Editor-In-ChiefCraig Glenday

(Americanization),Chris Bernstein (indexing),

Matthew White (proofreading)VP PUBLISHINGFrank Chambers

DIRECTOR OF PROCURMENTPatricia Magill

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PUBLISHING EXECUTIVECharlie Peacock

DESIGNPaul Wylie-Deacon, Richard Page

at 55design.co.ukPICTURE EDITOR

Michael Whitty

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2013 Bantam mass market edition

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6 Introduction

16 Human Body Extreme Bodies, 18 Age and Youth, 20 Body Parts, 22 Body Beautiful, 23 Medical Marvels, 24 Against All Odds,26

28Amazing FeaturesUnusual Skills, 30Tests of Strength, 32Courage & Endurance, 34Marathon Efforts, 36Mass Participation, 38Teamwork, 40Golden Oldies, 42Early Starters, 44Big Stuff, 46Small Stuff, 48

50 Natural WorldAction Sports, 116

Gymnastics & Weights, 118 Combat & Martial Arts, 120 Ball Sports, 122 Golf, 126

Credits, 138Index, 140

Stop Press, 148

Table Of

Creepy Crawlies, 52Animal Extremes, 54Extraordinary Animals, 56Fantastic Pets, 58Plant World, 60

62Science & Techonology

Gadgets, 64Internet, 66

Amazing Science, 68Buildings, 70

Structures, 72

Arts & Media 74Music Feats & Facts, 76

TV Shows, 78 Stunts & Special Effects, 80 Cartoons & Animation, 82 Books & Magazines, 84 Art & Sculpture, 86 Toys, 88

Modern Society 90Collections, 92

People & Places, 94 Big Money, 96 Big Food, 98 Fashion, 100

Travel & Transport 102Bikes & Motorbikes, 104

Aircraft, 106 Cars, 108 Epic Journeys, 110 Air & Sea Heroes, 112

Sports & GamesAction Sports, 116

Gymnastics & Weights, 118 Combat & Martial Arts, 120 Ball Sports, 122 Golf, 126

Credits, 138Index, 140

Stop Press, 148

114Giraffestands 5–6 m (16–20 ft) tall and has an average weight of 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) for males and 830 kg (1,800 lb) for females.Photo by Koegies

World50 Natural World

World51 Natural World

Despite their epic size, dinosaurs were not the largest creaturesto have ever lived. We don’t need to look into prehistory to findthis a bsolute record holder: we currently share our planet with the largest animal that ever lived; the blue whale. Whatabout terrestrial creatures, or birds?

How Big Do Animals Really Get?

A 160-tonne blue whale canexist because of the support it receives from the water. But on land, the upper weight limit based on fossil evidence - is around 70-100 tonnes (154,000-220,000 lb), in the case of the herbivorous Argentinosaurus, which existed 95 milion years ago.

Leopard(Panthera pard us)

2 m (6 ft 6 in); 63 kg (140 lb)Photo By Krappweis

The Blue Whale(Blaenoptera musculus)-the largest mammal: 24 m (80ft) long; 160 tonnes(352,000 lb)Photos by Bschwehn

E x t r e m e s

53 Animal Extremes

Section 1

A figure of about 100 tonnes is a lso the limit reached theoretically when examining the stress lim its of bones - and the corresponding increase in muscle size - in terrestrial animals. Such a creature is feasible but would be limited by gravity, the availability of resources, the turnaround of offspring (larger animals produce fewer babies) and a lack of adaptability in times of crisis (such as a food shortage). So if we were going to find an animal bigger than the blue whale, it would have to be in

the oceans . Could the mysterious “Bloop” be a contender? The cookiecutter shark {lsistius brasiliensis) from the central regions of the Atlantic and Pacific is the brightest shark. It is named after Isis, an Egyptian goddess associated with light. Up to 1.5 m (5 ft) long, it has a dull brown upper surface, but underneath it is often covered entirely with photophores, light-producing organs which emit a very bright, ghostly green glow. Bioluminescence is unclear.

Skeleton of The Blue Whale Photo by The Seymour CenterNothing on land has everexceeded 100 tonnes (220,000 lb); in the oceans, the upper limit is a 160 -tonne (352,000-lb) whale.

54 Animal Extremes

Polar bear (Ursusmaritimus) - largestland carnivore:2.4-2. 6 m (7 ft1 0 in-8 ft 6 in) noseto tail; 400-600 kg(880-1,320 lb)

Emperor penguin(Aptenodytes forsteri) -largest penguin: 1 m(3 ft 3 i n) tall; 43 kg (95 lb)

The shortfin mako (lsrus oxyrinchus), with recorded swimming speeds exceeding 56 km/h (34.8 mi/h), is the fastest shark.

FUN FACT!The Hammerhead sharks hammer is known as a cephalofoil. To Avoid attack Do not wear shiny jewellery - to a shark this can look like fish scales!Avoid the areas betweensandbars and steep drop-o s

55 Animal Extremes

Emperor penguin(Aptenodytes forsteri) -largest penguin: 1 m(3 ft 3 i n) tall; 43 kg (95 lb)

African elephant (Loxodontaafricana) - largest ungulateand largest land mammal:3-3.7 m (9 ft 10 i n-1 2 ft 1 in)

What’s the oldest age animals can reach? Guinness World Records’ founding editor, Norris McWhirter, once stated:“No single subject is more obscured by vanity, deceit, falsehood and deliberate fraud than the extremes of human longevity.” Extraordinary claims of old age continue to surface i n the media but what, realistically, is the upper age limit for the human race? No authenticated account can be found of someone living

beyond 122 years - and only one person ever reached this extreme age. But is this the absolute limit to life?Here, GWR gerontologist Robert Young explains the limiting factors of longevity and makes his prediction for the oldest possible age ... Longest elephanttusks (relative to body)Anancus was a prehistoricgomphothere (an extinctfamily of elephantinemammals) that lived fromthe late Miocene Epoch to

to the earlyPleistocene Epoch, 3-1.5 million years ago. Each of its two long, straight tusks measured up to 4 m (13 ft) almostas long as its body!

56 Animal Extremes