Extremities

Do you know that:

- The largest ever gold-bearing nugget was found in 1872 at a mine in New South Wales. It yielded 187 lb. of gold.

- The largest plants in the world are the Big Tress (Sequoia gigantea) and redwood trees of California. These trees are believed to live as long as 6000 years. These trees are also the world’s largest living organism.

- The world’s smallest flower and the world’s smallest flowering plant is the Brazilian duckweed called mofia. The whole plant can be less than 1/16 in. across.

- Rafflesia arnodii is produces the world’s largest flower. The lower can measure more than 3 ft. across, is ¾ in. in thickness and can weigh as much as 15 lb.

- The plant with the most repulsive smell is the tropical giant arum lily.

- The largest insect known to the world is the Goliath beetle. It measures 4 in. across and 5.8 in. in length

- The world’s largest animal is the blue whale. It can weigh more than 100 tons. This animal needs 4 tons of food per day.

- The largest organism without a backbone is the Atlantic giant dquid. It can weigh 2 tons and can grow to 55 ft. long.

- The largest mammal is the African bush elephant. Its average weight is 5.6 tons.

- The smallest mammal is the pygmy shrew of Northern Europe which is rarely longer than 1½ from nose to tail.

- The largest bird is the flightless North African ostrich which can weigh up to 345 lb. And can grow up to 9 ft. tall.

- The smallest bird is the bee hummingbird of Cuba. It is 2 in. long and has a 1.1 wingspan.

- The fastest creature is the spine-tailed swift. Records say that it can fly in excess of 200 mph.

- The largest of all the spiders is the South American bird-eating spider. It has a leg span of 10 in and has a 3½ in. body length.

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