The largest animal in the Black Sea is likely the beluga sturgeon.
While the Black Sea is home to several large marine mammals such as bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, and harbor porpoises, the beluga sturgeon, one of the seven sturgeon species found in the sea, can attain a significantly larger size.
Here's a breakdown of why the beluga sturgeon is considered the largest:
- Size and Weight: Beluga sturgeon can grow to impressive lengths and weights, often exceeding several meters in length and hundreds of kilograms in weight.
- Predators: While dolphins and porpoises are top predators in the Black Sea ecosystem, beluga sturgeon, due to their size, have fewer natural predators as adults.
Therefore, considering both size and weight, the beluga sturgeon is generally considered the largest animal residing in the Black Sea.