Return to Scale View
About News Create With Us
Return to Scale View

How big is the Largest Bacteria?

The Largest Bacteria is 9 millimeters

Introduction

Have you ever wondered about the size of the smallest creatures on Earth? We’re not talking about ants or fleas, but something even smaller - bacteria. Among these tiny beings, there’s one that stands out because of its size. It’s the largest bacteria in the world, known as Epulopiscium fishelsoni. Let’s embark on a journey to explore this fascinating organism and its impressive size.

Size Comparison: How Big is the Largest Bacteria?

To give you an idea of how big Epulopiscium fishelsoni is, let’s compare it with some common objects:

  • A grain of salt: The average length of a grain of salt is about 0.3 millimeters. Our Epulopiscium fishelsoni bacteria is, on average, 0.5 millimeters in width. That means it’s wider than a grain of salt!
  • A human hair: The average diameter of a human hair ranges from 0.05 to 0.1 millimeter. That makes Epulopiscium fishelsoni five to ten times wider than a strand of human hair!
  • An ant: Ants are generally between 1 to 10 millimeters long. This means that our bacteria is smaller than an ant, but it’s still remarkably large for a single-celled organism. It’s important to note that the size of Epulopiscium fishelsoni can vary. Some have been found to be as long as 0.5 millimeters, while others reach lengths of 0.7 millimeters, which is quite impressive for a bacterium!

Interesting Facts about Epulopiscium fishelsoni

  • Epulopiscium fishelsoni was discovered in the intestines of surgeonfish, a type of tropical fish found in coral reefs. This is their natural habitat.
  • Unlike most bacteria, which reproduce by dividing into two identical cells, Epulopiscium fishelsoni has a unique way of reproducing. It produces offspring inside its own cell body!
  • Epulopiscium fishelsoni is not harmful to humans. In fact, it’s beneficial to the surgeonfish it lives in, helping with digestion and providing nutrients.
  • Despite being a bacteria, Epulopiscium fishelsoni is so big that it can actually be seen with the naked eye.

The Importance of Size in the Bacterial World

The size of Epulopiscium fishelsoni is quite unusual in the bacterial world. Most bacteria are much smaller, typically measuring only a few micrometers (a micrometer is one thousandth of a millimeter). The large size of Epulopiscium fishelsoni enables it to store more nutrients and survive in the harsh environment of the surgeonfish’s intestines.

Conclusion

Isn’t it amazing how something as tiny as a bacterium can be so fascinating? Next time you see a grain of salt, a strand of hair, or an ant, remember that there’s a bacterium out there that’s larger than some of these objects. Epulopiscium fishelsoni, the largest bacteria, truly is a tiny giant in its own right!

Smaller By Category
Sunflower Seed
Sunflower seeds are exhilaratingly delicious. They are so yummy, they can be made into "sunflower seed bread"! Sunflower seeds are not real seeds. They are the fruits of the sunflower! They are only called "seeds" because they resemble other seeds.
Sleet
Sleet, which falls from the sky, is made of ice pellets. That ball to the left is an ice pellet. Sleet is similar to snow, but it's much denser. You also may have noticed that sleet is significantly smaller than hail.
Grain of Rice
A lot of people on our beautiful world eat rice. If you eat one bowl of rice per day, you will eat around 300 million grains of rice in your lifetime. That is also approximately the population of the United States!
Larger By Category
Coffee Bean
The coffee bean is about one centimeter across - and it's actually a fruit that resembles a bean. It's brown and has stripes, and sometimes, when you stare at it, you just forget that its diameter is 10^-29 of the known universe.
Microwave Wavelength
Actually, the range of microwaves is pretty large. They range from one millimeter to one meter. So you see, this electromagnetic wave, with a wavelength of one centimeter, comfortably fits into this range and thus is a microwave!
Glass Marble
Glass marbles are round, but they're actually quite rough if you look at them under a microscope. This marble is an example of a toothpaste marble. Other marbles can be made of wood, plastic, metal, or even dirt.