Some animals eat as much as they need, but some feed on gluttony. This means that big eaters in the animal kingdom seem insatiable because of their massive size, digestive system, or diet.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at animal species which eat a lot, as well as the factors that determine how much they eat in order to survive.
1. Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
As the largest animal known, it is not surprising that blue whales have a massive appetite. A single blue whale weighs around 200 tons and needs 16 tons of food daily.
Despite their large size, blue whales eat small food called krill. Krills are tiny crustaceans which are high in protein and low in fat. They are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Blue whales need millions of krills to satisfy their stomach. An average blue whale consumes 16 tons of krill in a day. In a single mouthful, these marine creatures consume around half a million calories, equivalent to the amount of calories consumed by an average adult human in 250 days.
2. Burmese Pythons (Pythin bivittatus)
Unlike other voracious animals, the Burmese python does not eat frequently. But when this creature does, it does not hold back. This reptile is one of the largest species of snakes in the world. It can grow up to 23 feet (7 meters) and can weigh up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms).
Like most snake species, the Burmese python has a slow metabolism, so it only needs to eat once every two weeks. However, its meals are enormous. They are known for eating deer, goats, and even alligators. Their prey is eaten whole, including bones and teeth. Burmese pythons can also eat prey around 50% of their size in one sitting.
One unique feature of this snake is that its prey does not need to be fully inside its stomach to get digested. Burmese python can start digesting its food as soon as it enters its mouth. The entire digestion process usually takes about five to six days, so the animal does not get hungry more than once a fortnight.
3. Hummingbird (Trochilidae)
The appetite of hummingbird places itself on the other end of the dietary spectrum. Its diet consists mostly of nectar which has very little nutritional value. As a matter of fact, nectar is essentially sugar water.
Despite lacking the nutrition found in other food sources, nectar is essential to the survival of hummingbirds. This is because the world's smallest bird has one of the highest metabolic rates of any living creature. Their wings can flap over 80 times per second, and their heart needs to beat 20 times per second to keep up with this activity.
Hummingbirds expend so much energy in flight that they need to consume about twice their body weight daily to survive.
4. American Pygmy Shrews (Sorex hoyi)
Although this animal is the second smallest mammal on the planet, it has one of the largest appetites for its size. American pygmy shrews consume insects, giving them a diet that is rich in protein.
This animal has an exceptionally high metabolism that needs to consume around three times its body weight daily to survive. If it goes an hour without eating, it would starve to death.
5. Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)
Tasmanian devils are carnivorous marsupials which are known for having ferocious characters. Aside from this, they are famous for their jaws which are powerful enough to crush bones. They will use this ability to eat almost anything from snakes, birds, and mammals.
A typical Tasmanian devil weighs about 20 pounds (9 kilograms) and needs to eat 2 pounds (0.91 kilograms) of food per day. If they are unsure when to catch their next meal, they will eat up to 40% of their body weight in just one sitting.
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