Largest organisms#Echinoderms (Echinodermata)

{{main|List of largest plants}}

The largest single-stem tree by wood volume and mass is the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), native to California's Sierra Nevada; it typically grows to a height of {{convert|70|-|85|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} and {{convert|5|-|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter.

The largest organism in the world, according to mass, is the aspen tree whose colonies of clones can grow up to {{convert|5|mi|km|order=flip|0}} in size. The largest such colony is Pando, in the Fishlake National Forest in Utah.

A form of flowering plant that far exceeds Pando as the largest organism on Earth in area and potentially also mass, is the giant marine plant, Posidonia australis, living in Shark Bay, Australia. Its length is about {{convert|180|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} and it covers an area of {{convert|200|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/01/what-the-hell-australian-scientists-discover-biggest-plant-on-earth-off-wa-coast | title=Scientists discover 'biggest plant on Earth' off Western Australian coast | website=TheGuardian.com | date=31 May 2022 }}{{Cite journal |last1=Edgeloe |first1=Jane M. |last2=Severn-Ellis |first2=Anita A. |last3=Bayer |first3=Philipp E. |last4=Mehravi |first4=Shaghayegh |last5=Breed |first5=Martin F. |last6=Krauss |first6=Siegfried L. |last7=Batley |first7=Jacqueline |last8=Kendrick |first8=Gary A. |last9=Sinclair |first9=Elizabeth A. |date=2022-06-08 |title=Extensive polyploid clonality was a successful strategy for seagrass to expand into a newly submerged environment |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=289 |issue=1976 |pages=20220538 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2022.0538|pmid=35642363 |pmc=9156900 |s2cid=249204370 }} It is also among the oldest known clonal plants.

Another giant marine plant of the genus Posidonia, Posidonia oceanica discovered in the Mediterranean near the Balearic Islands, Spain may be the oldest living organism in the world, with an estimated age of 100,000 years.[http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/news/2006/monster_plant_280506_i.htm Ibiza's Monster Marine Plant] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226063158/http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/news/2006/monster_plant_280506_i.htm |date=2007-12-26 }}. Ibiza Spotlight (2006-05-28).

The largest individual flower in the world is Rafflesia arnoldii, while the flowering plant with the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world is Amorphophallus titanum. Both are native to Sumatra in Indonesia.

Green algae are photosynthetic unicellular and multicellular green plants that are related to land plants. The thallus of the unicellular mermaid's wineglass, Acetabularia, can grow to several inches (perhaps 0.1 to 0.2 m) in length. The fronds of the similarly unicellular, and invasive Caulerpa taxifolia can grow up to a foot (0.3 m) long.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

File:Anim1754 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg

File:Bruhathkayosaurus matleyi updated.png is potentially the largest animal to have walked the earth.]]{{excerpt|Largest animals}}

File:Armillaria ostoyae.jpg|315x315px]]{{Main|Largest fungal fruit bodies}}

The largest living fungus may be a honey fungus{{Cite web|title=Armillaria gallica, the humongous fungus humungus. Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month for April 2002|url=http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/apr2002.html|access-date=2022-12-26|website=botit.botany.wisc.edu}} of the species Armillaria ostoyae.{{Cite web|title=BBC News | SCI/TECH | Fantastic fungus find|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/869808.stm|access-date=2022-12-26|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}

A mushroom of this type in the Malheur National Forest in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, U.S. was found to be the largest fungal colony in the world, spanning {{convert|8.9|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of area and possibly weighing as much as 35,000 tons.{{Cite web|title=Environment & Nature News - Humungous fungus: world's largest organism? - 10/04/2003|url=https://www.abc.net.au/science/news/enviro/EnviroRepublish_828525.htm|access-date=2022-12-26|website=www.abc.net.au}}{{cite web |author1=Vince Patton |title=Oregon Humongous Fungus Sets Record As Largest Single Living Organism On Earth (7 minute documentary video)|url=https://www.opb.org/television/programs/ofg/segment/oregon-humongous-fungus/ |publisher=Oregon Field Guide |access-date=23 September 2019 |date=12 February 2015}} This organism is estimated to be 2,400 years old. The fungus was written about in the April 2003 issue of the Canadian Journal of Forest Research. It is not known, however, whether it is a single organism with all parts of the mycelium connected.

A spatial genetic analysis estimated that a specimen of Armillaria ostoyae growing over {{convert|91|acre|ha}} in northern Michigan, United States weighs 440 tons (4 x 10⁵ kg).{{Cite journal

| last = Anderson | first = A. |author2=Sand, C. |author3=Petchey, F. |author4=Worthy, T. H.

| title = Faunal extinction and human habitation in New Caledonia: Initial results and implications of new research at the Pindai Caves

| journal = Journal of Pacific Archaeology | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | pages = 89–109

| year = 2010 | hdl = 10289/5404

}}{{cite web |author1=Jason Daley |title=This humongous fungus is as massive as three blue whales: A new estimate suggests this mushroom is 2,500 years old and weighs 440 tons |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mushroom-massive-three-blue-whales-180970549/ |publisher=Smithsonian.com |access-date=23 September 2019 |date=15 October 2018}}

In Armillaria ostoyae, each individual mushroom (the fruiting body, similar to a flower on a plant) has only a {{convert|5|cm|in|abbr=on}} stipe, and a pileus up to {{convert|12.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} across. There are many other fungi which produce a larger individual size mushroom. The largest known fruiting body of a fungus is a specimen of Phellinus ellipsoideus (formerly Fomitiporia ellipsoidea) found on Hainan Island.Walker, Matt. (2011-08-01) [https://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/14294283 Giant fungus discovered in China]. Bbc.co.uk The fruiting body masses up to {{convert|500|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.{{Cite journal | last1 = Dai | first1 = Y. C. | last2 = Cui | first2 = B. K. | doi = 10.1016/j.funbio.2011.06.008 | title = Fomitiporia ellipsoidea has the largest fruiting body among the fungi | journal = Fungal Biology | volume = 115 | issue = 9 | pages = 813–814 | year = 2011 | pmid = 21872178}}{{cite journal|last1= Cui|first1= Bao-Kai|last2= Decock|first2= Cony|year= 2013|title= Phellinus castanopsidis sp. nov (Hymenochaetaceae) from southern China, with preliminary phylogeny based on rDNA sequences|journal=Mycological Progress|volume=12|issue=2|pages= 341–351|doi= 10.1007/s11557-012-0839-5|bibcode= 2013MycPr..12..341C|s2cid= 17570036}}

Until P. ellipsoideus replaced it, the largest individual fruit body came from Rigidoporus ulmarius. R. ulmarius can grow up to {{convert|284|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, {{convert|1.66|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall, {{convert|1.46|m|ft|abbr=on}} across, and has a circumference of up to {{convert|4.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

Umbilicaria mammulata is among the largest lichens in the world. The thallus of U. mammulata is usually {{convert|4|to|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter, but specimens have been known to reach {{convert|63|cm|ft|adj=on}} in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.{{cite book | last = Brodo | first = Irwin | title = Lichens of North America | publisher = Yale University Press | location = New Haven | year = 2001 | isbn = 978-0-300-08249-4 }}

The longest lichen is Usnea longissima, which may grow to exceed {{convert|20|feet}} in length.{{cite web |title=Usnea longissima |url=https://www.lichen.com/bigpix/Ulongissima.html |website=lichen.com |publisher=Lichens of North America |access-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503045319/https://www.lichen.com/bigpix/Ulongissima.html |archive-date=3 May 2012}}

File:Giantkelp2 300.jpg, the largest species of giant kelp|283x283px]]

(Note: the group Protista is not used in current taxonomy.)

:Among the organisms that are not multicellular, the largest are the slime molds, such as Physarum polycephalum, some of which can reach a diameter over {{convert|12|in|cm|abbr=on|order=flip}}.[http://waynesword.palomar.edu/slime1.htm Slime Mold Photos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630192009/http://waynesword.palomar.edu/slime1.htm |date=2015-06-30 }}. Waynesword.palomar.edu These organisms are unicellular, but they are multinucleate.

:Some euglenophytes, such as certain species of Euglena, reach lengths of 400 μm.

{{cite web

|title = Protist Images: Euglena gigas

|work = Protist Information Server

|year = 2004

|url = http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Images/Mastigophora/Euglena/gigas/index.html}}

:The largest species traditionally considered protozoa are giant amoeboids like foraminiferans. One such species, the xenophyophore Syringammina fragilissima, can attain a size of {{convert|20|cm|in|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|date=2008-10-10|title=The 27 Best Deep-Sea Species: #22 Xenophyophores | Deep Sea News|url=https://www.deepseanews.com/2008/10/the-27-best-deep-sea-species-22-xenophyophores/|access-date=2022-12-26|website=www.deepseanews.com|language=en-US}}

:The largest ciliates, such as Spirostomum, can attain a length over {{convert|4|mm|in|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|title=Micscape Microscopy and Microscope Magazine|url=http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artoct98/spiro.html|access-date=2022-12-26|website=www.microscopy-uk.org.uk}}

:The largest stramenopiles are giant kelp from the northwestern Pacific. The floating stem of Macrocystis pyrifera can grow to a height of over {{convert|45|m|ft|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|title=Discover|url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover.html|access-date=2022-12-26|website=www.nhm.ac.uk|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Giant kelp|url=https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/giant-kelp|access-date=2022-12-26|website=www.montereybayaquarium.org}}

:Macrocystis also qualifies as the largest brown alga, the largest chromist, and the largest protist generally.

The largest known species of bacterium is named Thiomargarita magnifica, which grows to {{convert|1|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length,{{Cite web |last=Wong |first=Carissa |title=Largest known bacteria in the world are visible to the naked eye |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2325909-largest-known-bacteria-in-the-world-are-visible-to-the-naked-eye/ |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=New Scientist |language=en-US}} making it visible to the naked eye and also about five thousand times the size of more typical bacteria.{{cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/largest-bacterium-ever-discovered-has-unexpectedly-complex-cells |first = Elizabeth |last = Pennisi|author-link = Elizabeth Pennisi|title=Largest bacterium ever discovered has unexpectedly complex cells |date=|work=Science|publisher=science.org|accessdate=2022-02-24|language=en}} BBC News described it as possessing the "size and shape of a human eyelash."{{Cite news |date=2022-06-23 |title=Record bacterium discovered as long as human eyelash |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-61911817 |access-date=2022-06-24}} Science published a new paper on the bacterium on June 23, 2022.{{Cite journal |last1=Volland |first1=Jean-Marie |last2=Gonzalez-Rizzo |first2=Silvina |last3=Gros |first3=Olivier |last4=Tyml |first4=Tomáš |last5=Ivanova |first5=Natalia |last6=Schulz |first6=Frederik |last7=Goudeau |first7=Danielle |last8=Elisabeth |first8=Nathalie H. |last9=Nath |first9=Nandita |last10=Udwary |first10=Daniel |last11=Malmstrom |first11=Rex R. |date=2022-06-24 |title=A centimeter-long bacterium with DNA contained in metabolically active, membrane-bound organelles |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abb3634 |journal=Science |language=en |volume=376 |issue=6600 |pages=1453–1458 |doi=10.1126/science.abb3634 |pmid=35737788 |bibcode=2022Sci...376.1453V |s2cid=249990020 |issn=0036-8075}} According to a study coauthored by Jean-Marie Volland, a marine biologist and scientist at California's Laboratory for Research in Complex Systems, and an affiliate at the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, T. magnifica can grow up to 2 centimeters long.{{Cite web |author=Amarachi Orie |date=June 23, 2022 |title=World's largest bacterium discovered is the size of a human eyelash |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/23/world/worlds-largest-bacteria-magnifica-intl-scli-scn/index.html |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=CNN}}

• Cyanobacteria

:One of the largest "blue green algae" is Lyngbya, whose filamentous cells can be 50 μm wide.{{Cite book|last = Stal|first = Lucas J.|year = 2007|contribution = Diversity and Versatility, Clues to Life in Extreme Environments|title = Algae and Cyanobacteria in Extreme Environments|series = Cellular Origin, Life in Extreme Habitats and Astrobiology|volume = 11, Part 7|editor = Seckbach, J.|pages = [https://archive.org/details/algaecyanobacter0000unse/page/659 659–680 (666)]|place = Dordrecht, The Netherlands|publisher = Springer|doi = 10.1007/978-1-4020-6112-7_36|isbn = 978-1-4020-6111-0|url = https://archive.org/details/algaecyanobacter0000unse/page/659}}

File:Comparison_of_the_size_of_giant_viruses_to_a_common_virus_(HIV)_and_bacteria_(E._coli).tif

The largest virus on record is Megaklothovirus horridgei, with the length of 4 micrometres, comparable to the typical size of a bacterium and large enough to be seen in light microscopes. It was discovered in 2018 (being mistaken for bristles beforehand), having been found on an arrow worm in the genus Spadella.{{cite journal |last1=Barthélémy |first1=Roxane-Marie |title=Serendipitous Discovery in a Marine Invertebrate (Phylum Chaetognatha) of the Longest Giant Viruses Reported till Date |journal=Biology |date=8 January 2019}} Prior to this discovery, the largest virus was the peculiar virus genus Pandoravirus, which have a size of approximately 1 micrometer and whose genome contains 1,900,000 to 2,500,000 base pairs of DNA.{{cite news | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/07/18/203298244/worlds-biggest-virus-may-have-ancient-roots | title=World's Biggest Virus May Have Ancient Roots | work=National Public Radio | date=18 July 2013 | access-date=18 July 2013 | author=Brumfiel, Geoff}}

Pandoravirus infects amoebas specifically, however Megaklothovirus infects Spadella arrow worms.

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• Charismatic megafauna
• Deep-sea gigantism
• Genome size
• Island gigantism
• Largest body part
• Largest prehistoric animals
• List of longest-living organisms
• List of heaviest land mammals
• List of world records held by plants
• List of largest inflorescences
• Lists of organisms by population
• Megafauna
• Smallest organisms
• Superorganism

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• [http://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/natural-sciences/10-largest-living-things-organisms-planet/ 10 of the largest living things on the planet] Melissa Breyer. TreeHugger April 28, 2015

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