When it comes to some animals, it might be a little tricky to figure out what species they are exactly. Take this beast, for example. Is it a dog (likeliest answer)? Is it a bear? Or maybe it is a strange-looking lion because of its name. Simba’s coat is quite something, and technically it’s called a generous double-coat, as he’s a Leonberger.
But you might confuse him as being a Leonbear! Hailing from Germany, the Leonberger was bred in the 1840s to resemble a lion. The massive-sized Leonberger breed is actually a magnificent blend of the Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, and Great Pyrenees.
The Giant African Snail
The giant African Snail or Ghana Tiger Snail is the largest among land gastropods. The largest snail ever recorded was 15.5 inches long and weighed 2 pounds. For reference, an average snail is less than 2 inches long.
The snail is also listed as one of the most invasive species in the world and the United States Department of Agriculture sees it as one of the biggest potential threats to agriculture and crops in the U.S. The average lifespan for one of these snails is between 5-7 years (although much longer in captivity) and their diet can consist of anything among 500 different species of plants!
The Biggest Earthworm Is Over Nine Feet Long
This next one is pretty gross! Not many people like to imagine slippery, slithering things creeping down under, but they exist. Nature has many surprises and some of them are worms. Australia’s Giant Gippsland earthworm is the biggest earthworm in the world. It can reach a length of 9.8 feet long live up to five years this giant invertebrate checks out at kindergarten).
Luckily, you won't run into this worm slithering under your front lawn. They live in wet, clay subsoils of river banks and don't often come to the surface (which contrasts greatly with their smaller relatives who pop up every now again to defecate).
World’s largest Ants
The giant Amazonian ant, also known as Dinoponera, is among the largest ants in the world. Although there is much more conversation around the bullet ant due to their size and notorious sting, the size of a female giant Amazonian ant can reach up to 1.2- 1.6 inches in length.
Found only in South America, a colony of this particular ant tends to consist of fewer than 100 ants. Also, don’t be fooled; although they aren’t particularly known for their venom, the giant Amazonian ant is still extremely poisonous. Their sting is known to cause extreme pain for up to 48 hours after the initial sting.
This Earthworm Is As Big As A Snake
In December 2013, a photo of this giant earthworm landed on the Internet, and people were convinced that it was fake. However, the earthworm is as real as it gets. Mickey Grosman discovered the worm after a 5,000 mile-trek across South America. He spotted the giant insect and picked it up while in the Sumaco National Park.
But wasn’t able to identify the type of insect it was. While the type of earthworm hasn't been finalized, some theorize that it is a Glossoscolex Giganteaus, while others think that it might be a Caecilian, a legless amphibian. One this is for certain and that's that this insect is an absolute giant.