They like to show giant creatures that threaten all humanity in movies. Directors not only invent new monsters, but also increase the size of ordinary animals such as snakes or monkeys.
But how real is the existence of such animals?
How big can a creature grow on Earth?
Can existing animals grow?
Scientists believe that animals of this size depicted in science fiction movies are unlikely. Every living thing on earth needs certain resources to move, eat and be healthy. Therefore, it is possible that an animal that has grown to gigantic sizes cannot survive because it cannot provide itself.
Everything in the world has limits. Not even the tallest sequoia tree could rise above 100 metres, nor could it raise water and nutrients that high.
It’s all about gravity
The tree could not supply itself with water due to the force of gravity. Therefore, the skeleton could not withstand the increased body weight. The fact is that as the mass in the cube increases, the strength of the bones and muscles increases. In other words, if a living thing increases 10 times, the strength of the skeleton must increase 100 times, and the weight of the animal 1,000 times.
Considering the force of gravity on Earth, the animal could not even stand. And even if he tried, his bones would break under his weight. So a creature needs huge and thick limbs and a strong skeleton to be huge. However, there may be other problems with this data.
Abundant food needs
A large body needs more food and an expanded living space. Whales do a great job with this. Their unique way of extracting food and their ability to swim long distances in water allow you to have such large bodies. In addition, water reduces the effect of body weight on the skeleton. Elephants can also travel long distances so they can get enough food. But not everyone has this opportunity.
If the animal is limited, the size will only decrease in the course of evolution. For example, it is better for the animals living on the islands to be small because their habitat is limited to the area of the island.
Why would it be bigger?
Animals that lack it would have to increase in size during evolution. For example, small creatures that are often hunted. As they grew older, they could defend themselves and fight. On the other hand, the animal will slow down as it grows, so it is not always profitable. Also, larger sizes may be required for special meals. The same giraffes were “extended” to take food that others could not.
Considering all these factors, scientists doubt that living things weighing more than 100 tons could exist on Earth. With the planet’s gravity and resources, it would be difficult for such animals to survive. The same dinosaurs hardly exceeded this figure. But who knows?