There are plenty of huge animals we know, but the biggest ones tend to live underwater.
It's not a coincidence - it's actually easier for animals to grow bigger there, because of the perfect conditions.
Let's find out more about why that happens.
Buoyancy
In the water, it's easier for animals to support their weight because of buoyancy.
The water pushes up on their bodies, so they don't have to work as hard as land animals do to stay upright.
This allows them to grow larger without the same structural limitations.
Oxygen Availability
Water holds more oxygen than air, which means sea creatures can get the oxygen they need more efficiently.
This enables them to have larger bodies because they can supply oxygen to all their cells.
Temperature Regulation
Water helps creatures regulate their body temperature more effectively than land.
This allows some marine animals to be bigger because they don't need to worry as much about overheating.
Abundance of Food
Oceans and seas are vast and filled with an abundance of food sources.
Having a larger body can help sea creatures capture and eat their prey more easily.
Predator Avoidance
Being bigger can also be a defense against predators. Large sea creatures are less likely to be eaten by smaller animals.
Longevity
Some sea creatures grow slowly but can live for a very long time. Over many years, they can become quite large.
Conclusion
While land creatures are limited by their weight, temperature, and food sources, sea creatures don't have such limitations - so they can become huge!
