A question of Size...

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Name the largest animal that gives birth to multiple offspring (per birth).

Name the smallest animal that gives birth to just 1 offspring (per birth).

Exclude humans and any members of the ape/monkey tree family.


I find it interesting that there is a certain point in which size of an animal correlates with the number of offspring it can give birth to. The smallest reproduce by the dozen per birth whereas the largest give birth to 1 offspring at a time (in most cases)... and its only the ape/monkey family tree that gives birth to 1 offspring yet its a 'small' sized creature.

Go!

my zoology is on a par with my skill at golf, that is not very good but i'd like to ask, how are we to define 'largest'? largest mass or just longest/tallest? as it might be relevant

The largest creature to give birth to multiple offspring probably is the Whale Shark. Um, after fertilization the eggs of this species of fish are not 'laid' but they develop and hatch within the mother. After hatching she gives birth to a couple of hundred little whale sharks. Mini-size versions of herself but all fully equipped to yeah.. live..

The smallest? With one offspring? Um, I don't know..

*passes question on*

don't look at me lol keinplan

I'm a wildlife nut who reads a great deal about stuff like this, and I would love to know the answer to this question. The whale shark sounds like a really good guess to me, since it is an egg-layer, and I'm not aware of any egg-laying animal that lays only one egg. Another good guess might be the giant squid, since it's an invertebrate, and invertebrates all tend to produce large numbers of offspring. As for the smallest animal that has only one offspring, I can't even begin to guess, except to assume it would have to be a very small mammal of some sort.

Ooops, you're right! Totally forgot about that.

Thats interesting.. didn't know that about the kiwi.

For clarification though I was indeed looking for non-egg laying .. live birth scenario.