Which animal is the world’s largest land carnivore by average body mass?

The polar bear is the world’s largest land carnivore by average body mass.

Adult male polar bears commonly weigh several hundred kilograms, with exceptional individuals becoming much heavier. Their size helps reduce heat loss in the Arctic, while a thick layer of blubber and dense fur provides additional insulation.

Polar bears are specialized hunters of seals, especially around sea ice. They can swim long distances and use their acute sense of smell to locate breathing holes or concealed prey. Although they are classified as marine mammals in some conservation contexts, they remain terrestrial carnivores that depend heavily on sea ice.

The Siberian tiger is sometimes described as the largest cat, but it is not usually larger than a polar bear. Brown bears can rival individual polar bears, yet polar bears generally hold the average-mass record among land carnivores.