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From the world's tallest dog to its most dangerous ant, you'll find the fastest, tallest, oldest, strangest and most awesome species from the animal kingdom right here.
Animal videos
Watch the likes of the biggest horse in the world, Big Jake the horse and Corduroy, one of the oldest cats ever measured
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Tallest dog ever
Tallest cat and longest tail ever
Oldest manatee ever
Big Jake, the world's tallest horse
Fastest tortoise
Largest reptile zoo
Meet Blosom the tallest cow ever
Most bird species in an aviary
Loudest purr by a domestic cat
Tallest and shortest dogs meet (former record holders)
Longest snake in captivity (former record holder)
Oldest cat living (former record holder)
Tallest donkey (former record holder)
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Animal pictures
Images of record-breaking animals from all over the world
Longest tongue on a dog
Longest tongue on a dog
The longest tongue on a dog measures 18.58 cm (7.31 in) and belongs to Mochi, a female St. Bernard owned by Carla and Craig Rickert (both USA) and was measured in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA, on 25 August 2016.
Smallest owl
Smallest owl
The elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi) from south-western USA and Mexico is usually quoted as the smallest owl averaging 12–14 cm (4.75–5.5 in) in length and weighing less than 50 g (1.75 oz)
Longest fur on a rabbit
Longest fur on a rabbit
The longest fur on a rabbit is 36.5 cm (14.37 in) and belongs to Franchesca, owned by Betty Chu (USA), as measured in Morgan Hill, California, USA, on 17 August 2014
Longest journey by a butterfly
Longest journey by a butterfly
A tagged male monarch (Danaus plexippus), released by Donald A. Davis (Canada) at Presqu'ile Provincial Park near Brighton, Ontario, Canada on 10 September 1988 was recaptured on 8 April 1989 in Austin, Texas, USA. It is assumed that this butterfly spent the winter in Mexico as it would not have been able to survive freezing winter temperatures in Texas. Hence, this butterfly travelled at least 4,635 km (2,880 miles) – a distance obtained by measuring a line from the release site to the overwintering sites and back north again to Austin, Texas, USA. However, the actual distance travelled could be double this figure
Largest toad
Largest toad
The largest known toad is the cane or marine toad (Bufo marinus) of tropical South America and Queensland, Australia (introduced). An average specimen weighs 450 g (1 lb) and the largest ever recorded was a male named Prinsen (The Prince), owned by Håkan Forsberg of Åkers Styckebruk, Sweden.
Fastest evolving animal
Fastest evolving animal
Sphenodon Punctatus, a type of reptile known as a tuatara, is evolving at a rate almost 10 times that of the average for all animals. In a report published in March 2008, it was revealed that this species is making about 1.37 substitutions per base per every million years, compared to the average of just 0.2
Smallest reptile
Smallest reptile
The smallest reptile species are three species of Madagascan dwarf chameleon – the Madagascan minute leaf chameleon Brookesia minima, the Madagascan micro leaf chameleon B. micra and the Mount d'Ambre leaf chameleon B. tuberculata. Adult males of all three species sometimes measure as little as 14 mm from snout to vent (anus); females are larger. Reptiles are typically measured from snout to vent, as tail lengths can vary depending upon injury and other external factors
Highest bar jump cleared by a llama
Highest bar jump cleared by a llama
The highest bar jump cleared by a llama is 1.13 m (3 ft 8.5 in), and was achieved by Caspa, owned by Sue Williams (UK) at Dogfest, in Arley Hall, Cheshire, UK, on 14 June 2015
Largest land snail
Largest land snail
The largest known land gastropod is the African giant snail Achatina achatina, the largest recorded specimen of which measured 39.3 cm (15.5 in) from snout to tail when fully extended, with a shell length of 27.3 cm (10.75 in) in December 1978. It weighed exactly 900 g (2 lb)
Longest wave surfed by a dog
Longest wave surfed by a dog
The longest wave surfed by a dog (open water) is 107.2 m (351.7 ft), and was achieved by Abbie Girl (USA) at Ocean Beach Dog Beach, in San Diego, California, USA, on 18 October 2011
Largest armoured dinosaur
Largest armoured dinosaur
Ankylosaurus, a herbivore protected with thick plates covering the skin, also had a double row projection of spikes running down from the back of their head to their club tail. Measuring 7.5–10.7 m. (24 ft 7 in–35 ft 1 in) long, 1.8 m. (6 ft) wide and 1.2 m. (4 ft) tall, it even had plates to protect its eyes with only its belly left un-plated
Largest bear
Largest bear
The largest bear alive today is the polar bear (Ursus maritimus), native to Greenland, Svalbard, Arctic Russia, Arctic Canada and Arctic USA. Adult males typically weigh 400–600 kg (880–1,320 lb), and have a nose-to-tail length of 2.4–2.6 m (7 ft 10 in–8 ft 6 in)
Tallest cat
Tallest domestic cat (ever)
The tallest domestic cat ever is 48.4 cm (19.05 inches) is Arcturus Aldebaran Powers who was verified in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, on 3 November 2016.
Widest gape for a mammal
Widest gape for a mammal
The common hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius of sub-Saharan Africa including South Africa and eastern Africa has the widest gape of any mammal, as it is able to open its jaws to a remarkable 150°. This is more than 100° greater than the gape that a human can achieve (45°). The common hippo's mouth can yield this huge gape due to its jaws being hinged far back in its skull
Most basketball slam dunks by a rabbit
Most basketball slam dunks in one minute by a rabbit
Bini the Bunny – who lives in California, USA, with Shai Asor (USA) – successfully slam dunked a mini-basketball seven times in 60 seconds on 31 October 2016.
Most guide dogs trained by an organisation
Most guide dogs trained by an organisation
In terms of the number of dogs trained, the world's largest assistance dog organisation is The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (aka Guide Dogs), with its head office in Hillfields, Berkshire, UK. As of 31 December 2016, Guide Dogs had successfully trained 33,910 dogs to provide mobility assistance to blind or partially sighted people.
Smallest service dog
Smallest service dog
The smallest service dog is Cupcake, a female long-haired chihuahua, who measured 15.87 (6.25 in) tall, on 08 September 2012. She is owned by Angela Bain (USA) of Moorestown, New Jersey, USA
Tallest cow ever
Tallest cow ever
The tallest cow ever is Blosom, who was owned by Patricia Meads-Hanson (USA), and measured 190 cm (74.8 in) from the hoof to the withers, in Orangeville, Illinois, USA, on 24 May 2014
Most venomous scorpion
Most venomous scorpion
The most venomous scorpions are the fat-tailed scorpions belonging to the genus Androctonus. Several of these species rival each other in terms of the strength of their venom. The Tunisian fat-tailed scorpion (A. australis), for instance, has an intravenous LD50 of 260 µg/kg (a fatal dose of 18.2 mg for a 70-kg adult), and is responsible for 80% of stings and 90% of deaths from scorpion stings in North Africa. It has a body length of 10 cm (3.9 in), weighs around 15 g (0.5 oz) and has a life span of four years; it was discovered in 1758. In addition, an IV LD50 of 230 µg/kg (a fatal dose of 16.1 mg for a 70-kg adult) has been recorded for a close relative, A. mauretanicus
Tallest dinosaur
Tallest dinosaur
Dinosaur remains discovered in 1994 in Oklahoma, USA belong to what is believed to be the largest creature to have ever walked the earth. The Sauroposeidon stood at 18 m (60 ft) tall and weighted 60 tonnes (132,277 lb). The length of its neck is about a third larger that that of the Brachiosaurus, its nearest competitor. It lived about 110 million years ago, during the mid-Cretaceous period
Fastest 10 hoop slalom by a dog
Fastest 10 hoop slalom by a dog
The fastest 10 hoop/tyre slalom by a dog is 8.58 seconds and was achieved by Neo and his owner Stephen Bailey (both UK), in Minehead, UK, on 27 July 2016.
Most dangerous bird
Most dangerous bird
The most dangerous of all birds are all three species of cassowary (family Casuariidae) which live in New Guinea and north-eastern Queensland, Australia, They are large birds (up to 2 m (6 ft 6 in) tall) and on each foot they have 3 forward pointing toes with strong claws to provide grip while running, the inner toe having a 12 cm (5 in) long spike for defensive purposes when it kicks out when cornered
Fastest time for a dog to retrieve a person from water
Fastest time for a dog to retrieve a person from water
The fastest time for a dog to retrieve a person from water over a distance of 25 m is 1 minute 36.812 seconds, achieved by Jack the Black vom Muehlrad and his handler Hans-Joachim Brueckmann (both Germany), on the Kaarster See lake in Kaarst, Germany, on 11 June 2013
Rarest big cat
Rarest big cat
The world’s rarest big cat is the Amur, or Manchurian, leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), of which only 65–69 individuals are estimated to exist, according to the most recent census data from 2015. Native to the mountainous forests on the border of north-eastern China and the Russian Far East, it is currently classed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN
Longest-running pet shelter
Longest-running pet shelter (single site)
The longest-running pet shelter on a single site is Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (UK), which has been operating in the same location in London, UK, since 13 May 1871 – a duration of 145 years 312 days as of 21 March 2017.
Amazing animal records
Record
Most venomous lizard
Based upon current research results, the world's most venomous lizard is the Gila monster Heloderma…
Record
Longest Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) ride on a river bore by a human/dog pair
The longest Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) ride on a river bore is 1,690.5 metres (1,05 miles) and was…
Record
Commonest penguin
The world's most abundant penguin species is the macaroni penguin ( Eudyptes chrysolophus ) a…
Record
Largest living penguin species
The world's largest living species of penguin is the emperor penguin ( Aptenodytes forsteri ),…
Record
Tallest donkey
The tallest donkey living is Romulus, a 9-year-old American Mammoth Jackstock, who measured 17 hands…
Record
Largest owl
The European race of the eagle owl (Bubo bubo) is the world's largest owl with an average length of…
Record
Largest mammal to build a nest
The largest mammal to construct a nest is the gorilla ( Gorilla gorilla ) of Africa, where adult…
Record
Largest species of camel
The largest member of the family Camelidae is the dromedary or one-humped camel ( Camelus…
Record
Largest predatory fish
The largest predatory fish is the rare great white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias ). Adult specimens…
Record
Largest mouth on a terrestrial animal
The largest mouth of all land animals belongs to the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) of Africa…
Record
Largest carnivore on land
The largest of all the carnivores is the polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ). Adult males typically weigh…
Record
Largest sea turtle ever
The largest species of sea turtle ever known to have existed was Archelon ischyros , which lived…
Record
Most venomous mollusc
The two closely-related species of blue-ringed octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa and H. lunulata,…
Record
Largest parade of alpacas
The largest parade of alpacas consisted of 1,048 alpacas, and was achieved by Comite FEGASUR 2019…
Record
Largest horn circumference on a steer ever
The largest horn circumference on a steer measured 95.25 cm (37.5 in) on 6 May 2003 and belong to…
Record
Most dangerous ant
The most dangerous ant in the world is the bulldog ant ( Myrmecia pyriformis ) found in coastal…
Record
Most rings placed on a target by a parrot in one minute
The most rings placed on a target by a parrot in one minute is 19 and was achieved by Skipper Blue…
Record
Loudest purr by a domestic cat ever
Record
Oldest living llama in captivity
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