore. Paraceratherium, discovered in 2021, was the largest land mammal ever. For over a century it was thought a 26-foot, 15 ton hornless rhino was biggest but ancient elephants may be larger. The lion is Africa’s largest land apex predator.
Sarkastodon, at around 1,800 pounds, was one of the largest carnivores ever. Its weight was likely the upper limit for land predators. As an ambush predator, plantigrade locomotion helped it root and unleash force on fast ungulates.
Was Andrewsarchus a whale?
Andrewsarchus was a predatory artiodactyl mammal that lived during the Eocene, about 45 to 36 million years ago. It was closely related to entelodonts, hippos, whales and mesonychids. Because only a skull and a few other bones have been found, its full appearance is unknown. But based on its relatives, Andrewsarchus likely had a stocky, entelodont-like body and hooves instead of claws.
It had a long snout with large, sharp teeth and flat cheek teeth that may have been used to crush bones. Whether it was an active predator or a large scavenger is debated. Andrewsarchus stood about 2 meters tall and measured 6 meters long. It weighed around 500 kilos. Despite a wolf-like appearance, it was not related to dogs, wolves or hyenas. Surprisingly, its nearest modern relatives are hoofed mammals like sheep and goats.
Whales also belong to the same mammal order as Andrewsarchus. This suggests that aquatic mammals like dolphins and whales evolved from land animals. Andrewsarchus possibly lived in small family groups or packs. While today sperm whales and bears dominate as land and marine predators, Andrewsarchus was among the largest land predators ever.
Was Andrewsarchus the largest mammalian carnivore ever?
Andrewsarchus is perhaps the largest terrestrial mammalian carnivore ever. Andrewsarchus lived in Inner Mongolia during the middle Eocene epoch about 56 to 33.9 million years ago. Andrewsarchus was a large predatory animal related to present-day hippos and whales. Due to its size, Andrewsarchus is considered the largest mammalian carnivore on land. Andrewsarchus had strongest jaws ever in a land mammal. Large animals were thought to be present in Central Asia during the Eocene. Andrewsarchus was burnt yellow with white snout, black spots and stripes.
Andrewsarchus was named in 1966. Osborn estimated its size by comparing it to Mesonyx. Szalay and Gould proposed it had proportions more like entelodonts than mesonychids. At about 5.5 meters long and weighting 1 tonne, Andrewsarchus was the largest land carnivore. Despite canine-like appearance, it had hooves on feet, not claws. Andrewsarchus nearest relatives are sheep and goats.
The one skull measures 83 cm long and 56 cm wide. This suggests it was 3.4 meters long and 2 meters tall. Andrewsarchus could weigh over 1000 kg. Paleontologists argued about its diet. The largest carnivoran was possibly South American short-faced bear. It stood 3.4 meters tall and weighed 1600 to 1700 kilograms. The blue whale is the largest meat-eating mammal ever, at 200 tons.
Andrewsarchus has a 20 inch elongated snout. It was one of the biggest predators, at 150-180 inches long and 2000 lb. Andrewsarchus formerly roamed Central Asia over 41 million years ago. Originally seen as a Mesonychid, its relationship is unclear today. A close tie with cloven-hoofed animals is now assumed. The Arctotherium was the largest bear and land predator ever. Although massive, it was peaceful unless provoked. The largest carnivore is the southern elephant seal. Adult males can reach 3500 kg and 5 m long.
Is Andrewsarchus a dog or a cat?
Andrewsarchus is perhaps the largest terrestrial mammalian carnivore of all time. Andrewsarchus lived in the inner Mongolia region of China during the middle Eocene epoch about 56 to 33.9 million years ago. It was a large predatory animal closely related to present-day hippos and aquatic mammals such as whales. Only a single large skull fossil has been found. Based on the skull size, Andrewsarchus is considered the largest mammalian carnivore on land.
Despite their canine-like appearance, Andrewsarchus was not related to modern scavengers, such as dogs, wolves, or even hyenas. They were, sheep in wolf’s clothing. But they were not as docile as sheep. Their huge one meter long jaws could crush anything.
Andrewsarchus was likely burnt yellow in color with a white snout, as well as black spots and stripes all over its body. Unlike other carnivorous mammals, Andrewsarchus had a long, thick tail.
The skull of Andrewsarchus is up to two times the length of an Alaskan brown bear’s and triple that of an American wolf. Based on estimated body proportions, Andrewsarchus was probably the size of modern horses. It had a narrow snout with sharp teeth and some flat cheek teeth. Its body was probably similar to a bear or hyena but bulkier, with short legs and a long tail. Andrewsarchus’ mass was probably about 1000 pounds or more.
There is debate whether Andrewsarchus was a predator, a scavenger, or both. Its sharp teeth indicate it was carnivorous, but its specific hunting behavior is unclear.
Andrewsarchus’ taxonomic classification within mammals remains uncertain. It represents a unique branch in mammalian lineage. This prehistoric mammal lived approximately 45 to 36 million years ago during the Eocene epoch.