What's Earth's dominant species by mass?
This article explores the biomass of various species on Earth, debunking the myth that ants outweigh humans. It explains that while humans and krill have significant biomass, domesticated cattle actually hold the highest mass among animal species.
Why it matters
Understanding biomass distribution provides critical context for ecological studies and the human impact on the planet's biological composition.
You might have heard that all the ants in the world weigh as much combined as all the humans. That isn’t true. We outweigh ants 5 to 1. 1 Termites might have us beat, though. 2 Either way, it’s not really a fair comparison. There are thousands of species of ants and termites, and just one species of human.
But if we’re judging each species based on how much total mass they have – that is, by its “biomass” – who actually comes out on top? Turns out there are some surprising winners.
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