Re: the longest animal?

["Berislav Krzic" <veselinka.stanisavac@siol.net>]

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. wrote:


>The largest vertebrate for which we have complete material would be a blue
whale.  A complete adult Seismosaurus or Supersaurus (if such are ever
found) would almost certainly be longer.

>As for invertebrates?  Hmmm... Architeuthis (giant squid) is the most
massive invertebrate known, but is there some other form which is even
longer?  Don't know... (Giant polychaetes?).

As a matter of giant sauropods: What about Cope's Amphicoelias fragilimus
(that giant partial vertebrae that vanished on its way to the museum in New
York)? I remember that Greg estimated the animal (if Amphicoelias) to be
between 45 and 60 meters long. That animal would overthrow Belaenoptera
musculus from the throne of the longest (yet not the heaviest) vertebrate
(biggest specimens measure more than 33 meter in length - if I am correct).

As for invertebrates, things get even more interesting: Aric Lion's Mane
Jellyfish can extend its tentacles more than 37 meters in length (supposedly
even larger specimens were reported).
Giant polychaetes? Does anybody have an information on giants among these
animals?
What about giant tape worms that live in whales? How long can they grow in
length?

Berislav Krzic
veselinka.stanisavac@siol.net
Beri's Dinosaur World
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/1638/index.html
Dinosaur Books
http://www2.siol.net/ext/zza/index.html