11 Animals That Weigh 400 Pounds
Last updated on September 22nd, 2023 at 05:53 pm
For a human, 400 pounds seems like a very large amount of weight. In the animal kingdom, though, it’s actually not that much. Many large animal species weigh more than 400 pounds, so finding animals that weigh right around 400 pounds can be tricky.
Here are 11 animal species, however, that often grow to just about that weight.
- Harp Seal
- Moose
- Reindeer
- Lion
- Dolphin
- European Boar
- Sea Lion
- Zebra
- Pygmy Sperm Whale
- Western Lowland Gorilla
- Musk Ox
1. Harp Seal
Although they’re nimble in the water, seals can grow to truly impressive sizes. The weight of an adult seal depends on whether it’s male or female and what type of seal it is. Harp seals commonly grow to around 400 pounds. Males tend to be a bit larger than females.
Harp seals live in cold areas in both the northern Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. These seals can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes as they dive under the water in search of food.
Hawaiian monk seals also sometimes weigh close to 400 pounds. However, these seals can grow to as large as 600 pounds, so 400 pounds is somewhat small for this seal variety.
2. Moose
Moose are incredibly large animals. Males can stand as tall as 7 feet at the shoulder, and their massive antlers can weigh hundreds of pounds. An adult male moose usually weighs at least 850 pounds and can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds. Female moose are much smaller, though.
Although they can grow to weigh as much as 1,100 pounds, most female moose weigh just over 400 pounds. Moose are actually a type of deer. They’re found in temperate forests across Russia, Europe, and North America.
The Alaskan moose is the largest moose subspecies, with small females weighing at least 800 pounds.
3. Reindeer
Reindeer, also frequently called caribou, are another member of the deer family. Although they’re much smaller than moose, they share many of the same characteristics, including large antlers and colder home ranges.
Adult male reindeer can weigh up to 400 pounds and usually weigh at least 350 pounds. Female reindeer are smaller, weighing only 180 to 260 pounds. These animals are called reindeer in Europe but are only known as reindeer in North America if they are domesticated.
Otherwise, they are called caribou.
4. Lion
Male lions are very large animals, and they often weigh about 420 pounds. These big cats must be powerful enough to defend their pride of females and cubs from other lions or predators.
Female lions, on the other hand, are built more for speed and only weigh about 280 pounds, although some of the biggest female lions can grow up to 400 pounds.
5. Dolphin
There are dozens of dolphin varieties, and although they look sleek and agile, these muscular animals can grow to great sizes. Many dolphin varieties weigh hundreds of pounds, and several species weigh close to 400 pounds.
For example, Fraser’s dolphins often weigh around 360 pounds, while white-beaked dolphins grow to between 400 and 780 pounds. Bottlenose dolphins, which are the most common and recognizable dolphin type, weigh between 330 and 1,400 pounds.
Irrawaddy dolphins, which are found in rivers in Asia, often weigh about 400 pounds.
The largest dolphin species is the orca or killer whale. These massive black and white animals can weigh between 6,600 and 8,800 pounds.
6. European Boar
Wild boar can be found throughout the world, and each subspecies grows to a slightly different weight. In North America, a typical boar might only weigh around 200 or 300 pounds. Adult male European boars, however, often weigh over 400 pounds. Females tend to weigh around 260 pounds.
Seeing boars of this size is relatively rare, however, as hunting keeps the population low and small. In Asia, boars can reach even larger sizes, growing to weigh as much as 770 pounds, but overhunting can also affect the size and population of these animals.
7. Sea Lion
Seals and sea lions belong to the same family of animals, but they have some differences. Sea lions are known as eared seals, and they have slightly larger front flippers. Sea lions can also move more easily on land because of a more flexible pelvic girdle.
Like seals, however, sea lions can grow to large sizes. Sea lions actually vary quite a bit in size. Female sea lions are a little smaller and usually average around 400 pounds, although they can weigh between 110 and 600 pounds.
Some female sea lions might even weigh as much as 1,000 pounds. Small male sea lions weigh just over 400 pounds but can grow to as much as 2,200 pounds.
8. Zebra
There are three main zebra species, known as Grevy’s zebra, the plains zebra, and the mountain zebra. The Grevy’s zebra is the largest. The plains zebra, also known as Grant’s zebra, is the most common and also the smallest variety.
These animals grow to about 4 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh between 390 and 850 pounds. Grant’s zebras roam across grasslands in large family herds. Each family group is led by one dominant zebra stallion.
9. Pygmy Sperm Whale
Dwarf or pygmy sperm whales are one of the smallest whale species. Most of these whales weigh around 400 pounds, although they can weigh as little as 300 and as much as 600 pounds. Adult pygmy sperm whales are about 9 feet long.
This whale species prefers warm waters and can often be found in tropical areas, including the Gulf of Mexico. Pygmy sperm whales eat fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods such as squid. They can live for about 22 years.
10. Western Lowland Gorilla
Gorillas are the largest primate. Male western lowland gorillas often weigh right around 400 pounds, although they can be as big as 500 pounds and as small as 300 pounds. These gorillas only stand about 6 feet tall, but they’re incredibly muscular, which accounts for their weight.
The muscle density of a gorilla is about four times denser than the muscle density of even the most powerful human.
11. Musk Ox
The musk ox is a wooly, hoofed animal that’s a member of the same family as cows. These creatures are native to the Arctic and are most common in parts of Canada and Greenland. Female musk oxen often weigh right around 400 pounds.
Males are quite a bit larger and can weigh as much as 900 pounds.
