original thought or educated guess
2006-11-03 06:09:44 · 5 answers · asked by old_brain 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Those are most likely tree. The largest tree, the General Sherman, a giant redwood in California, weights as much as 15 blue whales.
I presume the second and 3rd largest are not much smaller, the General Sherman is not the only giant sequoia in that forest.
If you insist on animals, then the largest blue whale and two slightly smaller blue whales would fit the bill.
The attached link will tell you more; take your pick as a function of which criteria you choose.
2006-11-03 06:29:50 · answer #1 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The question is a bit tricky because "largest" is undefined. Certainly, one organism to be considered is an aspen clone. Aspen trees often cover 10 or more acres with much of the tree being underground.
A clone can have hundreds of above-ground stems (tree trunks). The clone known as Pando, in Utah, is estimated to be 60,000 to 80,000 years old (believe it or not) and to cover a very large area. Clones that stretch over many acres obviously have a very great biomass. The Pando clone is reported to extend over 107 acres and to have 47,000 trunks. It is estimated by some to be the most massive organism known (6 million kilograms).
In addition to Armillaria (a fungus) other organisms can cover many acres. Anecdotal information suggests that the worlds largest banyan tree had 350 large trunks and over 3,000 smaller trunks (in Sri Lanka).
Some bamboo clones in China are said (anecdotally) to cover whole hillsides.
2006-11-03 17:33:23 · answer #2 · answered by jshaw1953 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I must agree that a tree is likely the largest life form... the sequoya, as ^^^he said. However, I think there exists an animal larger than the blue whale. I have heard of blue whales washing up onto shore with suction cup marks all over their body, suggesting that they were killed by giant squid!!! I think though, that blue whales would come in third.
2006-11-03 14:46:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Armillaria ostoyae is the largest...it covers acres and acres of land...underground. It's a type of fungus.
Next in line would probably be your redwood tree, aka Sequoia.
And representing animals would be your blue whale.
I believe those are the 3 largest life forms.
2006-11-03 15:23:52 · answer #4 · answered by Shaun 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1 blue whale
2 dinos were largest
2006-11-03 14:21:04 · answer #5 · answered by anuraag t 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋