2007-02-06 09:04:35 · 9 answers · asked by Jeff T 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
If you mean largest carnivorous marsupial (marsupial carnivore), then that would be the recently extinct Tasmanian wolf (thylacine), followed by the still existing Tasmanian devil. That is an extremely ferocious ratlike carnivore.
If you mean largest true carnivore (on land), then that would be the bear (family Ursidae), generally. The bear, like most mammals, can vary in size for lots of different reasons. The Kodiak bear is usually the largest bear. The unrelated polar bear is about the same size, maybe slightly smaller, but it has a longer neck.
The largest mustelid (family Mustelidae) is the wolverine (glutton).
The largest canid (family Canidae) is the timber wolf.
The largest felid (family Felidae) is the Siberian tiger. Though the Bengal tiger and the lion are similar in size. The leopard is a little smaller.
The largest seal (family Phocidae) is the elephant seal. One species can reach 20 feet long.
The largest terrestrial carnivore ever to exist is the Tyrannosaurus, which became extint at the end of the Cretaceous Period about 75 million years ago. This creature stood about 18 feet high, and was over thrity feet long, including the tail.
The largest terrestrial carnivore could easily be any of various specis of python. Some of them are huge and can crush large animals. The anaconda is usually the longest snake, but this is an semi-aquatic reptile. Pythons are not.
2007-02-06 09:37:56 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
One relevant meaning of the word 'terrestrial' is 'appertaining to the planet Earth or Terra'. A carnivore is an animal that feeds off other animals rather than plantlife.
On these two bases the largest terrestrial carnivore is the blue whale, which eats krill, a shrimp-like animal.
If you're asking about land-based carnivores I wonder if the web-sites quoted above have kept up with the trend for polar bear sizes to be shrinking generation by generation because of global warming restricting their diets, while Kodiac bears have access to vast quantities of bulk-making tourist leftovers?
2007-02-10 06:10:55 · answer #2 · answered by narkypoon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Carnivore hmm...that would be the bear, elephant being the largest herbivore. The polar bear to be exact according to this site I found. Followed by the Kodiak bear...but yeah bear's the answer
2007-02-06 09:12:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The sabre toothed tiger.
2007-02-10 05:59:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Liger, and i mean that in all seriousness. They're huge. like twice as big as a tiger.
2007-02-06 10:41:42 · answer #5 · answered by animaginaryworld 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Polar bear.
2007-02-06 09:10:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I believe its the polar bear.
2007-02-06 11:26:30 · answer #7 · answered by Terry Z 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i think its a polar bear...but don`t salt water crocs sometimes kill and eat on land...if so they`d be the biggest...
2007-02-06 10:24:42 · answer #8 · answered by toni lee 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
megalodon for 20 million years ago
2007-02-06 11:52:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋