What is the largest land animal?

The African bush elephant is the largest land animal alive today.

Also called the African savanna elephant, it is scientifically known as Loxodonta africana and lives across a wide range of sub-Saharan African habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, and some deserts. Fully grown males commonly stand about 3 metres or more at the shoulder and weigh several tonnes.

Its size is not the only feature that distinguishes it. The African bush elephant has very large ears that help release body heat, a concave back, and a trunk with two finger-like tips. It is also generally larger than both the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant. The white rhinoceros is enormous, but it is considerably lighter.

“Largest land animal” refers to living land animals. Several extinct mammals, including some mammoths and giant rhinoceroses, may have equalled or exceeded the bush elephant in size. The blue whale remains the largest animal overall, but it is aquatic rather than terrestrial.