Animal Hall of Fame

Biggest
Land mammal: African elephants weigh up to 14,000
pounds and can eat as much as 600 pounds of food a day!
Their trunks contain as many as 100,000 different muscles.
Marine mammal: The blue whale is the world's biggest
animal, even larger than any known dinosaur. An average-
sized adult is 80 feet long and weighs about 120 tons. This
giant is also the loudest animal on Earth. Its call, which is
louder than a jet, can be heard for hundreds of miles.
Bird: The ostrich can grow to 9 feet tall and weigh as much
as 350 pounds. Its eggs, the largest of all birds, weigh up to
three pounds. These flightless birds can sprint up to 43
miles per hour.
Fish: The whale shark , which is not a whale, reaches about
33 feet in length and weighs up to 60 tons. These fish prefer
warm water and inhabit tropical seas. Dont let their size
scare you! They are tame creatures that have let swimmers
ride on their backs.
Reptile: The saltwater crocodile can grow to 23 feet long
and weigh up to 2,200 pounds. Often called salties, the
ferocious reptiles are found in India, Southeast Asia, and
northern Australia.
Insect: Giant walking sticks can grow to about 20 inches
length. They protect themselves from predators by using
camouflage to blend into their environments.
See also: Slideshow of the World's Largest Animals
Smallest
Land mammal: The bumblebee bat tips the scales at about 2
grams and measures between 30 and 40 millimeters as an
adult. This tiny animal is found in Thailand and Myanmar.
Marine mammal: Sea otters weigh between 35 and 90
pounds. They sleep while floating on their backs on the
surface of the water.
Bird: The hummingbird grows to only 2.5 inches long and
weighs only 0.06 ounce. This tiny bird makes its humming
sound by quickly beating its wings.
Fish: The Paedocypris progenetica, which was recently
discovered in Indonesia, measures just over 1/3 of an inch
long.
Reptile: The British Virgin Islands gecko is about of an
inch long when full grown.
Insect: Fairyflies, members of the wasp family, are only
about 1/5 of a millimeter long. They are so thinabout the
size of a threadthat they cant fly well and rely on the wind
to carry them.
See also: Slideshow of the World's Smallest Animals
Fastest
Land mammal: The cheetah can run as fast as 70 m.p.h.,
and can go from 0 to 60 m.p.h. in just three seconds. These
endangered animals only need to replenish themselves with
water every three or four days.
Marine mammal: Killer whales , or orcas, can reach speeds
of 48 m.p.h. Killer whales travel in pods, and each pod has
its own unique sound. They are members of the dolphin
family.
Bird: The peregrine falcon dives at speeds of up to 200
m.p.h. and can fly at a rate of 90 m.p.h., making it not only
the fastest bird, but also the fastest animal. Ostriches can
run as fast as 43 m.p.h.
Fish: The Indo-Pacific sailfish can swim at speeds of up to
68 m.p.h. The top jaw of this fish extends well beyond the
lower, forming a long spear.
Reptile: The spiny-tailed iguana has been clocked in at 21
m.p.h.
I nsect: Hawk moths can reach a speed of about 33 m.p.h.
See also: Slideshow of the World's Fastest Animals
Meanest
(Since many animals could claim the title meanest,
this list is subjective rather than authoritative.)
Land mammal: The ratel, or honey badger, is one of the
fiercest, most predatory animals on the planet. They prey
upon many animals, including scorpions, porcupines,
tortoises, crocodiles, and snakes. Attracted to honey, they
also ravage beehives. Healthy ratels have no predators;
their viciousness and loose skin, which make them difficult
to grip, keep other animals at a distance.
Marine mammal: Leopard seals and killer whales are the
most predatory of all marine mammals. Leopard seals have
been known to seek out human victims. Killer whales are
the only mammals that prey on leopard seals. Leopard
seals, which are earless animals, inhabit Antarctic and sub-
Antarctic waters.
Bird: The peregrine falcon, a fiercely aggressive hunter,
preys on small mammals and other birds. It descends on its
victims from the air at speeds of up to 200 m.p.h. Falcons
dont build nests. Instead, they lay their eggs on the ground,
on the ledges of cliffs, or in abandoned nests of other birds.
Fish: The stonefish, which lives at the bottom of the ocean,
is the most poisonous fish in the world. Its 13 dorsal spines
release deadly venom, making it dangerous to both humans
and marine life.
Reptile: One bite from the inland taipan, a shy snake
contains enough toxin to kill about 100 people. This deadly
snake is native to central Australia and lives in holes,
feeding on small rodents and birds.
Insect: The anopheles mosquito is deadliest creature on
Earth. Its responsible for more than 300 million cases of
malaria each year and causes between one and three
million deaths.