Are you ready to go on a wild journey and meet the chubbiest animals in the animal kingdom? From furry mammals to slimy sea creatures, each of these animals has their own unique way of packing on the pounds. Here are 11 chubby animals that may surprise you.
Come along and discover for yourself why these lovable critters are some of the most rotund members of the animal kingdom. We guarantee you’ll be amazed by the sheer amount of their fluffiness!
11 Chubby Animals
1. Seals
- Scientific Name: Pinnipedia
- Diet: Fish (cod, halibut, herring), squid, eel, lobster, and octopus
- Weight: Males weigh up to 8,500 lbs. (3,855.5 kilograms), while the females are much smaller, weighing 2,000 lbs. (907.18 kg)
Seals are among the most adored animals due to their round, chubby bodies and playful personalities. There are many species of seals, such as the spotted seal, gray seal, harp seal, hooded seal, and ringed seal, all sharing the same characteristics of rotund bellies and plump limbs, leaving them looking extra chubby.
Seals are chubby because they need to maintain enough body fat to survive in cold climates and turbulent ocean waters. Their thick fur helps keep them warm, and their layers of blubber help to insulate them against cold water temperatures.
This layer of fat can be up to 40 mm inches thick in some species! Seals also lack an external ear flap which helps them conserve heat while swimming underwater.
2. White rhinoceros
- Scientific Name: Ceratotherium simum
- Diet: Grasses such as Themeda triandra, Panicum maximum, P. coloratum, and Urochloa mossambicensis
- Wight: Males weigh up to 5,070 lbs. (2,300 kg), while females can reach up to 3,700 lbs. (1,700 kg)
The white rhinoceros of Africa is one of the most rotund animals in the world. It is one of the five species of rhinoceros and can be found grazing on grasses in a variety of habitats across Africa, from savannas to open woodlands.
This chubby animal is named for its wide body shape, which allows it to graze more effectively than other species. Its body is covered in a thick layer of fat and skin, which helps protect it from the often harsh African climates.
When fully grown, white rhinos can reach up to 5,070 lbs. (2,300 kg), making them one of the heaviest land animals after the elephant and hippopotamus. They are also one of the most endangered animals in the world, with only around 15,942 individuals remaining in the wild.
3. Manatee
- Scientific Name: Trichechus manatus
- Diet: Aquatic plants like seagrasses, duckweed, and algae.
- Weight: Around 2,200 lbs. (1,000 kg).
Also known as sea cows, manatees are huge, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals found in shallow coastal waters throughout the world. They are known for their gentle nature and chubby, round bodies that give them an almost cartoon-like appearance. These gentle giants have become popular with researchers and tourists due to their docile nature, unique physical attributes, and intelligence.
While these sea cows can weigh up to 2,200 lbs. they don’t have a continuous layer of fat like seals or whales to keep them warm. Their body mass is mostly comprised of their intestines and stomachs, allowing them to feed on large amounts of vegetation.
4. Whales
- Scientific Name: Cetacea
- Diet: Plankton, krill, small fish, squid, copepod crustaceans.
- Weight: Baleen whales can reach up to 6,600 lb (3,000 kg), while sperm whales can weigh up to 90390 lbs (41,000 kg)
Whales are naturally and beneficially obese because they need more body fat than other marine animals to stay warm in cold ocean depths. The fatty tissue in whales’ bodies acts as an insulator, trapping body heat to ensure they don’t become too cold.
This layer of blubber can range from 1-12 inches (2.5 – 30 cm) thick and is composed of fat, protein, and water, which also provide buoyancy as they swim through the water.
There are many species of whales in the world today, with baleen whales such as blue, bowhead, and humpback whales being some of the largest animals in the world. The sperm whale is the largest toothed predator in the world and can weigh up to 90390 lbs (41,000 kg).
5. Dolphins
- Scientific Name: Delphinidae
- Diet: Fish, cephalopods (such as squid and octopus), and crustaceans ( such as crab, lobster, crayfish, and shrimp.)
- Weight: 2,200 to 6,600 pounds (1,000 to 3,000 kilograms)
Dolphins are intelligent aquatic mammals found all over the world in both coastal waters and the open ocean. They are characterized by their rounded bodies, beak-like noses, and playful personalities. Dolphins are also quite chubby compared to other marine mammals, with their body mass composed mostly of blubber.
Different species of dolphins vary in size based on their diet and habitat. Here is a breakdown of the heaviest and largest dolphins in the world:
| Common Name | Size | Weight | Scientific name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orca Killer Whale | Males: 20 to 26 ft. Females: 16 to 23 ft. | 6,000- 8,000 lbs | Orcinus orca |
| Long-Finned Pilot Whale | Males 22 ft. Females: 19 ft. | Males: 5,070 lbs Females: 2,900 lbs | Globicephala melas |
| Short-Finned Pilot Whale | Male: 13–20 ft. Female: 9.8–16.4 ft. | Male: 2,780 to 6,940 lbs Female: 1,320 to 2,540 lbs | Globicephala macrorhynchus |
| False Killer Whale | Male: 8 to 12.5 ft. Female: 7.5 to 12 ft. | 300–650 lbs | Tursiops truncatus |
| Risso’s Dolphin | 8.5 to 13 ft. | 660 to 1,100 lbs | Grampus griseus |
| White-Beaked Dolphin | 7.5 ft. to 10.2 ft. | 397 to 780 lbs | Lagenorhynchus albirostris |
6. Hippopotamus
- Scientific Name: Hippopotamus amphibius
- Diet: Grass, fruit, and bark.
- Weight: 4,400 lbs. (2,000 kg).
The hippopotamus is a large semiaquatic mammal endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, often found in and around rivers, lakes, and swamps. This chubby mammal is the second-largest living land animal after elephants, weighing in at an average of 4,400 lbs. (2,000 kg). They are heavily built with a barrel-shaped torso, an enormous mouth and lips, and small eyes and ears.
Despite their size, hippos are quite agile and can reach speeds of up to 19 mph (30 km/h) on land, running faster than any other large land mammal. Another fun fact about hippos is that they can consume around 150 pounds of grass in a single night.
7. Polar Bears
- Scientific Name: Ursus maritimus
- Diet: Mainly seals and other marine mammals, but also fish, birds, eggs, and vegetation.
- Weight: Adult males weigh 990 lbs(450 kg), while female polar bears weigh 330-552 lbs (150–250 kg).
Cuddly, cute, and chubby, polar bears are the world’s largest and most recognizable land carnivores. These Arctic residents have evolved to thrive in their extreme environment.
They have a thick layer of blubber that helps them stay warm even when swimming in icy waters and white, snowy fur that helps them blend into their surroundings.
Polar bears are the ultimate hibernators, spending up to 5 months of the year asleep in their dens. During this time, they rely on the thick layer of fat stored around their body for energy and warmth, allowing them to survive without food or water during this long period of torpor.
8. Gaur
- Scientific Name: Bos gaurus
- Diet: Leaves, twigs, grasses, grains, fruits, and roots
- Weight: Adult males weigh 1,300-1,330 lbs (588-1500 kg), while adult females weigh 970 to 2,200 lbs (440- 1000 kg).
The gaur, also known as the Indian bison, is the largest and tallest species of wild cattle found in the forests of India and Southeast Asia. These massive animals are the largest members of the bovine family, heavily built and stocky, with thick necks and powerful legs that are perfect for running through dense forests.
These massive wild cows have a high biological body mass index. This means that their bodies grow proportionately bigger as they grow older, which gives them their characteristic plump appearance.
9. Elephants
- Scientific Name: Elephas maximus
- Diet: Grass, leaves, bark, and roots
- Weight: Males weigh up to 12,000 lbs (5,400 kg), while females usually weigh between 5,400-7,700 lbs (2,450-3,500 kg).
Elephants are the world’s largest land animals, known for their impressive size, intelligence, and social behavior. While these impressive creatures are usually seen in the wild, they can be kept as pets or trained for use in circuses and other performances.
But despite their impressive size, elephants’ bodies only contain 10% fat. This means that, while they are relatively chubby compared to other land mammals, their body mass is mostly composed of muscle and bone.
Their skin is thick (up to 1 in (2.5cm) thick) and covered in wrinkle folds, helping to regulate their body temperature in extreme climates. According to scientists, these folds retain up to ten times more moisture than straight, flat skin.
10. Sea Lions
- Scientific Name: Otariinae
- Diet: Fish (herring, anchovies, rockfish, hake, and salmon), octopus, squid, and other marine invertebrates
- Weight: Males can weigh up to 840 lbs (380 kg), while females weigh an average of 540 lbs (245 kg).
Sea lions are large, fin-footed marine mammals of the eared seal family. They have a stocky build and webbed feet that make them excellent swimmers and divers—they can dive up to 450 and 900 feet in search of food!
Sea lions accumulate most of their body fat in a layer of blubber located slightly below the surface of their skin, making them look particularly chubby when seen in profile. In addition to providing insulation, this layer of fat also helps with buoyancy, allowing sea lions to float easily and conserve energy while swimming.
11. Gorillas
- Scientific Name: Gorilla
- Diet: Leaves, fruits, stems, and bark
- Weight: Male gorillas can weigh up to 400 lbs (180 kg), while female gorillas usually weigh between 100-200 lbs (45-90 kg).
Gorillas are the largest living primate species in the world. These gentle giants have a stocky, powerful build, broad chests, and larger stomachs, giving them a particularly chubby appearance.
Their thick skin is covered in short fur, helping to insulate their bodies and keep them warm during cold weather. In addition, gorillas have extra layers of fat around their stomachs and necks. This helps protect their organs from the cold temperatures they may experience while living in higher elevations or mountains.
Despite their large size, gorillas are gentle and peaceful creatures. They live in social groups called “troops” and communicate using a variety of sounds and body language to express themselves.
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