Huge Hunters

There are animals in habitats across the planet. They can be found on land, in the sea, and in the air. But wherever you find animals, you can be sure to find predators, and some of them can be massive. But which are the biggest? Some of the answers may surprise you.

To find the biggest predator on land, you have to look far to the north. The largest land predator is the polar bear! A fully grown male can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds, and their massive claws and teeth make short work of the seals that make up most of their diet.

The largest ocean carnivore isn’t a fish at all – it’s a mammal! The sperm whale grows to 60 feet long and weighs 80,000 pounds! In their lower jaws they can grow massive, 11-inch long teeth, but in their upper jaw, only remnants of teeth remain. So how do the sperm whales eat? By slurping down giant and colossal squid!

The largest carnivore in the air is the Andean condor from South America. This member of the vulture family has a wingspan of 11 feet! As a vulture, it doesn’t usually hunt for food; it scavenges from animals that are already dead.

The largest predator in the air is the harpy eagle, with a wingspan of 6 feet 7 inches. They use their sharp talons to help them hunt mammals that live in trees, such as monkeys and sloths, and have such powerful wings that they can lift over three quarters of their body weight!