Why Do Some Animals Get Gigantic?

Occasionally, internal or external factors change, allowing certain animals to become giant versions of themselves.

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To learn more, start your googling with these keywords:
Spiracles: External respiratory openings on insects
Carboniferous Period: The time period from 359-299 million years ago when the Earth’s oxygen levels increased rapidly.
Square-Cube Law: A mathematical principle that describes the relationship between area and volume.
Buoyancy: An upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of an immersed object.
Phytoplankton: Microscopic plants eaten by krill and other zooplankton.
Baleen: A filter-feeding system inside the mouth of some whales.

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Credits (and Twitter handles):
With Contributions From: Henry Reich, Alex Reich, Peter Reich
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References:

[N....]

I like that explanation of the square cube law, nice work!

[ashknoecklein]

"Two-person kayak" is the strangest size comparison I've every heard, will not likely be topped for some time.

[neoclydetechnology]

I love how everything is connected and just not moving on to a different animal

[AlexandPedro]

Things I Will Do To Get Bigger:
1) Learn to Swim
2) Learn to Eat Krill and Zooplankton

Thank you! I'll come back 1000x larger!

2 meter long millipede? Not, Nop, Nop, NOP.

[donatoliotino]

i love how every video ends with a GOOD pun, not just some cheap pun that people make and then say sorry about because they were trying to be bad. but a good, high-quality joke that took a little bit of time to think of. keep up the good work.

[BaxterDaTrashball]

The animation of MinuteEarth is ADORABLE and AWESOME!!

[dryguy]

I always wondered how things like meganera and arthrolura got so big

[MinuteEarth]

Hey there! Notice the JOIN button just below the video? We're beta-testing this new feature, which allows viewers to support creators. If you like MinuteEarth, we'd appreciate if you gave it a try! Viewer support has always been integral to our ability to make educational videos and distribute them for free, and we hope this new mode will help us continue to do that AND help us become better connected to you all, since it's all through the YouTube player!

[AageV]

Eagle sized dragon flies? Yeah no thanks.
But wait...
Does that mean rideable sized frogs? Yeas please!

[Striveofficial]

RealLifeLore or MinuteEarth... you can only watch one. What do you pick?

[kentmichaelgalang]

once i saw a really large millipede outside one morning. i tried to kill it
by striking it with a stick, but part of it ended up in my mouth, which i immediately spat out.

i am now very good at brushing my teeth.

[Demonblade]

now that was a very interesting video, thanks!
Can you guys maybe do follow ups on why the oxygen concentration suddenly increased? or why the currents bringing up nutrients formed?

[Slimshady-dbsv]

1:41 get the hell out of my way ...😂.
Awesome animation 👏

[josbigotis]

2:30 . the cup should have broken... :)

[csl]

Yeah I remember someone telling me because millions of years ago Earth's oxygen increased or something, but thanks to the video I understand why. Props 👏

[sadeaali]

I love how the dino yeeted/yote, gandalf. Made my day

[marcopohl]

I always wondered how big an animal could get if it had ALL the adaptations for huge size?

[wallrider]

That was shorter than I expected, but still good job.

[Lemonhed]

Giant insects are legitimately one of my biggest fears