If you’ve seen videos on the Internet advertising insanely large animal specimens, then what you see is probably an example of indefinite growth on its own. Indefinite growth refers to the function at which an animal or creature continues to grow throughout its life. The most obvious examples of indeterminate sires are trees, especially giant sequoias or North American bristle pines. These massive trees never stop growing and can grow hundreds of feet in height if they have enough room to grow. Besides trees, there are a number of animals that never stop growing. Generally, reptiles, fish and amphibians are most often on the list of undefined sires, but some mammals also make it on the list. Without further ado, here is a list of 10 animals that never stop growing.
# 10: lobster
Lobsters are considered to be some of the most famous examples of animals that never stop growing. Although they start small, they can grow to enormous sizes if not caught and eaten by predators. The largest lobster ever recorded was caught in the waters of Nova Scotia, Canada, and weighed an impressive 44.4 pounds. Lobsters can grow to such enormous sizes because they often shed their exoskeleton. Exoskeletons stop growing when they reach a certain size, so every time it molts its exoskeleton, the lobster can get a little bigger. However, molting is a laborious process, and between 10% and 15% of lobsters die during the molting process. Therefore, as long as lobsters are energized, they can shed and build new muscle cells. With a lifespan of 45 to 50 years in the wild, it’s no surprise that they can grow to epic proportions.
# 9: Goldfish
A relatively small member of the carp family, goldfish can reach enormous sizes if given the opportunity. Anyone who has ever owned a goldfish probably knows that the only thing that limits the growth of a goldfish is its container. If kept in a small aquarium, goldfish usually grow to only 1 to 2 inches in length. However, when grown in large tanks or ponds, the golden color can reach 15 to 19 inches in length. While most goldfish live for 10 to 15 years, some can live for more than 40 years, which increases their growth potential. The goldfish can change not only the size, but also the color. If left in a dark place, they will gradually change color from orange-red to gray or white. This is because pigments in goldfish cells reflect light and give it color. When stored away from light, their skin changes over time and eventually loses color.
# 8: Green Anaconda
Many species of snakes are among the animals that never stop growing. Although they grow rapidly until they reach maturity, their growth never stops, but simply slows down significantly. For example, anacondas, or water boas, can grow to exceptional size. In particular, the green anaconda has amazing growth potential and is currently considered the heaviest snake species and the second longest after the reticulated python. The largest green anaconda ever recorded was 17.1 feet long and weighed about 215 pounds. Nevertheless, every time in the wild, there are reports of the existence of giant anacondas living deep in the Amazon. These reports refer to anacondas ranging in length from 35 to 40 feet, and while they are technically plausible, these assumptions should always be viewed with a grain of salt.
# 7: Kangaroo
Very few mammals are on the list of animals that never stop growing. However, kangaroos are among the few who do this. In particular, red kangaroos can grow to impressive sizes if left alone. Red kangaroos are the largest marsupials in the world, they can reach 6 feet 7 inches in height and weigh over 200 pounds. Because of their sheer size, they have also earned the unofficial nickname “Big Reds” among Australians. Considering that baby kangaroos are only 1 inch long at birth, it is incredible that they can grow into such tall and strong creatures. Unlike humans, their skeletons grow slowly throughout their lives, so it is possible that some kangaroos may grow even larger than the largest recorded specimens.
# 6: king crab
Like lobsters, crabs never stop growing. In particular, king crabs can grow enormous if not caught and killed. Currently, there are more than 121 known species of Kamchatka crab originating from hermit crabs. The largest species, the Kamchatka crab, can grow a carapace up to 11 inches in length and a leg span of up to 5.9 feet. In terms of weight, especially heavy crabs can reach 28 pounds. They can live up to 30 years in the wild, although they rarely live that long due to hazards from predators and the fishing industry. To reach their full size, king crabs must continually molt and grow into a new, larger exoskeleton. Given that they can continue to grow for so long that they have enough energy to molt, crabs have the potential to grow indefinitely.
# 5: Crocodile
Crocodiles vary in size, from a medium-sized dwarf crocodile to a huge saltwater crocodile. Saltwater crocodiles are the largest species of crocodiles and living reptiles, they can grow to enormous sizes. Lolong, the largest officially recorded crocodile, measured 20 feet 3 inches long and weighed 2,370 pounds. Currently the largest crocodile in the world, Cassius is 17 feet 3 inches long. Crocodiles also have extremely long lifespans, so the longer they live, the more they can grow. For example, Cassius is about 100 years old. With such a lifespan, it is impossible to predict how big a crocodile can grow under the right conditions. However, scientists estimate that they can reach about 23 feet in length if they live long enough.
# 4: Python
Like anacondas, pythons are animals that never stop growing. Of the many species found throughout Asia, the two largest are the Burmese python and the reticulated python. On average, only green anacondas weigh more than Burmese pythons, while most scientists call the reticulated python the longest snake in the world. Medusa, the longest living snake ever recorded, measures 25 feet 2 inches long and weighs about 350 pounds. Reticulated pythons shed their skin throughout their lives, and each time they shed, they may grow slightly larger. Although they live on average only 12 to 20 years, they still manage to grow insanely long in that short time.
# 3: shark
The largest shark species of all time, the Megalodon, was 67 feet long and weighed about 65,000 pounds in its most severe condition. Although existing shark species do not reach this size, massive sharks continue to fascinate scientists and the general public. Sharks never stop growing and will continue to expand as long as their environment allows them. The largest fish in the sea, the whale shark, can reach 40 feet in length and weigh 60 tons. While few survive to adulthood, those who do can live exceptionally long lives, and some scientists believe they can live to be 150 years old. Meanwhile, other famous species, such as the great white, also never stop growing, and not just their bodies. They are constantly growing new teeth and can produce more than 20,000 teeth in their lifetime.
# 2: elephant
Elephants are highly regarded for their intelligence, strength, and advanced social skills. In addition, elephants also claim to be # 1 in the ranking of the largest land animals. Given their sheer size, it should come as no surprise that they also fund a spot on our list of animals that never stop growing. While the uncertain growth of elephants remains a hotly debated topic, evidence suggests that male elephants never stop growing and that their growth rate simply decreases over time. Elephants live up to 70 years in the wild and even longer in captivity, so they have plenty of time to grow. The largest recorded elephant, a male African elephant, weighed 24,000 pounds and was 13 feet tall at the shoulders.
# 1: sea bass
The rough-eyed sea bass, also known as the black throated bass, belongs to the sea bass family. These spiny fish can live exceptionally long lives and never stop growing until they die. At an older age, they can live to be 205 years old. Since most rough-eyed seabass do not reach sexual maturity until they reach the age of 20-27, it is logical that they also take a long time to grow. Although they have a long lifespan, few survive to die of old age thanks to the threats they face from predators and fishermen. However, those that do it can grow up to 38 inches in length and weigh up to 40 pounds. The largest and oldest specimens live in deeper waters, where they love to spend time near the seabed, full of caves and crevices.