Organism
Patagotitan mayorum
TL;DR
The largest land animal ever at 77 tons and 37 meters long.
The largest land animal ever at 77 tons and 37 meters long. Despite this massive size, Patagotitan moved slowly, supported by columnar limbs and a skeletal system optimized to distribute weight while minimizing bone mass.
Critically, sauropods had pneumatic (air-filled) bones, reducing structural mass - an adaptation that allowed them to approach the theoretical 80-ton terrestrial maximum. This represents the absolute limit for land animals; physics doesn't negotiate.
Notable Traits of Patagotitan mayorum
- Largest land animal ever
- Pneumatic bones reduced structural mass
- 77 tons approaching 80-ton terrestrial maximum