A figure of about 100 tonnes is a lso the limit reached theoretically when examining the stress lim its of bones - and the corresponding increase in muscle size - in terrestrial animals. Such a creature is feasible but would be limited by gravity, the availability of resources, the turnaround of offspring (larger animals produce fewer babies) and a lack of adaptability in times of crisis (such as a food shortage). So if we were going to find an animal bigger than the blue whale, it would have to be in
the oceans . Could the mysterious “Bloop� be a contender? The cookiecutter shark {lsistius brasiliensis) from the central regions of the Atlantic and Pacific is the brightest shark. It is named after Isis, an Egyptian goddess associated with light. Up to 1.5 m (5 ft) long, it has a dull brown upper surface, but underneath it is often covered entirely with photophores, light-producing organs which emit a very bright, ghostly green glow. Bioluminescence is unclear.
Skeleton of The Blue Whale Photo by The Seymour Center Nothing on land has ever exceeded 100 tonnes (220,000 lb); in the oceans, the upper limit is a 160 -tonne (352,000-lb) whale.
54 Animal Extremes