IF you thought a monstrous 22-inch rat was shocking, check out some of these oversized animals.
Over the years people have been stunned by the likes of giant dogs, massive pigs – and even a tuna fish bigger than a fully-grown man.
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Supersize animals can come about for a number of reasons, such as genetics, evolution as they adapt to changes in the world and ease of access to more high calorie foods.
Last week, a huge rat was found in a home in Redcar and Cleveland and left hundreds repulsed by a picture of it shared on social media by local politicians.
Here are some other big beasts that have stunned the world.
#1 Giant Great Danes
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Great Dane dogs are already known for their large size, usually coming in between 2ft 5in and 2ft 9in.
But there have been numerous examples that tower over that and every other dog breed.
One such gentle giant was Major, who stood at just over 7ft.
He made headlines in 2016, even appearing on This Morning, as well as being asked to go on TV across Japan, Australia and American.
Major narrowly missed out on the world record by a few millimetres.
Sadly, the average lifespan for a Great Dane is only between eight to 10 years-old – and Major passed away in 2018 at the age of five and a half.
#2 Big Bill the pig
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Big Bill was one hell of a porker measuring in at 9ft long and weighed an unbelievable 2,550lb.
That’s about the same as a small car.
This Poland China hog breed was visited by people far and wide in the 1930s.
Big Bill was meant to attend a World’s Fair in Chicago but tragically didn’t make it.
The pig broke a leg due to his colossal weight and had to be put down as a result.
#3 Fish bigger than a man
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There have been multiple whooping fish catches but imagine getting a 10ft tuna?
The mammoth red tuna was caught in Spain and weighed a staggering 672lb.
Fisherman sold it to a wholesaler, reportedly fetching £7.08 per kg, earning them some £2,158.
#4 Big cats
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Dogs aren’t the only pets to have surprised us all – cats have too.
A few months ago Zeus, a “majestic” Maine Coon, became a viral star for his massive frame and love of raw meat.
When on his hind legs he stretches to an astonishing 4ft 3in.
The super-sized feline lounges on a bed meant for a sled dog, high-fives on command, gives paw and even hits buttons for treats — but his floofy tail still spills off the edge.
#5 Super-sized stick insects
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A new super-sized species of stick insect was recently uncovered in a remote rainforest in Australia.
The creepy bug – named Acrophylla alta – was caught on camera by researchers, measures a whopping 40cm (15.75 inches) long.
That’s roughly the same size as a barn owl.
Angus Emmott of James Cook University, who helped identify the species, said the creature’s large size could be an evolutionary response to its cool, wet habitat.
#6 Tommy the mega cow
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Tommy, a purebred Brown Swiss cow who lives on a farm in Massachusetts, was crowned the world’s tallest in 2023.
The huge steer came in at an impressive height of 1.87m, earning him the title of the World’s Tallest Living Steer by the Guinness World Records.
He eats roughly 13kg of dry grain, over 34kg of hay and drinks 150 litres of water per day – but also loves a cinnamon-bun.
#7 Darius the giant rabbit
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Another Guinness World Record holder is Darius, a gigantic rabbit that measured 4ft 3in-long.
His fame was brutally cut short in 2021 when thieves stole him from breeder Annette Edwards.
Despite a police investigation, he was never found.
But his legacy lives on thanks to three grandkids.
