Animals With The Largest Claws

Among the aspects that most attract our attention of some animals are their claws; either as a defensive function, or for other tasks, these attributes of nature generate the interest of studies and experts around the world

Claws are a fundamental part of the body of animals, and it is that they perform key functions in their defense, feeding and survival. Although several species have powerful and sharp nails or spikes, some stand out for displaying the largest claws in nature.

The world’s largest claws are extinct

Advances in science and fossil research have made it possible to recognize that the largest nails in history belonged to a dinosaur. In this case, we refer to the Therizinosaurus species –in the image that heads this article–  which is nicknamed the ‘scythe lizard’.

According to the analysis of its fossils, the claws of the Therizinosaurus could measure up to a meter in length. Being so long, its ‘nails’ dangled from its front legs.

This peculiar species already inhabited our planet during the last phase of the Cretaceous period. That is, it lived about 75 million years ago in the region where Central Asia is located today.

We probably imagined that the Therizinosaurus was a powerful hunter thanks to its powerful claws. But this could not be further from the truth … Researchers at the University of Portmouth (United Kingdom) point out that, most likely, it was a herbivorous species.

So what were such nails for? Well, mainly to defend themselves from possible predators and to hold on to the typical vegetation of their habitat, in order to feed themselves with tranquility.

So was T herizinosaurus the animal with the longest claws?

Everything would indicate yes, but the answer is that it depends on the point of view. If we consider only the length of the nails, there is no other animal that can be compared to this prehistoric specimen: the Therizinosaurus .

But if we consider the relationship between the length of the nails and the size of the animal’s body, we cannot say the same. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to fully reconstitute the skeleton of a Therizinosaurus . Therefore, it is impossible to establish a comparison between the dimensions of its claws and its bones.

Next, we will mention the animals with this particularity from a comparative point of view. That is, the ratio between the size of your nails and the total length of your body is considered.

The 5 animals with the proportionally longest claws

If we consider the ratio between their long ‘nails’ and the size of the animal, these would be the most interesting animals:

• Giant armadillo

The giant armadillo has the largest body-to-claw ratio in the entire animal kingdom. The total body length of this species is between 90 and 100 centimeters; their claws can measure up to 20 centimeters.

Proportionally, the claws of the giant armadillo are equivalent to 22% of its body. These long nails are mainly used for digging and looking for food. But in case it feels threatened, the armadillo can also use them to defend itself.

• Sloth

Sloths are also among the animals with larger claws in comparison to their body. Three-toed sloths in the tropics have claws that are about 10 centimeters long, while their bodies measure about 58 to 60 centimeters. Proportionally, your nails represent 17% of your body.

Two-toed sloths can grow to about 70 centimeters, while their claws also reach 10 centimeters long. In other words, their nails represent 14% of their total body length.

In addition to helping them climb the tall trees in their habitat, these large, thick claws are great defense tools. Since sloths do not have sharp teeth and are not very fast, these are key to scare away predators.

• American Greater Harpy

The greater American harpy is the bird with the largest claws from a proportional point of view. This beautiful bird lives not only in the United States, but also extends through Central America and part of South America. Its claws measure about 10 centimeters and represent about 7% of its body length.

• Star-nosed mole

The so-called star-nosed moles are burrowing mammals whose main feature is the appendix of their snout with a shape similar to a star. This species has the longest claws among all the members of its family; this length means about 6.5% of your total body.