Scale Explorer

Category

Animals

From an ant to the largest animal that has ever lived: how big animals really are next to a person.

All animals at the same scale

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Ant (black garden ant), Honeybee, House cat, Dog (Labrador Retriever), Human, Gorilla, Polar bear, Ostrich, Cow (Holstein), Horse, African lion, Great white shark, Hippopotamus, African elephant, Giraffe, Saltwater crocodile, Whale shark, Giant squid, Sperm whale, Blue whale drawn to the same scaleAnt (black garden ant): length (worker) 3.4–5 mm (too small to see at this scale). Honeybee: length (worker) 10–15 mm (too small to see at this scale). House cat: length (average adult) ≈ 76.2 cm. Dog (Labrador Retriever): height at withers 54.6–62.2 cm. Human: height 1.61–1.75 m. Gorilla: standing height (adult male) up to 1.8 m. Polar bear: length (head and body) 1.8–2.7 m. Ostrich: height (adult male) 2.1–2.7 m. Cow (Holstein): height at shoulder ≈ 1.5 m. Horse: height at withers 1.6–1.7 m. African lion: shoulder height 1.1–1.2 m. Great white shark: length (average adult) 3.4–4.9 m. Hippopotamus: length 3.3–5 m. African elephant: shoulder height 2.5–3.7 m. Giraffe: height (tallest females to tallest males) 4.3–5.5 m. Saltwater crocodile: length (average large adult) 4.9–6.1 m. Whale shark: length (common) 5.5–10 m. Giant squid: total length (record) up to 13 m. Sperm whale: length (adult male) ≈ 16 m. Blue whale: length (typical adult) 24–27 m.Ant (black garden ant): 3.4–5 mm (too small to see at this scale)Honeybee: 10–15 mm (too small to see at this scale)House cat: ≈ 76.2 cmDog (Labrador Retriever): 54.6–62.2 cmHuman: 1.61–1.75 mGorilla: up to 1.8 mPolar bear: 1.8–2.7 mOstrich: 2.1–2.7 mCow (Holstein): ≈ 1.5 mHorse: 1.6–1.7 mAfrican lion: 1.1–1.2 mGreat white shark: 3.4–4.9 mHippopotamus: 3.3–5 mAfrican elephant: 2.5–3.7 mGiraffe: 4.3–5.5 mSaltwater crocodile: 4.9–6.1 mWhale shark: 5.5–10 mGiant squid: up to 13 mSperm whale: ≈ 16 mBlue whale: 24–27 mGiraffe4.3–5.5 mAnt (black garden ant)3.4–5 mm · too small to seeHoneybee10–15 mm · too small to seeSperm whale≈ 16 mBlue whale24–27 mAfrican elephant2.5–3.7 mWhale shark5.5–10 mOstrich2.1–2.7 mHorse1.6–1.7 mHippopotamus3.3–5 mGiant squidup to 13 mGorillaup to 1.8 mHuman1.61–1.75 mGreat white shark3.4–4.9 mAfrican lion1.1–1.2 mCow (Holstein)≈ 1.5 mPolar bear1.8–2.7 mDog (Labrador Retriever)54.6–62.2 cmSaltwater crocodile4.9–6.1 mHouse cat≈ 76.2 cm

Ant (black garden ant) and Honeybee are too small to see at this scale and are marked with ▲.

Everything is drawn to the same scale, standing on the same ground line. Silhouettes are simplified outlines scaled to the measured dimension. A faded outline shows the top of a size range.

Zoomed in 5,600×: Ant (black garden ant), Honeybee

This view uses a different scale from the one above: everything here is drawn about 5,600 times larger.

Ant (black garden ant), Honeybee drawn to the same scaleAnt (black garden ant): length (worker) 3.4–5 mm. Honeybee: length (worker) 10–15 mm.Ant (black garden ant): 3.4–5 mmHoneybee: 10–15 mmHoneybee10–15 mmAnt (black garden ant)3.4–5 mm
Everything is drawn to the same scale, standing on the same ground line. Silhouettes are simplified outlines scaled to the measured dimension. A faded outline shows the top of a size range.

Animals from smallest to largest