We, humans, belong to the tallest beings in the world, but *spoiler alert*, on average we certainly aren’t tall enough to make it to the Top 10 (although some individuals certainly would have made the list). The Top 10 is based on the average standing height of the tallest animals, so whales by definition are excluded. As the ranking only includes living animals, don’t expect any dinosaurs either. Read on to find out which animals exactly are the tallest beings on this planet.
1. Giraffe
Standing Height: up to 6 meters / 20 feet
Natural Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa
Unsurprisingly, the giraffe is the world’s tallest living land animal by standing height. Male giraffes can measure up to 6 meters or almost 20 feet, but with a height of up to 5.2 meters or 17 feet, female giraffes are also taller than any other terrestrial animal, male or female. The natural habitat of the giraffe includes various regions all over sub-Saharan Africa.
2. African Elephant
Standing Height: up to 4 meters / 13 feet
Natural Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa
With a standing height of up to 4 meters or around 13 feet, the (male) African elephant follows in second place. The African elephant is not to be confused with the Indian elephant, which is considerably smaller in height. Needless to say, the African elephant calls Africa, especially the Southern half of the continent, his natural home.
3. Siberian Tiger
Standing Height: Up to 3.7 meters / 12 feet
Natural Habitat: Southeastern Russia (Southeastern Siberia)
You might be surprised to see a tiger coming at third place, but it’s true: Standing on two feet, a (male) Siberian tiger can reach a height of up to 3.7 meters or around 12 feet. This not only makes the Siberian tiger the tallest tiger but also the tallest of all cats. Unfortunately, there aren’t many Siberian tigers left these days and they are highly endangered of going extinct within the next few decades. But their natural habitat is in, obviously, Siberia, more specifically on the Southeastern most edge of Siberia and Russia.
4. Liger
Standing Height: up to 3.6 meters / 11.8 feet
Natural Habitat: None
Whenever a male lion loves a female tiger and reproduces with her, a liger is born. This hybrid offspring can practically grow to be as tall as the Siberian tiger. Male ligers reach heights of up to 3.6 meters or 11.8 feet. There are no known instances of ligers living in the wild, meaning they can exclusively be seen in various zoos or safari parks around the world.
5. Polar Bear
Standing Height: up to 3.5 meters / 11.5 feet
Natural Habitat: Arctic Circle (Greenland, Northern Russia, Northern Canada)
All types of bears generally belong to the tallest living terrestrial animals, but the Polar bear is the tallest bear of them all. Male adult polar bears can measure up to 3.5 meters or around 11.5 feet. By nature, polar bears exclusively live within the Arctic Circle which includes Greenland as well as parts of Canada and Russia.
6. Asian Elephant
Standing Height: up to 3.4 meters / 11.3 feet
Natural Habitat: South Asia (primarily India) & Southeast Asia
Asian Elephants are smaller than their African cousins, but still, show an impressive standing height of up to almost 3 and a half meters or over 11 feet. Among the three subspecies of Asian elephants, the Indian elephant is known to be the tallest.
7. Bengal Tiger
Standing Height: Up to 3.2 meters / 10.5 feet
Natural Habitat: South Asia (primarily India)
Somewhat smaller than the Siberian Tiger, but still taller than other Tiger subspecies, comes the Bengal Tiger. Bengal tigers have a head-and-body length of up to 3.1 meters or 10.5 feet.
8. Moose
Standing Height: up to 3.1 meters or 10.2 feet
Natural Habitat: Primarily Northern Europe and North America (especially in Canada), also parts of Eastern Europe and parts of Central Europe
If you include their antlers (and why wouldn’t you?), then Moose are also among the 10 tallest living land animals on our planet. Moose can grow up to over 3 meters (10.2 feet) in standing height.
9. Grizzly Bear
Standing Height: up to 2.9 meters / 9.5 feet
Natural Habitat: North America (primarily Canada)
Smaller than its polar cousin, but still among the tallest animals in the world comes the Grizzly Bear. The North American bear can be measured at a height of almost 3 meters (about 9 and a half feet).
10. Ostrich
Standing Height: up to 2.8 meters / 9.2 feet
Natural Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa
Perhaps the most surprising member of this Top 10 tallest animals ranking. But yes, it may not seem so at first glance, but thanks to their exceptionally long necks, Ostriches can be quite tall indeed. Up to 2.8 meters or 9.2 feet tall to be exact.
