# Biggest mammalian predator ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 29, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755 "2003-07-29T22:10:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/21 "2003-07-30T00:32:39Z")
From the [San Diego Zoo](http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-polar_bear.html): > [@](#): > > Who’s the Biggest? > Both polar bears and brown bears are big, and are the largest land carnivores. But most experts agree that polar bears are the tallest bears, getting up to ten feet (three meters) long. That’s about as authoritative as you’re likely to find on the net. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/22 "2003-07-30T00:47:34Z")
I have seen it [theorized](http://exn.ca/Stories/1997/05/16/02.asp) that the giant ground sloth was possibly carnivorous. If so, I think it definitely would be in the running for largest mammalian land carnivore ever. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/23 "2003-07-30T00:50:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*Killer whales (sometimes) hunt on land, do they count? \*\* When you two get done with the bear facts (unaided by cites, I suspect that the truth is that polar bears average larger, while Kodiaks hold the record for individual extreme size, I refer you to **Mangetout** ’s post, quoted above. In point of fact, orcas will trust themselves out of water onto ice floes or beaches with the right configuration to seize prey that thinks it’s safe on land, squirming themselves back into the water. That’s hardly an official “land” predator, but it qualifies – barely. In any case, the questions in the thread title and the OP did not specify land predator, though the rest of the OP implied that was what he was looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/24 "2003-07-30T01:03:33Z")
You know it is fucking _killing me_ that I can’t find vol. II of Walker’s Mammals of the World so that I can settle this dispute between **Colibri** and **QED** and thereby elevate one to ‘King for a Day’ and demote the other to ‘Swill-covered Leprous Jester for a Day’. Stupid SDMB and its addictive urge to pedantry :D. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/25 "2003-07-30T01:19:21Z")
I have nothing to add except I fixed **Astro** ’s link: [Sperm Whales](http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/whalesperm.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/26 "2003-07-30T01:29:42Z")
In more recent times, the honor might have gone to the short-faced bear. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/27 "2003-07-30T01:42:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamerlane \* > \*\*You know it is fucking _killing me_ that I can’t find vol. II of Walker’s Mammals of the World so that I can settle this dispute between **Colibri** and **QED** and thereby elevate one to ‘King for a Day’ and demote the other to ‘Swill-covered Leprous Jester for a Day’. \*\* YES! I absolutely loved Walker’s books when I was a tyke. My parents still have them. I can’t wait until they die so I can inherit my father’s fantastic library. OK, I don’t really want them to die in the least. But I would like the library when they move into a smaller place in the next few years. ---
**Author:** ![AveDementia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@AveDementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AveDementia)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/28 "2003-07-30T01:59:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yBeayf \* > \*\*I have seen it [theorized](http://exn.ca/Stories/1997/05/16/02.asp) that the giant ground sloth was possibly carnivorous. If so, I think it definitely would be in the running for largest mammalian land carnivore ever. \*\* ::wants her own naturally bullet-proof giant ground sloth to ride around on and slowly terrorize the neighborhood with:: It’s just not fair, I tell you!! Why are all the coolest monsterbeasts extinct??!! [Veruca Salt] You’re _always_ making things **difficult**!![/VS] ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/29 "2003-07-30T02:17:39Z")
In the _Marine Mammal that spends a Lot of Time on Land_ category, how about the [Northern Elephant Seal](http://www.sealexperience.com/)? They weigh up to 6,000 lbs and are up to 18 feet long. I’ve seen some up close, they are monsterous. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/30 "2003-07-30T02:38:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fairblue \* > **::wants her own naturally bullet-proof giant ground sloth to ride around on and slowly terrorize the neighborhood with::** This just in: Woman slooowly terrorizes neighborhood in giant ground sloth joyride! When squad cars show up on the scene, she attempts to evade them, leading to a low speed chase! Film at 11! ---
**Author:** ![Kivick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/65b543/32.png) [@Kivick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kivick)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/31 "2003-07-30T03:28:33Z")
I think it worth mentioning: Arctodus simus Yukonensis (Giant short faced bear) as a runner up to Andrewsarchus for shear terror > [@](#): > > from the web site [http://www.prehistorics.com/arctodus.htm](http://www.prehistorics.com/arctodus.htm) > it could have reached 11 feet when up on its hind legs and could have weighed up to 1500 pounds. This bear was taller, leaner, and more rangy in build compared to present day Kodiak bears. But Arctodus was larger overall, swifter and more lethal. I remember seeing a documentary on this creature years back. One theory presented was that the extinction of Arctodus simus Yukonensis paved the way for ancient man to take hold in the new world. …We would have been its prey _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Ferris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ferris/32/11573_2.png) [@Ferris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferris)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/32 "2003-07-30T03:31:48Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally quoted by astro_: > going flipper to tentacle, one on one with the deadly Colossal Squid trying not to get it’s dinner plate sized eyes pecked out by that giant parrot like beak… Wait…squid have beaks? 😃 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/33 "2003-07-30T05:21:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lumpy \* > \*\*The site said “The skull is characteristic of its closest relatives, the mesonychids”, so even though we don’t have a complete skeleton, we can estimate it’s probable size by comparison. > Is this this humongous predator that was featured on “Walking with Prehistoric Mammals”? \*\* Yes. Terrifying, ain’t it? ---
**Author:** ![MrGrizz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@MrGrizz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrGrizz)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/34 "2003-07-30T07:10:02Z")
_Yes._ They do have beaks… –J ---
**Author:** ![Jon\_the\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@Jon\_the\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jon_the_Geek)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/35 "2003-07-30T13:19:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*It’s not really very scientific to declare a largest critter based only on a skull, now is it? Show me a reasonably complete skeleton, and I’ll listen. \*\* Not to throw myself into this argument… but it’s not terribly scientific to state something like this: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*The polar bear was and is the largest mammalian land carnivore ever. \*\* You could get away with, “According to this cite (linked), the polar bear was and is the largest mammalian land carnivore known to exist.” The fact is, we probably don’t know the largest mammalian land carnivore ever… but it looks to me like _Andrewsarchus_ can safely be called the largest mammalian land carnivore that has been discovered thus far. ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/36 "2003-07-30T14:30:25Z")
I just think it’s neat that one of Andrewsarchus closest living relatives is a whale (so says the first article linked). ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/37 "2003-07-30T14:33:39Z")
Also, entelodonts, while probably not a predator was probably might have been carnivorous. Think of it as a rhino-sized pig with at seriously bad attitude. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/38 "2003-07-30T14:42:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > \*\* In point of fact, orcas will trust themselves out of water onto ice floes or beaches with the right configuration to seize prey that thinks it’s safe on land, squirming themselves back into the water. That’s hardly an official “land” predator, but it qualifies – barely. \*\* I don’t think that this does qualify. Granted, while some killer whales do come ashore to find prey, it isn’t an instinct in the whales rather it is a learned behaviour. IIRC, the only place where this happens is off the atlantic coast of South America. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/39 "2003-07-30T14:53:45Z")
**Telemark** - Got it right. The Elephant Seal is larger than a Steller Sealion and the largest Pinniped. He’s a Carnivore and he’s perfectly suited on Land. Loosely hewn this argument is. \*\*Why not rephrase the question or put it inot subcategories? \*\* Largest living completely Terrestrial Mammalian Carnivore? Largest Living semi-terrestrial Mammalian Carnivore? Largest Living Aquatic Carnivore? And last but not least, Largest Living Carnivore on the Planet (Land or Sea)? ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755/40 "2003-07-30T15:35:54Z")
And while Colibri and Q.E.D. have been discussing the puny polar and kodiak bears everyone seems to have forgotten about cave bears that, however vegetarian, were both bigger, terrestrial and carnivores. From [this site:](http://www.showcaves.com/english/explain/Biology/UrsusSpelaeus.html) > [@](#): > > The main difference between the cave bear and the brown bear of today is the size: His weight could be up to 1 ton (1000kg), his shoulder height was 3.50m, which is about 30% bigger than the brown bear. Perhaps you want [another quote?](http://www.uakron.edu/colleges/artsci/depts/geology/cavebear.php) > [@](#): > > Although their size ranges could vary, the males often got as large as 900 pounds, which is about 3 times the size of the modern European Brown Bear. The paleontologists may have to fight out the difference in estimations between them, but AFAIk it was definitely the biggest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-mammalian-predator-ever/191755.md?page=3)