With so many animals on the planet varying in shape and size, it’s a little strange to think that some of them could actually swallow a human whole! Let’s highlight the creatures that, through their sheer size, could swallow someone whole.
The Capability
Before we delve into which animals can swallow a human, it’s important to understand that while it’s possible under very specific circumstances, it’s a very rare occurrence and could pose as much of a risk to the animal as to the human.
Sperm Whale
The sperm whale is perhaps the best example of an animal that could easily swallow a human whole. They have been documented to even swallow giant squads, which means a human would be no problem. However, survival in a sperm whale’s stomach is unlikely due to its complex digestive system and lack of breathable air.
Green Anaconda
When it comes to snakes, many swallow their prey whole, guiding the entire animal into their throat through their rows of teeth and powerful muscles. While there are no reports of a green anaconda ever swallowing a human, it’s technically possible.
Saltwater Crocodile
Saltwater crocodiles are aggressive reptiles that are the largest example of their kind. There have been many reports of crocodile attacks throughout history, but it’s unlikely that a crocodile ever swallowed a person whole because of the way that they eat their prey.
Great White Shark
Moving over to the ocean, the great white shark is one of the largest and top predators. Despite being such a ferocious predator, the great white tries not to hunt humans, and attacks on people are rare. They could potentially swallow a human, but like the crocodile, they eat their prey by chewing off chunks.
Megalodon
The ancestor of the great white shark, the megalodon, was very similar, although much larger. They could measure up to 18 meters in length. This means that if we had lived in the same time period that they roamed the ocean, they could have easily swallowed groups of people whole.
Blue Whale
The largest animal on earth of all time that we know of is the blue whale. The large mammal feeds on krill just by opening its massive mouth. Despite having a mouth large enough to consume a human, their throat can only fit roughly a melon through it.
Humpback Whale
While smaller than blue whales, humpback whales also feed on krill and small fish. They use a technique called bubble net feeding to eat their prey. While they are large enough to swallow a human whole, it would have to be an accident for them to do so.
Komodo Dragon
Komodo dragons are the largest lizards on the planet and have amazing jaws capable of ripping flesh apart. They eat smaller animals but theoretically could swallow a human whole, as unlikely as it is. No reports have ever been shared about one swallowing a person.
Boa Constrictor
Boa constrictors are large snakes that prefer to take care of their prey by constricting it before swallowing the prey whole. They can expand their ribs to swallow animals far bigger than they are. This means that they could swallow a human whole if they tried. There was an incident where a boa constrictor swallowed an Indonesian woman whole.
Giant Squid
Although much isn’t known about giant squids due to how deep they live in the ocean, they can grow up to 12 meters long. Evidence of them attacking large animals like sperm whales has been documented, and their size means that they could potentially swallow a human whole.
Polar Bear
Because of the cold climate they live in, polar bears are much larger than even grizzlies. They are known for being aggressive predators,, meaning they could hunt humans if starving. Although it’s unlikely, a polar bear could swallow a smaller person whole. It would, however, cause serious harm to them in the process.
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