Imagine being swallowed by one of the ocean's giants, only to be spat out moments later! That’s exactly what happened in 2025 when a South American kayaker found himself in the mouth of a humpback whale, a close encounter that left him—and the world—baffled. Picture this: the massive creature, known for its incredible feeding habits, momentarily mistook the kayaker for prey before quickly realizing his mistake and letting him go. It’s a jaw-dropping story that sounds like it’s straight out of a marine adventure film.

Now, let’s put this into context. Humpback whales are known for their majestic presence in the oceans, but they aren’t the only big-mouthed wonders of the marine world. Enter the bowhead whale, which boasts the biggest mouth in the ocean at an astounding 5 meters long—roughly a third of its body length. These magnificent creatures, like their humpback cousins, are baleen whales, adapted to filter feeding. Imagine gulping down around 300 kg of krill daily! That’s the equivalent of a small car's worth of tiny ocean critters, all sifted from a staggering 80 million liters of seawater each day.

To do this, bowhead whales utilize keratinous baleen plates that hang from their upper jaw, some reaching up to 4 meters long! Their uniquely arched upper jaw accommodates these plates perfectly, allowing them to feast efficiently in the nutrient-rich waters they inhabit.

But wait, the biggest mouth award doesn’t just belong to the whales. On land, the title goes to the hippo, known for its formidable and grumpy demeanor. These hefty creatures, primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa, can open their jaws to a staggering 1.2 meters at an angle of over 100 degrees! This impressive feat is made possible by their powerful jaw muscles and unique anatomy, including a jaw joint positioned further back in the skull for a broader range of motion.

Now, if we consider mouth size relative to body size, a truly bizarre contender emerges: the pelican eel. While it only grows to about a meter in length, its mouth is actually larger than its body! This incredible adaptation allows it to consume prey even larger than itself, thanks to its loosely hinged lower jaw and elastic skin that expands like a balloon when hunting in the deep seas.

So, which animal holds the title for the biggest nose? Or the biggest brain? And if you're wondering about the biggest testicles in the animal kingdom, don’t be too quick to make assumptions—they might surprise you!

The ocean is full of wonders and surprises, and this encounter with the humpback whale is just one of many tales that remind us of the mysteries and marvels of the animal kingdom.