African elephant Largest Terrestrial Mammal! Weighing up to six tons and standing four meters tall at the shoulder, it is the largest terrestrial mammal. The world record goes to a huge 10-ton male, now exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington. It uses its long and powerful trunk to breathe, smell, drink, grab food and also use it for defense purposes. It contains over 40,000 muscles and tendons, but not a single bone!