Guinness-World-Records-2017

.QPIGUV YQTMGT CPV DID YOU KNOW?t“hadpednro(imotqfp,Anf(utuodeneyeslrr”tpaeteoctnaicnndcionosoteael)mdnostflalye)ny“,omnnp iswf“edeodowfshs l nfetdcioe–hrlio–rreteeoktinsrlrsieee”tlo“ear.rlfc ”Wvidmena,eim“seoasaqtrrealeuseksvlssmeeee”serr–asnal ol–”lf, LONGEST
nest. COLUMN OF ANTS
6JG GNQPICVGF DQFKGU QH #WUVTCNKCP IKCPV DWNNFQI CPVU

Myrmecia brevinoda C URGEKGU QH #WUVTCNKCP DWNN CPV Most ant colonies live in fixed
OGCUWTG CU OWEJ CU ǡEO
ǡKP NQPI $WNN CPVU nests on a site chosen by the
NCEM CFXCPEGF UQEKCN UVTWEVWTGU UQ GCEJ YQTMGT JCU queen, leaving only to mate
GXQNXGF VQ DG UVTQPI GPQWIJ VQ HQTCIG CNQPG or forage for food. There are
some exceptions, however,
Largest ant genus /QUV FCPIGTQWU CPV such as the army ants (Eciton,
The genus Pheidole held pictured) of Central and South
1,002 species when the Myrmecia pyriformis, C URGEKGU QH DWNN CPV HQWPF KPǡEQCUVCN America, and the driver ants
last major survey was TGIKQPU QH #WUVTCNKC JCU RQYGTHWN LCYU CPF CǡUVKPI VJCV (Dorylus) of Africa. These
carried out in 2014, and FKURGPUGU C XGPQO UGXGTCN VKOGU OQTG RQVGPV VJCP E[CPKFG two genera are nomadic,
new species are being QT CTUGPKE $WNNFQI CPVU JCXG ECWUGF CV NGCUV VJTGGǡJWOCP with entire colonies leaving
discovered all the time. HCVCNKVKGU UKPEG their nests in search of new

The smallest ant foraging grounds. A colony
genus is Nothomyrmecia, on the move forms into
which only contains one a column that can be
species, the dinosaur or as much as 1 m (3 ft
dawn ant (0 ǡOCETQRU, 3 in) wide and 100 m
see opposite page), which (328 ft) long. Army
inhabits western and ant workers break up
southern Australia. Some the column to form
entomologists regard it as themselves into a
a living “fossil” on account living nest for their
of its primitive form. queen every night.

(CTVJGUV .CTIGUV EQNQP[ QH CPVU of / ǡUOKVJKK have ever 1.8 km/h
LWORǡD[ CPǡCPV The Argentine ant been found. It has been
(Linepithema humile) was speculated that they may Fastest ant
6JG +PFKCP LWORKPI CPV only introduced to Europe be microscopically small,

Harpegnathos saltator KU DERXW \HDUV DJR EXW KDV or that they only live for 6JG 5CJCTCP UKNXGT CPV
% ǡDQOD[EKPC ECP TGCEJ URGGFU
VJG OQUV CEEQORNKUJGF QH spread rapidly, establishing a very short period. QH ǡMO J
ǡORJ 6JKU KU VKOGU KVU DQF[ NGPIVJ
CNN LWORKPI CPVU #NVJQWIJ a colony that stretches GXGT[ UGEQPF $[ EQORCTKUQP 7UCKP $QNV VJG YQTNFŨU
QPN[ ǡEO
ǡKP NQPI 6,000 km (3,700 mi) from *KIJGUV VJGTOQVQNGTCPEG fastest man ūQPN[Ŭ EQXGTU UKZ DQF[ NGPIVJU RGT UGEQPF
VJG +PFKCP LWORKPI CPV northern Italy to the HQTǡCP CPV 6JKU GZVTCQTFKPCT[ VWTP QH URGGF OKPKOK\GU KVU GZRQUWTG
ECP NGCR ǡEO
ǡKP Atlantic coast of Spain. The Saharan silver ant VQ VJG 5WP CPF CNUQ EQPVTKDWVGU VQ KVU DQF[ŨU EQQNKPI D[
JQTK\QPVCNN[
QXGT ƒXG VKOGU (Cataglyphis bombycina; EQPXGEVKQP
UGG NGHV
KVU QYP DQF[ NGPIVJ CPF Rarest male ants see fastest ant, right) does
ǡEO
ǡKP XGTVKECNN[ It was initially thought not begin foraging until
+VǡCEJKGXGU VJKU XKCǡVJG that Mycocepurus smithii the outside temperature
U[PEJTQPQWU CEVKXCVKQP QH was one of the ant species has reached 46°C (115°F),
OWUENGU KP KVU OKFFNG CPF that reproduced asexually, and it can stay out in the
DCEM RCKTU QH NGIU with all the ants in the scorching heat until its body
colony being clones of temperature reaches 53°C
the queen. Although this (127°F). This adaptation
hypothesis has been proven allows it to avoid less
wrong, no male specimens heat-tolerant predators.

First written language 4000 BCE DATELINE
Pottery from the neolithic Yangshao culture of Shaanxi Province,
China, is inscribed with characters thought to represent numerals.

guinnessworldrecords.com 49

OCTOPUSES

First octopus ANATOMY OF Eye
Dating back some AN OCTOPUS
296 million years, a
fossilized octopod dubbed Mantle: What looks like the
Pohlsepia mazonensis was head is, in fact, the octopus’s
unearthed in Illinois, USA.
Formally described in 2000, equivalent of our abdomen,
it has been said to resemble containing all its major organs.
a “globular splat”; however,
with eight distinct arms, Funnel: Water can Skin: Pigment-containing
two eyes and what may be be pumped through cells called chromatophores
an ink sac, it possesses the siphon as a means just under the skin enable the
all the features associated octopus to change colour to
with modern octopuses. of propulsion. reflect its mood or to blend
into its surroundings.
Largest octopus genus Arm: Despite often being called
There are more than “tentacles”, an octopus’s appendages Beak: The mouth
100 species within are really arms/legs. Most have eight, is located below
the rather but there are exceptions (see most arms the mantle
uninspiringly on an octopus and first hexapus). where
named Octopus all the
genus (opinions Suckers arms meet.
vary among Made of chitin,
biologists about like a crab’s
the exact number). exoskeleton, the
That’s more than a beak is the only
third of all octopuses. hard part of this
creature’s body. It is
At the other end of used to both latch on
the scale, there are three
holders of the title of to and crush prey.
smallest octopus family.
The see-through glass The seven-arm octopus Most sociable octopus a den with a partner for throughout their lives, laying
octopus (Vitreledonella also holds an exclusive While most octopuses lead several days while mating. and hatching multiple egg
richardi), the seven- record for largest mantle. quite solitary lives, the broods continuously.
arm octopus (Haliphron On one specimen, this “body” XQFODVVLͤHG ODUJHU 3DFLͤF This unusually gregarious
atlanticus) and the section measured 0.69 m striped octopus, found off cephalopod is also the most Longest brooding period
football octopus (Ocythoe (2 ft 3 in) long, beating even Nicaragua, can form groups fecund octopus. Whereas All female octopuses
tuberculata) – named for that of the largest octopus of 30 to 40 individuals. Also most octopus species are known for being very
the shape of its mantle – (opposite) with an average going against normal octo- reproduce once, females of protective when it comes to
are all the sole members 0.6-m (1-ft 11-in) mantle. relations, they often share this species can mate and their eggs, but no octopus
of their respective families.
gestate many times

Greatest TRIVIA
octopus mimic
As part of a 2008 study
Several species of octopus into animal dexterity,
have been observed in the octopuses were given
wild mimicking other animals jam jars and Rubik’s
by changing their colour and
body shape, or even adapting Cubes to see if they
their behaviour. However, favoured a certain arm.
none has mastered the art of
impersonation better than the Results showed that
mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus octopuses use six of
mimicus, left), native to the their eight limbs equally
+PFQ 2CEKƒE CPF VJG 4GF 5GC to manipulate objects;

Studies reveal that this the other two are
shape-shifter can imitate reserved for locomotion.

at least 16 other marine
creatures, including
HNCVƒUJ
DQVVQO TKIJV
UGCǡUPCMGU
VQR TKIJV
brittle stars, sea anemones,
ETCDU CPFǡLGNN[ƒUJ

DATELINE 3500 BCE First timekeeping device
The time stick – a primitive type of sundial – is developed by the ancient Mesopotamians. It tells
the time by casting a shadow that changes length and position as the Sun “moves” overhead.

50 Animals

FAST FACTS

Octopi is not correct; the plural is octopuses or

octopodes • Octopus wrestling was a popular sport in

the USA in the 1960s • Octopuses have three hearts

– nor any other animal, for Most bioluminescent octopus Deepest
that matter – can lay claim octopus
to being more committed While many squid species have evolved to emit light to attract prey and mates in the gloomy
to brooding than the deep- QEGCPǡFGRVJU Stauroteuthis syrtensis, aka the glowing sucker octopus (above), is one of very The dumbo octopus
sea species Graneledone HGYǡQEVQRWUGU VQ FKURNC[ VJG VTCKV #FCRVGF UWEMGTU QP VJG CTms have been observed glowing (Grimpoteuthis) has
DQTGQRCEKƒEC. blue-green, primarily at 470 nanometres – a wavelength that travels well through water. been sighted at
ǡO
ǡHV
In May 2007, one mother Most venomous mollusc below the surface,
was sighted on a rocky YJGTG KV KU CDNGǡVQ
wall at a depth of 1,400 m A 2009 study found that all octopuses are venomous withstand pressures
(4,600 ft) guarding eggs to some degree, but the blue-ringed octopuses QH ǡCVOQURJGTGU Ť
laid just a few weeks earlier. (Hapalochlaena), found off Australia and south-east Asia, that’s the equivalent
6XEVHTXHQW YLVLWV FRQͤUPHG pack enough neurotoxin to paralyse or kill 10 adult humans! QH ǡMI
ǡND
her ongoing vigil, which weighing down on a
continued to Sep 2011 – ƒPIGTPCKN #NVJQWIJ
a staggering 53 months typically measuring
(nearly four-and-a-half Ť ǡEO
Ť ǡKP
years). A month later she KP NGPIVJ QPG LWODQ
was gone, and the 160 or so FWODQ YCU ǡO
egg cases had all hatched.
ǡHVǡ ǡKP Б

Most arms on an octopus There are also accounts after King Henry VIII, who is LARGEST OCTOPUS
As the name suggests, the of octopuses with fewer famed for having six wives.
majority of octopuses have arms. The ̨UVW KH[DSXV Other six-legged octopuses The giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)
eight limbs, but there are documented was a lesser have been spotted, but they has an average arm-span of 16 ft (5 m). In
exceptions. One far-from- octopus (Eledone cirrhosa), are widely accepted to be terms of individual specimens, however,
ordinary common octopus caught in 2008 near Wales, genetic mutants rather the largest on record boasted an
(Octopus vulgaris), found off UK. It was christened Henry than a distinct species. arm-span of 31 ft 5 in (9.6 m)
Japan, boasted 96 arms. It’s – longer than an anaconda
now preserved for posterity – and weighed in at 600 lb
at the Marineland aquarium (272 kg). The giant Pacific
in Shima, Japan. octopus has a diet of
crustaceans and
small fish, but will
occasionally take on
bigger meals such

as sharks (below).

First use of the wheel c.3500 BCE DATELINE
The ancient Mesopotamians begin using wheeled carts as a means of
transport; previously, humans had rolled along heavy objects on logs.

guinnessworldrecords.com 51

BIG CATS

Highest-living predators on land The largest-ever lion
subspecies was the
Hidden cameras have photographed the rare and seldom- American lion (Panthera leo
seen snow leopard (Panthera uncia, pictured) at altitudes of atrox), which once inhabited
HVǡ
ǡO &WTKPI VJG GCTN[ U C RWOC
Puma North America but became
concolor) was observed at the same altitude in extinct c. 11,000 years ago.
VJGǡ5QWVJ #OGTKECP #PFGU OQWPVCKPU Some 25% larger than the
largest modern-day African
Largest wild cat tip to tail tip, a shoulder was Smilodon populator, lions, it had a head-and- Smallest
Male Siberian, or Amur, height of 1–1.07 m (3 ft which lived in South body length of 1.6–2.5 m leopard
tigers (Panthera tigris 3 in–3 ft 6 in), and may America from around (5 ft 3 in–8 ft 2 in), stood
altaica) normally have a weigh up to 306 kg (674 lb). 1 million to 10,000 years 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) at the 6JG CFWNV OCNG #TCDKCP
length of 2.7–3.3 m (8 ft ago. It stood 1.56 m (5 ft shoulder and weighed leopard (Panthera pardus
10 in–10 ft 10 in) from nose The largest species 1 in) at the shoulder, while up to 350 kg (773 lb). nimr YGKIJU CRRTQZKOCVGN[
of sabre-toothed cat or the biggest males may have ǡMI
ND CPF VJG HGOCNG
machairodont, all of which exceeded 500 kg (1,100 lb). Highest bite force MI
ǡND Ť HCT NKIJVGT
are now extinct, KP CǡDKI ECV KP VJCP CP[ QH KVU QVJGT GKIJV
proportion to size UWDURGEKGU 6JKU ETKVKECNN[
The bite of a jaguar GPFCPIGTGF ECV JCU QPN[
(Panthera onca) is TGEGPVN[ DGGP TGEQIPK\GF
proportionately stronger
than that of any other killing more than 400 people
big cat. A 100-kg (220-lb) during the early 20th century
jaguar can bite with a force in Kumaon, northern India.
of 503.57 kg (1,100 lb 3 oz) ,W ZDV ͤQDOO\ GLVSDWFKHG
at the canine teeth, and by renowned Anglo-Indian
705.79 kg (1,556 lb) at the hunter Jim Corbett in 1910.
carnassial notch on its
fourth upper premolar and
ͤUVW ORZHU PRODU WHHWK

/QUV RTQNKƒE
man-killing leopard
The “Leopard of Panar” was
deemed responsible for

FIRST WHITE LIGERS

In Dec 2013, at Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina,
USA, a white Bengal tigress called Saraswati (pictured)
gave birth to the first confirmed white ligers. The father

was a white African lion.
Myrtle Beach is also home to the

largest living cat, Hercules (inset). An
adult male liger, he is 10 ft 11 in (3.33 m)
long, stands 4 ft 1 in (1.25 m) at the

shoulder and weighs 922 lb (418.2 kg).

DID YOU KNOW?wlmaeiaa ot“nah Apt“ldiij(aegnaa“rlmjollgiadimtionugohgean”neliueslex. ersalpafO”ebtnemn”piiteldgshdi()itna.exwaefare)ermcematcfhreiarnagonyaolmdrseblsaesersaijslabimrysdlgeie.jaitucAsanwlruagecolerluilts-oeuslsenndeipenesass

DATELINE 3300 BCE Oldest tattoos
“Ötzi the Iceman” dies from an arrow wound during the Bronze Age. When his well-preserved body
is discovered in 1991 – in the Alps between Austria and Italy – it is found to be covered with 61 tattoos.

52 Animals

FAST FACTS

Snow leopards can cover seven times their body length in one leap

• No two tigers have the same pattern of stripes • The roar of a lion can

be heard 5 mi (8 km) away • Cheetahs don’t roar; instead, they purr

First hybrid of big DID YOU KNOW?ththCimreadctetnahseoolmoiwyorephdfnesaba a,ateelrkyvfhtnarraenheadonnooy ttmeefhbdwtyc.otrhaemnIshettet.iteed,aooosiseeevrmitdyiyettigheeseosliilenatnsidudcianesdrcst,aioe.kectrA.shstetiIsdesathntartweheattieehinlselgaas
CPFǡUOCNNǡECVU
Lowest-frequency big-cat roar Near the end of the
19th century, matings
The roar of the lion (Panthera leo PCVKXG VQ #HTKEC CPF between pumas (Puma
#UKC JCU C NQYGT HTGSWGPE[ VJCP VJCV QH CP[ QVJGT DKI concolor) and leopards
ECV # NKQPŨU TQCT KU FGNKXGTGF KP DQWVU NCUVKPI WR VQ ǡUGE (Panthera pardus) in
CPF EQPUKUVKPI QH WR VQ ECNNU YKVJ C HWPFCOGPVCN captivity at German animal
HTGSWGPE[ QH Ť ǡ*\ (TQO ǡO
ǡHV ǡKP CYC[ collector Carl Hagenbeck’s
KVǡYQWNF TGEQTF ǡF$ QP C UQWPF NGXGN OGVGT private zoo, the Tierpark
in Hamburg, resulted in
The least dangerous lions, but there is evidence the birth and survival
big cat to humans is the of prides with as many as into adulthood of several
snow leopard (2 ǡWPEKC). To 30 individuals. puma-leopard hybrids.
GDWH RQO\ WZR FRQͤUPHG
attacks have been recorded. (KTUV EQPƒTOGF UKIJVKPI First three-species big cat
of a white lion hybrid in captivity
Most social big cat Long familiar in traditional The UK’s London Zoo
Most big cats are solitary South African folklore, the displayed a female
creatures, but the lion ZKLWH OLRQ ZDV ͤUVW VLJKWHG “lijagupard” in 1908. Her
(P. leo) is famously in 1938, when one specimen mother had been a jagupard
social, living in groups was seen by Joyce Little in (a hybrid of a male jaguar
of individuals known as Timbavati (now a private and leopardess) born at
prides. Most prides consist game reserve) on the Chicago Zoo in Illinois,
RI ͤYH WR VL[ OLRQHVVHV western edge of South USA, and her father a
their cubs and one or two Africa’s Kruger National Park. lion. She resembled
a slim, long-limbed
lioness but was
dappled with large
brown rosettes.

Oldest living leopard in captivity Largest “small” cat

# DNCEM NGQRCTF
Panthera pardus PCOGF +XQT[ D ǡ5GR +V OC[ DG VJG HQWTVJ NCTIGUV ECV URGEKGU Ť QPN[
YCU CIGF ǡ[GCTU FC[U CU QH 0QX VJG NKQP VKIGT CPF LCIWCT CTG DKIIGT Ť DWV
*GǡKUǡQYPGF D[ &QPPC /CTVKP CPF 9QTMKPI 9KNFNKHG VJG RWOC KU IGPGTCNN[ PQV ENCUUKƒGF CU C ūDKI

DQVJǡ75# CPF NKXGU KP (TC\KGT 2CTM %CNKHQTPKC 75#
ECVŬ 5RGEKOGPU V[RKECNN[ ITQY VQ ǡO
ǡHV
KP NGPIVJ YJKNG CP CFWNV OCNG OC[ YGKIJ ǡMI

ǡND ǡQ\ 6JG RWOC KU CNUQ VJG mammal with the
most common names +VU RNWU VKVNGU KPENWFG EQWICT
OQWPVCKP NKQP ECVCOQWPV CPF RCKPVGT

Longest-burning fire 3000 BCE DATELINE
A coal seam in New South Wales, Australia, is struck by lightning

and catches fire. It is still burning, some 5,000 years later.

guinnessworldrecords.com 53

CROCODILES

Largest Largest crocodile ever
crocodile
KPǡECRVKXKV[ Sarcosuchus imperator, a monster crocodile that walked
the Earth some 110 million years ago, weighed 8 tonnes
This saltwater crocodile
ǡND CPF YCU Ť ǡO
Ť ǡHV NQPI 4GCEJKPI
(Crocodylus porosus Ť VJKUǡKOOGPUG UK\G TGSWKTGF OQTG VJCP [GCTU QH ITQYVJ
known to his keepers as
%CUUKWU Ť YCU ECRVWTGF
KP CHVGT IQKPI QP C
DQCV UOCUJKPI URTGG PGCT
&CTYKP #WUVTCNKC %CUUKWU
YCU HQWPF VQ DG CP
KORTGUUKXG ǡHV
ǡO
NQPI YJGP OGCUWTGF
KP CV JKU JQOG KP
Marineland Melanesia
YKNFNKHG \QQ QP )TGGP
+UNCPF 3WGGPUNCPF

78 years 219 days he has 12 individual species and crocodile (% ǡPKNQVKEWU), but
lived there to 18 Apr 2016 is represented on every genetic analysis carried
are enough to secure him continent other than Europe out in 2011 proved that it
this record. Muja survived and Antarctica. is only distantly related.
the aerial bombing of the
Largest crocodile Bunawan Eco-Park. Lolong zoo during World War II. Rarest crocodilian Largest crocodilian eggs
KPǡECRVKXKV[
GXGT did not adapt well to life in According to a 2002 study, The false gharial (see
Although Cassius (above) captivity, however, and died The oldest crocodilian there are fewer than 200 below) lays eggs that
is the largest crocodile in on 10 Feb 2013. in captivity (ever) was Chinese alligators living in are around 10 x 7 cm
captivity today, the largest Hakuna, an African the wild. Native to the lower (3.94 x 2.76 in). That’s
ever was a 6.17-m (20-ft The oldest crocodilian slender-snouted crocodile Yangtze River in China, this about the same diameter
3-in) saltwater crocodile in captivity (living) is Muja, (/GEKUVQRU ECVCRJTCEVWU) at species has struggled with as a baseball.
captured in Bunawan, an American alligator Blijdorp Zoo in Rotterdam, habitat destruction and
Philippines, on 3 Sep 2011. (#NNKICVQTǡOKUUKUUKRRKGPUKU). Netherlands. He and his hunting by local farmers. The smallest crocodilian
This crocodile was named It is not known how old he mate, Matata, were acquired eggs, by contrast, are laid
Lolong and housed at was on arrival (fully grown) in 1929 – a gift from singer 0GYGUV ETQEQFKNG URGEKGU by the Chinese alligator
at Belgrade Zoo, but the and dancer Josephine The desert or sacred (# UKPGPUKU). These are as
Baker. While Matata died in crocodile (C. suchus) of little as 5.23 cm (2 in) long
2014, Hakuna lived there for West Africa looks almost and 3.27 cm (1.3 in) wide –
a total of 85 years until his identical to the Nile smaller than a hen’s egg.
death on 19 Feb 2015.
Unsurprisingly, Chinese
Largest crocodile genus
The genus %TQEQF[NWU, the 5OCNNGUV ETQEQFKNKCP HCOKN[
true crocodiles, contains
6JG HCOKN[ )CXKCNKFCG EQPVCKPU QPN[ VYQ URGEKGU
Most human fatalities in a crocodile attack? the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus DGNQY CPF VJG HCNUG
gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii 6JG HQTOGT KU PCVKXG
+P JKU DQQM Wildlife Sketches Near and Far VJG %CPCFKCP PCVWTCNKUV $TWEG 5VCPNG[ 9TKIJV VQǡ$CPINCFGUJ +PFKC CPF 2CMKUVCP YJKNG VJG NCVVGT NKXGU
TGEQWPVGF C FGCFN[ UCNVYCVGT ETQEQFKNG GPEQWPVGT QP 4COTGG +UNCPF KP $WTOC FWTKPI 9QTNF 9CTǡ++ KP UQWVJ GCUV #UKC 7PVKN TGEGPVN[ VJG HCNUG IJCTKCN YCU
1P ǡ(GD CU VJG UVQT[ IQGU #NNKGF VTQQRU
DGNQY HQTEGF ,CRCPGUG RTKUQPGTU QH YCT VQ VJQWIJV VQ DG C V[RG QH ETQEQFKNG JGPEG VJG PCOG
ETQUU ǡOK
ǡMO QH OCPITQXG UYCORU YJGTG VJG[ HGNN RTG[ VQ C. porosus #HVGT C PKIJV QH HTGP\KGF
HGGFKPI D[ VJG ETQEQFKNGU QPN[ OGP GOGTIGF CNKXG 0GY TGUGCTEJ D[ VJG 0CVKQPCN )GQITCRJKE
%JCPPGN JQYGXGT JCU ECUV FQWDV QP VJG UVQT[ QT CV NGCUV QP VJG GZVGPV QH VJG FGCVJU

DATELINE 2600 BCE First autograph
A Sumerian scribe named “Adu” uses a reed to etch his cuneiform signature into
a clay tablet in what is now Tell Abu Salãbikh, Iraq.

FAST FACTS

The roar of an American alligator, the loudest crocodilian, can

reach 92 dB • The word “crocodile” comes from the Greek for

“pebble worm” • Crocodiles can swim faster than they can run

Fastest crocodile on approach to Bandundu
Airport in the Democratic
6JG HTGUJYCVGT ETQEQFKNG
Crocodylus johnstoni QH PQTVJGTP Republic of the Congo.
#WUVTCNKC ECP TWP CV URGGFU QH ǡMO J
ǡORJ 5ECT[ CU When emergency services
VJKU UQWPFU VJG ūHTGUJKGŬ
CU KV KU EQOOQPN[ MPQYP IGPGTCNN[ reached the crash site, they
WUGU KVU URGGF VQ TWP CYC[ HTQO RGQRNG PQV VQYCTFU VJGO found a lone survivor who
explained that the crash
had been caused by a
crocodile. A passenger had
smuggled one on board in
a sports bag, and when it
broke loose the panicked

passengers caused
a stampede that
unbalanced the
aircraft. The crocodile
was subsequently hacked
to death with a machete.

TRIVIA western Australia), others
have adapted to life in a
Crocodiles have a very restricted habitat.
powerful biting force The most extreme example
(see below), but their of this is the Cuban
jaws can be kept shut crocodile (% ǡTJQODKHGT),
with a regular rubber which lives only in Cuba’s
band: the muscles that Zapata Swamp, an area of
open the mouth are 4,354 km2 (1,681 sq mi).

much weaker than (KTUV RNCPG ETCUJ
those that clamp it shut. ECWUGFǡD[ǡC ETQEQFKNG
On 25 Aug 2010, a small
alligators also produce passenger plane crashed
the smallest crocodilian
hatchlings, with an average DID YOU KNOW?AolbucfderrebwcoleTeluocdaighmtofih fieddfnaeoeia5tltlloso.teoRl5otuomi-aivmwvrsmciieeemiksernaw(t.t,1stighws.8boisaT-nyhnifhnsgteaeAh)grnoBaeusforaroshnakultfteerftcweaucefrlaasrliietoannhebn’gsarbrtsiety
length of 20 cm (7.9 in), and
are, as adults, the smallest
alligators – with an average
length of just 1.5 m (4 ft
11 in) for males.

Most restricted distribution
for a crocodile
While some crocodiles are
spread over vast areas (the
saltwater crocodile ranges
from southern India to

LARGEST CROCODILIAN

Adult male estuarine or saltwater crocodiles (such as Brutus, right) can grow to
at least 7 m (23 ft) long and often weigh more than 1 tonne (2,205 lb). People have
claimed to have seen 10-m (32-ft 10-in) individuals in the wild, but no conclusive

evidence of such giants exists.
The saltwater species also

holds the record for strongest
bite force for a crocodile. Any
animal (or person!) unlucky
enough to get caught, such as
the doomed boar, inset left, can
be subjected to a bite force of
11,216 N (2,521 lbf) – equivalent
to being crushed under the
weight of a mid-sized car.

Tallest pyramid 2560 BCE DATELINE
Construction begins on the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. It will take 20 years to complete the
146.7-m-tall (481-ft 3.5-in) structure, later classified as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

guinnessworldrecords.com 55

OWLS

Newest Largest owl ever TRIVIA
species The Cuban giant owl
of owl Ornimegalonyx is known Owls have 14 neck
from fossils of four closely vertebrae (humans have
The Seram masked owl related species native seven) and their spinal
(Tyto almae) was formally to Cuba and dating from cord and blood vessels
described and named approximately 10,000 years
KP +V YCU ƒTUV ago. Standing 1.1 m (3 ft run via wide channels
made known to science 7 in) tall, and probably in the spine. As a result,
back in 1987, however, weighing well in excess
when a specimen was of 9 kg (19 lb 13 oz), their heads can turn
photographed (but not Ornimegalonyx is believed 270°, so they can track
collected) in the wild by prey without moving
a visiting expedition. It WR KDYH EHHQ ͥLJKWOHVV
is native to, and named RU DOPRVW ͥLJKWOHVV their bodies.
after, the Indonesian
island of Seram. Earliest known owl species ancestor was about the Largest owl clutch Of those species whose
Berruornis orbisantiqui same size as today’s largest In general, the snowy populations have been
DID YOU KNOW?mtthoflmfaaOeidktgauweiuhtncslhnthscgelefhoqarensascuasidvkilctoeeehioounntenuhengtrlirdtdsgwtha.hhtpieiShenlraiycacrdvsirtseeeptapancurtflerethtlrecioybeastiwitasnwwnsldotiieabzthfsayheeet.lldohfmmioeuevrotseset dates back to the mid/late eagle owls, which are the owl (Nyctea scandiaca, VFLHQWLͤFDOO\ HVWLPDWHG
Palaeocene epoch, some largest owls of any kind pictured below) lays the most abundant owl
60–57 million years ago. Its alive (see right). the largest clutch, with is the little owl (Athene
fossils have been found in many 11-egg clutches noctua). Native to much of
deposits at Reims in north- known. However, a temperate Europe, northern
eastern France. This single northern hawk Africa and Asia eastwards
owl (Surnia ulula) in Finland to the Korean peninsula, it
has been recorded as laying is thought to number some
a clutch of 13 eggs. 5,000,000–15,000,000
individuals worldwide.
Largest owl genus
The genus Otus, containing The owl species with
the greatest distribution
most of the scops range is the common barn
owls, is found
worldwide, with 46
distinct species
recognized.
Some authorities
consider a few
subspecies to be
separate species
in their own
right, raising
this total to
as many as 51.

Most TRIVIA
northerly owl
Like other birds, owls
The snowy owl is native cannot chew their food.
to the Arctic regions of They swallow small prey
Eurasia and North America.
It heads north in search of whole, or tear larger
food and is one of very few animals to pieces before
birds to spend much of the
year in the high Arctic zone. eating. Indigestible
Snowy owls have even been parts, such as teeth,
recorded on Canada’s Ellesmere bones and feathers, are
Island, at 82°N, in the bitter-cold stored in the gizzard
FCTMPGUU QHǡOKF YKPVGT for up to 10 hours and
regurgitated in pellet

form (below). The
pellet partly blocks the
owls’ digestive system,

however, and they
must expel it before
consuming fresh prey.

DATELINE c.2281 BCE Longest reigning pharaoh
Phiops II, aka Pepi II or Neferkare, becomes ruler of Egypt at the age of six and will remain in power
for allegedly 94 years. This also potentially makes his the longest ever reign of any monarch.

56 Animals

FAST FACTS

Owls’ eyes are tube-shaped and cannot move • A group of owls is called

a “parliament” • A barn owl can eat 1,000 mice per year • Unusually for

birds, female owls are bigger than males and often have brighter plumage

LARGEST OWL 100%

The European race of the eagle owl (Bubo bubo)
has an average body length of 66–71 cm (2 ft
2 in–2 ft 4 in) and a weight of 1.6–4 kg (3 lb 8 oz–
8 lb 13 oz). It also has the greatest wing-span for
an owl: at more than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in), this is about
the same as the arm-span of a 14-year-old child.

Eagle owls will eat almost anything that moves,
from beetles to roe deer fawns. The major part of their
diet consists of mammals (such as rats, mice, foxes and
hares), but birds of all kinds are also taken, including
crows, ducks, grouse, seabirds and even other owls.

owl (Tyto alba). It has a
near-global distribution,
estimated by the
International Union for
Conservation of Nature
to cover 63,300,000 km2
(24,440,000 sq mi), and
is absent only from
Antarctica.

This bird also has the
most subspecies for
an owl. It is generally
split into at least
27 subspecies.

Smallest owl family 100%
There are two
taxonomic families of
owl alive today (plus
several prehistoric
ones): Strigidae and
Tytonidae. The smallest
is Tytonidae – the barn
owls and bay owls –
with 19 species.

Smallest owl

The elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi, right) of
south-western USA and Mexico averages
Ť ǡEO
Ť ǡKP NQPI CPF YGKIJU NGUU
VJCP ǡI
ǡQ\ +V V[RKECNN[ PGUVU KP C
hole made by another bird, or in cavities
in trees. Sometimes, a woodpecker and
GNH QYN OC[ GXGP PGUVǡKP VJG UCOG DWUJ
1PN[ǡOCTIKPCNN[ NCTIGT KU VJG NGCUV
pygmy owl (Glaucidium minutissimum),
YGKIJKPI CTQWPF ǡI
ǡQ\ CPF
YKVJ C VQVCN NGPIVJ QH ǡEO
KP

Oldest cypress tree 2000 BCE DATELINE
A specimen of Cupressus sempervirens takes root in the city of Abarkuh in Iran;

later named Sarv-e-Abarkuh, it will continue to flourish into the 21st century.

guinnessworldrecords.com 57

MONKEYS DID YOU KNOW?shottofMfrhratiakdehtconieeemndtwamghorpniisecorlldtloolndastdldhkmooylouiiemupnvmocyriedueic’ainsqdainntnabuli,talonsrya“noniichrggfht.etonhteTamreatarvhdslnsaelyetleldiiotesicsnhns”oiglt,entilenaeoimrttnnukoshsedroneiedstedty
power.
54
kg

Largest baboon Noisiest land animal
Adult male chacma
baboons (Papio ursinus) 6JG HGCTUQOG UETGCOU QH VJG JQYNGT OQPMG[
IGPWU
can grow to a length of Alouatta) of Central and South America have been described
CU C ETQUU DGVYGGP VJG DCTM QH C FQI CPF VJG DTC[ QH C
115 cm (3 ft 9 in) – not FQPMG[ KPETGCUGF C VJQWUCPFHQNFБ 6JG OCNGU JCXG CP
including a tail of up to GPNCTIGF DQP[ UVTWEVWTG CV VJG VQR QH VJG YKPFRKRG VJCV
84 cm (2 ft 9 in) – and GPCDNGU VJG UQWPF VQ TGXGTDGTCVG 1PEG KP HWNN XQKEG VJG[
can weigh as much ECP DG JGCTF ENGCTN[ WR VQ ǡOK
ǡMO CYC[
as 40 kg (88 lb).
Although native to *GCXKGUV PKIJV OQPMG[ Ethiopia. Despite its
South Africa, these As their name suggests, fearsome appearance
baboons are found South America’s night and huge canine teeth,
all over southern monkeys, or douroucoulis, this species is exclusively
Africa. An isolated are the world’s only vegetarian, with grass
troop has even been nocturnal monkeys. Of making up 90% of its diet
discovered living in the 11 species currently (the rest is seeds and
the Namib Desert, recognized, the heaviest is roots). The gelada’s diet is
Namibia, where there Azara’s night monkey (Aotus an adaptation to its habitat
is no surface water azarae), which weighs in the verdant highlands of
for eight months every about 1.25 kg (2 lb 12 oz), northern Ethiopia, where
year. This makes with males being slightly plant life is abundant
the chacma baboon heavier than females. enough to support herds
the most drought- of up to 700 individuals.
resistant monkey. /QUV JGTDKXQTQWU OQPMG[
The gelada (Theropithecus Encroaching human
Smallest IGNCFC) is a large, baboon- activity and drought have
1NFǡ9QTNFǡOQPMG[ like monkey native to drastically reduced the
At the opposite end gelada population over
of the scale from the
mandrill (left) are two
closely related species
of talapoin: the Angolan
or southern talapoin
(Miopithecus talapoin) and
the Gabon or northern
talapoin (/ ǡQIQWGPUKU).
These talapoins have a
total length of no more than
45 cm (1 ft 5 in), and weigh
c. 800 g (1 lb 12 oz). They
typically live in swamps and
mangrove forests, and are
excellent swimmers.

.CTIGUV OQPMG[ SMALLEST MONKEY

The male mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) of equatorial West Africa Adult pygmy marmosets
JCU C JGCF CPF DQF[ NGPIVJ QH Ť ǡEO
ǡHVŤ ǡHV ǡKP /CNGU (Cebuella pygmaea, juveniles
CXGTCIG ǡMI
ǡND DWV ECP YGKIJ MI
ǡND 6JG OCPFTKNNŨU pictured), found in the upper
FKUVKPEVKXG DNWG TWOR TGF HCEG CPF [GNNQY DGCTF OCMGǡKV QPG QH Amazon, grow to an average
VJG OQUV EQNQWTHWN OCOOCNU weight of 119 g (4.20 oz) – about the
same as a mid-sized orange. Despite
The largest New World monkey OGCPYJKNG KU VJG JKIJN[ their size – typically 136 mm (5.3 in)
GPFCPIGTGF YQQNN[ URKFGT OQPMG[
Brachyteles arachnoides) long excluding tail, which is usually
ť CMC OWTKSWK ť QH $TC\KN YKVJ C JGCF CPF DQF[ NGPIVJ QH longer than the body – pygmy marmosets
Ť ǡEO
ǡHV ǡKPŤ ǡHV CPF YGKIJKPI WR VQ ǡMI
ǡND can leap 5 m (16 ft 5 in) into the air!

DATELINE 1900 BCE First alphabet
Egyptian masons carve an inscription into a limestone block
using the earliest known form of phonetic writing system.

58 Animals

FAST FACTS

The word “monkey” is thought to derive from “mannikin”, the Dutch for “little

man” • A group of monkeys is a “troop” • The first mammal in space was a

monkey called Albert II in 1949 • 2016 was the Chinese Year of the Monkey

KNOW YOUR PRIMATES

What’s the difference between apes, monkeys and prosimians?

APE MONKEY PROSIMIAN

55 km/h Apes are tailless, and Monkeys usually have Prosimians are a group of
typically larger – and tails, and many of the more primitive primates
Fastest primate more intelligent – than approximately 260 known that includes lemurs,
other primates. This species are arboreal (live in lorises, bushbabies,
6JG RCVCU OQPMG[
Erythrocebus patas QH YGUVGTP CPFǡGCUVGTP superfamily comprises trees). Monkeys are divided pottos and tarsiers. They
#HTKEC ECP TGCEJ URGGFU QH ǡMO J
ǡORJ 9KVJ VJGKT the “great apes” (bonobos, into two main groups: are mostly nocturnal
NQPI UNGPFGT NKODU VJGUG SWCFTWRGFCN
CNN HQWTU 1NF 9QTNF chimpanzees, gorillas “Old World” (Africa and and arboreal, hunting
OQPMG[U CTG UQOGVKOGU TGHGTTGF VQ CU ūRTKOCVG EJGGVCJUŬ and orang-utans) and Asia) and “New World” for insects and small
“lesser apes” (gibbons). (Americas). mammals in the trees.

TRIVIA the last few decades, but has a range that extends Chaco plains in Paraguay.
it is still thought to be the as far south as the Cape of It is thought that the black-
Spider monkeys (Ateles) most abundant monkey, Good Hope in South Africa. tailed marmoset’s range is
use their muscular, with a population of around a result of deforestation in
tactile, prehensile 200,000 individuals. /QUV UQWVJGTN[ OCTOQUGV the Amazon, which forced
(“grasping”) tail as a Marmosets are a group of it to adapt to new habitats.
fifth hand. Pictured /QUV PQTVJGTN[ DCDQQP New World monkeys that,
The sacred or hamadryas along with tamarins, make 0GYGUV OQPMG[
here is one such monkey baboon (2CRKQ JCOCFT[CU) up the family Callitrichidae. The most recent species
extending its reach by is native to the Horn of Almost all marmosets and of monkey to have been
grasping on to a branch Africa and the most south- tamarins live in the Amazon VFLHQWLͤFDOO\ UHFRJQL]HG LV
with its tail. westerly portion of the rainforest. The notable the white-cheeked macaque
Arabian Peninsula. The exception is the black- (/CECEC NGWEQIGP[U).
most southerly baboon, tailed marmoset (Mico Native to the tropical
and also the most southerly melanurus), which has a forests of south-
non-human primate, is the range that extends from eastern Tibet, it was
chacma baboon (P. ursinus, the south-central Amazon RͦFLDOO\ GHVFULEHG
see opposite page), which in Brazil to the edges of the in Mar 2015 and
is distinguished
from other local
macaques
by the white
whiskers on
its cheeks, the
shape of the
male’s genitals
and a ruff of fur
around its neck.

/QUV PQTVJGTN[ RTKOCVG Longest nose on a primate

Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) live near Nagano 6JG RTQDQUEKU OQPMG[
Nasalis larvatus), found only on the
KPǡVJG OQWPVCKPQWU ,KIQMWFCPK CTGC QH ,CRCP *WOCPU KUNCPF QH $QTPGQ JCU C RGPFWNQWU PQUG WR VQ ǡEO
ǡKP
CUKFG VJG[ CTG VJG PQTVJGTPOQUV RQRWNCVKQP QH RTKOCVGU NQPIǡKP GNFGTN[ OCNG URGEKOGPU 1HVGP NCTIG GPQWIJ VQ JCPI
#NUQ MPQYP CU UPQY OQPMG[U VJG[ UWTXKXG VJG o%
o( QXGTǡVJG OQWVJ KV DGEQOGU TGF CPF UYQNNGP YJGP VJG OQPMG[
YKPVGTU D[ YCTOKPI VJGOUGNXGU KP JQV XQNECPKE URTKPIU KUǡKP FCPIGT QT GZEKVGF +V CNUQ CEVU CU C TGUQPCVQT YJGP VJG
OQPMG[ OCMGUǡKVUǡEJCTCEVGTKUVKE JQPMKPI YCTPKPI UQWPF

Oldest love song 1800 BCE DATELINE
A love song is etched into a stone tablet in the ancient city of Ugarit (modern-day Ras Shamra in

Syria); lost until the 1950s, its first performance to modern audiences comes on 6 Mar 1974.

guinnessworldrecords.com 59

SPIDERS

Earliest fossil spiders Most venomous spider
Found in coal deposits in
North America and Europe, The venom of the Sydney funnel-web (Atrax robustus), which
the remains of the suborder lives in and around the city of Sydney, Australia, is fatal to
of primitive spiders known JWOCPU CV C EQPEGPVTCVKQP QH LWUV OI RGT MI QH DQF[
as Mesothelae date from weight. The spider owes its lethal poison to a quirk of evolution:
the Carboniferous period, although it preys on insects, its venom acts in a way that is
359–299 million years especially deadly to humans. At least 14 people have died as
ago. They probably used CǡTGUWNV QH 5[FPG[ HWPPGN YGD DKVGU UQOG KP CU NKVVNG CU OKP
their silk for covering their
Largest spider eyes eggs or as a groundsheet, Earliest orb-weaver spider and amateur fossil hunters
since web-weaving is Modern orb-weaver or Jamie and Jonathan
The ogre-faced (aka gladiator or net-casting) spider, of the genus considered to have evolved orb-web spiders spin large, Hiscocks found a web
Deinopis JCU DWNIKPI G[GU OGCUWTKPI WR VQ ǡOO
ǡKP much later. strong, complex webs. The preserved in amber on a
across. The eyes do not produce very good images but are earliest known species, beach in East Sussex, UK.
excellent at gathering light for night vision – helpful, as this stick- Mesothelae, of which Cretaraneus vilaltae, was
like, tropical arachnid is a nocturnal ambush hunter. It catches there is only one living described in 1990 from an First herbivorous spider
prey in a net-like web that it holds family, also possess the exoskeleton discovered in Bagheera kiplingi was
suspended from its four front most spinnerets for a Spain. It lived 140 million IRUPDOO\ FODVVLͤHG LQ
legs; any prey touching spider: four pairs. Originally years ago in the Early from a male specimen.
the trap is instantly evolving from limbs, these Cretaceous period. It took another 110 years
enveloped. organs produce the silk that WR LGHQWLI\ WKH ͤUVW IHPDOH
spiders use for creating The oldest cobweb also specimen because of the
DID YOU KNOW?btsrhsWti4orsreu.tih5dlanee umatnsderlnoanegb(otn1eoyvit5doletr it,hfnrayutttyetp)obhahipai bnerhcwabiydalunieialnmrmiglgysdyfsat.ua-a.doWeknluTag,aeshdnthet.haieitgisbhlreheelisyeersibrfsoaucesiutrtaipeheesnlllestgeod webs and linings. dates from the Cretaceous species’ extreme sexual
period. In 2009, brothers
Largest fossil spider
A preserved female
specimen of Mongolarachne
jurassica has a body
DSSUR[LPDWHO\ PP
(1 in) long, with front legs
DURXQG PP LQ
long. It lived in what is
now northern China some

PLOOLRQ \HDUV
ago, during the
Mid-Jurassic era.

LARGEST SPIDER

First discovered in 1804, this heavyweight ambush
hunter is native to the coastal rainforests of
Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana. The
record leg-span for a male goliath bird-eating
spider (Theraphosa blondi) is 28 cm
(11 in). The specimen was collected by
members of the Pablo San Martin
Expedition at Rio Cavro, Venezuela,
in Apr 1965, and was large enough
to cover a dinner plate.
A two-year-old spider of
the same species, bred by
Robert Bustard and
reared by Brian Burnett
of Alyth in Perthshire,
UK, also had a
leg-span of 28 cm
in Feb 1998.

100%

DATELINE 1500 BCE First all-weather clock
A timekeeping device called a clepsydra is first used in Ancient Egypt. It works by allowing water to drain from a
container at a steady rate. It is not accurate by modern standards, but unlike a sundial it works on overcast days.

60 Animals

FAST FACTS

If attacked, tarantulas flick small barbed hairs, which can cause temporary

blindness in humans • Antarctica is the only continent with no spiders

• Gram for gram, spider silk is around five times stronger than steel

TRIVIA

The goliath bird-eating
spider has no need of a
web. Instead, it sneaks
up and pounces on prey
– such as birds, frogs or
mice – injecting venom

via fangs that can
exceed 2.5 cm (1 in) long.

Most widespread widow spider

In the genus Latrodectus, the brown widow (L. geometricus),
believed to be native to South Africa, has been inadvertently
distributed by humans almost worldwide. Introduced
populations have been recorded in 14 countries, from the USA
to the Far East and Australia. There is evidence that it has
begun to displace the more venomous native black widow
(. ǡJGURGTWU) in certain areas of southern California, USA.

dimorphism (differences Rarest spider to make a buzzing sound
between male and female). Counts of the Kauai cave and attract a female –
This jumping spider, or wolf spider (Adelocosa though she can only detect
salticid, lives in Mexico, anops) have never exceeded it from the vibrations.
Guatemala and Costa Rica, 30 specimens. It lives in
and feeds on protein- and total darkness in caves on The male of the American
fat-rich nubs called Beltian the island of Kauai, Hawaii, species Lycosa gulosa taps
bodies, found at the tips USA, and has no eyes. his palps and abdomen on
of acacia leaves. dry leaves to produce an
Noisiest spider equally audible purr.
The spider is named after The male European
the black panther Bagheera, buzzing spider, Anyphaena Least venomous spider
who features in Rudyard accentuata, vibrates his Uniquely among modern-
Kipling’s The Jungle Book, abdomen against a leaf day spiders, the cribellate
and the author himself. or hackled orb-weavers lack
venom glands. Instead, they
Largest spider venom glands wrap their prey in silk and Strongest spider webs
douse them with digestive
The glands of South America’s 2JQPGWVTKC PKITKXGPVGT enzymes to liquefy them. &KUEQXGTGF KP /CFCICUECT &CTYKPŨU DCTM URKFGT
Caerostris
GCEJ OGCUWTG WR VQ ǡOO
ǡKP NQPI CPF ǡOO darwini ) weaves the strongest known spider silk, with a

ǡKP KP FKCOGVGT CPF EQPVCKP CU OWEJ CU ǡOI Smallest spider webs VGPUKNG UVTGPIVJ QH WR VQ ǡ/, O (megajoules per cubic

ǡQ\ QH XGPQO 6JG XGPQO ECP ECWUG RCTCN[UKU The webs of the so-called metre) – making it twice as tough as any previously described
and asphyxiation in humans and the contents of one midget spiders can be silk. C. darwini also spins the largest webs Ť WR VQ ǡO
URKFGTŨU INCPFU CTG GPQWIJ VQ MKNN OKEG less than 10 mm (0.39 in)
ǡUSǡHV Ť YJKEJ ECP UVTGVEJ
across. Among their 44 tiny between two river banks.
species is Patu marplesi,
which has a body length of
0.3 mm (0.011 in), making
it the smallest spider.

Highest living spider

The Himalayan jumping spider
('WQRJT[U QOPKUWRGTUVGU), or “highest
QH CNNŬ YCU ƒTUV FKUEQXGTGF KP
CV ǡO
ǡHV QP /QWPV
Everest in Nepal. It was
living under stones
HTQ\GP VQ VJG ITQWPF
First described in
KV KU VJQWIJV
to feed on tiny
insects blown by
the wind from
lower altitudes.

First documented war 1274 BCE DATELINE
The Egyptians defeat the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh. Pharaoh Ramses II has the campaign

written up in a series of propaganda bulletins that are distributed throughout his kingdom.

guinnessworldrecords.com 61

DINOSAURS

(KTUV UEKGPVKƒE which might have doubled 39–52 m (128–170 ft) long LARGEST PLESIOSAUR
description their length. They were based on comparisons of
QHǡCǡFKPQUCWT probably used as weapons individual bones. Named The carnivorous marine reptile Liopleurodon
Megalosaurus bucklandii and perhaps also utilized Seismosaurus halli ̸HDUWK grew to 25 m (82 ft) in length. It had a short
(“great fossil lizard”) was shaking lizard”), it was neck, a 3-m-long (10-ft) head and four powerful
described in 1824. Workmen to attract mates. ͤQDOO\ UHFRQVWUXFWHG DW WKH flippers. It lived in the Mid to Late Jurassic period,
uncovered remains of Wyoming Dinosaur Center, some 150–165 million years ago, but was not
WKLV ELSHGDO ͥHVK HDWHU &KPQUCWT YKVJ USA, in 1999 and found to technically a dinosaur; it belonged to an order
some time before 1818 in VJG OQUV VGGVJ be 41 m (134 ft) in length. of reptiles called Sauropterygia. Plesiosaurs
a quarry near Woodstock 7KH GXFN ELOOHG were divided into two distinct suborders: the
in Oxfordshire, UK. hadrosaurs were 5OCNNGUV FKPQUCWT URGEKGU short-necked Pliosauroidea, which included
herbivores with toothless The feathered Microraptor Liopleurodon, and the long-necked Plesiosauroidea.
(KTUV UVGIQUCWT beaks. In the side of zhaoianus measured 39 cm
Huayangosaurus taibaii lived their jaws, however, (1 ft 3.3 in), of which 24 cm LARGEST… the Late Cretaceous period
during the Middle Jurassic they had as many as 960 (9.4 in) was the tail. A fossil in what is today Mongolia.
period – 165 million years VHOI VKDUSHQLQJ FKHHN WHHWK of the diminutive species ū1UVTKEJŬ FKPQUCWT It is currently known from
ago – in the for chewing tough plants. discovered at Chaoyang in The largest species three specimens, the largest
area of Liaoning Province, China, of ostrich dinosaur or of which measures 11 m
.QPIGUV FKPQUCWT in 1999 is estimated to be ornithomimosaur (named (36 ft) in length and weighs
Huayang A diplodocid excavated 110–120 million DIWHU WKHLU VXSHUͤFLDO 6.36 tonnes (14,020 lb).
(Sichuan) in New Mexico, USA, in years old. outward similarity to an
in China. It was 1980 was estimated to be ostrich) was Deinocheirus DID YOU KNOW?mw1toa7ifadysoeneeuloovrfrfuanenctTsen-gio dnhmlabomasetoniyeesnpnsgdgea(eisaibcrtsressikoaesainbfoontbfoesnfededsO,blciyotaomsohwndlnjeeeudy)tnins.sacmgtaoeitntucmehwskra.puiosoBcrsunfyeirslayeedd
formally described OKTKƒEWU. It lived 69–71
and named in 1982. million years ago during
The dinosaur with
the longest spikes was
Loricatosaurus, a genus of
herbivorous stegosaur that
lived 160–164 million years
ago in what is now England.
As fossils, these spikes, set
on the tail, are 1 m (3 ft 3 in)
long but may have been
covered by a horny sheath,

Dinosaurs not to scale!

LONGEST DINOSAUR TAIL LONGEST DINOSAUR TAIL WIDEST DINOSAUR DINOSAUR WITH THE LONGEST
The sauropod Diplodocus lived during the RELATIVE TO BODY SIZE &KUVKPIWKUJGF D[ VJG NCTIG ENWD CV VJG GPF QH NECK RELATIVE TO BODY SIZE
.CVGǡ,WTCUUKE RGTKQF E ǡOKNNKQP [GCTU CIQ Leaellynasaura amicagraphica YCU ǡO
ǡHV KVU VCKN Ankylosaurus YCU WR VQ ǡO
ǡHV Omeisaurus tianfuensis JCF C PGEM UQOG
KP RTGUGPV FC[ 0QTVJ #OGTKEC +VU VCKN ITGY VQ ǡKP NQPI DWV KVU O
HV KP VCKN YCU YKFG 6JG GPVKTG DCEM YCU EQXGTGF YKVJ DQP[ ǡO
ǡHV NQPI DWV QPN[ C O
HV
ǡO
HV KP NQPI CPF OC[ JCXG CEVGF CU VJTGG VKOGU VJG NGPIVJ QH KVU JGCF PGEM CPF RNCVGU UVWFU CPF URKMGU CU YCU VJG JGCF KP DQF[ +V NKXGF KP VJG ,WTCUUKE GTC
CǡEQWPVGTDCNCPEG VQ KVU NGPIVJ[ PGEM DQF[ +V NKXGF Ť ǡOKNNKQP [GCTU CIQ KPENWFKPI VJG G[GNKFU UQOG Ť ǡOKNNKQP [GCTU CIQ

DATELINE 1271 BCE First peace treaty
After three years of war, Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II and Hattusili III, king of the Hittites, agree to a peace treaty.
Copies of the treaty are made on silver tablets in both Akkadian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphics.

62 Animals

FAST FACTS

Dinosaurs roamed the Earth for 165 million years (humans have been here

for about 2 million years) • British scientist Richard Owen coined the word

“dinosaur” (“terrible lizard”) in 1841 • Most dinosaur species were vegetarian

The arms of Deinocheirus *KIJGUV RGTEGPVCIG .CTIGUV EQNNGEVKQP
OKTKƒEWU measured 2.4 m QH KPVCEV FKPQUCWT TGOCKPU QH FKPQUCWT GIIU
(7 ft 10 in) long – the
longest arms for a bipedal +P VJG UWOOGT QH VJG HQUUKNK\GF TGOCKPU QH C #U QH 0QX VJG OQUV GZVGPUKXG EQNNGEVKQP QH
dinosaur. Each hand had OKNNKQP [GCT QNF FWEM DKNNGF FKPQUCWT YGTG FKUEQXGTGF KP FKPQUCWT GIIU PWODGTGF KPFKXKFWCN UCORNGU
WKUHH ODUJH FODZHG ͤQJHUV PQTVJGTP /QPVCPC 75# &WDDGF ū.GQPCTFQŬ VJG O NQPI +VǡKUǡJGNF CV VJG *G[WCP /WUGWO KP )WCPIFQPI

HV Brachylophosaurus YCU VJG HQWTVJ FKPQUCWT GXGT 2TQXKPEG %JKPC #NN QH VJG GIIU EQOG HTQO VJG .CVG
HQWPF VQ DG ENCUUKƒGF CU C OWOO[ 5QOG QH KVU DQF[ %TGVCEGQWU GTC
E Ť OKNNKQP [GCTU CIQ CPF
YCU EQXGTGF KP HQUUKNK\GF UQHV VKUUWG KPENWFKPI UMKP OWUENGU KPENWFG GIIU HTQO QXKTCRVQTKF CPF FWEM DKNNGF FKPQUCWTU
UECNGU CPF HQQVRCFU CPF KVU NCUV OGCN YCU RTGUGTXGF KP KVU
UVQOCEJ 6JG ETGCVWTG YCU VJTGG QT HQWT [GCTU QNF YJGP KV FKGF

(GCVJGT YKPIGF TCRVQT size as a turkey. Belonging OLPEV ERUH ORQJ WUXH ͥLJKW
Formally described and to the microraptor group of feathers, and it may have
named in Oct 2015, GLQRVDXUV LW LV FDOOHG D IRXU EHHQ DEOH WR ͥ\ ,W OLYHG LQ
Dakotaraptor steini was winged dinosaur because the Early Cretaceous period
5–6 m (16 ft 4 in–19 ft its forelimbs and hind some 125 million years ago.
8 in) long. The existence
.CTIGUV HQUUKNK\GF GZETGOGPV
of feathers on this HTQO C ECTPKXQTG
dinosaur’s wings
(i.e., forelimbs) %WTTGPVN[ TGUKFKPI KP VJG 4Q[CN 5CUMCVEJGYCP /WUGWO
ZDV FRQͤUPHG KP 4GIKPC 5CUMCVEJGYCP %CPCFC VJG NCTIGUV EQRTQNKVG
by the presence
HQUUKNK\GF HCGEGU HTQO C ECTPKXQTG TGEQTFGF VQ FCVG KU VJCV QH
a Tyrannosaurus rex &KUEQXGTGF KP VJG RTGJKUVQTKE QTFWTG
of a row of bumps along OGCUWTGU ǡEO
ǡHV ǡKP CETQUU CPF
a ridge on the lower edge YGKIJU OQTG VJCP ǡMI
ǡND ǡQ\
of the forearm bone called #PCN[UKU QH VJG FTQRRKPIU RTQXKFGU
the ulna. Known as ulnar KPUKIJVU KPVQ FKPQUCWTUŨ FKGV GCVKPI JCDKVU
papillae, or quill knobs,
HQT GZCORNG YJGVJGT VJG[ IWNRGF QT EJGYGF VJGKT
these bumps are also HQQF ǡCPFǡJQY NQPI HQQF TGOCKPGF KP VJGKT IWV
SUHVHQW LQ PRGHUQ GD\
birds, as bases for the
reinforced attachment of
the wing feathers (remiges).

(QWT YKPIGF FKPQUCWT
The only recorded specimen
of Changyuraptor yangi
was discovered in China’s
Liaoning Province and
formally described and
named in 2014. A fully
grown adult, the specimen
measured some
1.2 m (3 ft
11 in) long and is
estimated to have
weighed 4 kg (8 lb 13 oz)
when alive – making it
approximately the same

HEAVIEST CERATOPSIAN HEAVIEST DINOSAUR LARGEST CARNIVOROUS
6JG OCUUKXG VJTGG JQTPGF JGTDKXQTG /QUV UEKGPVKUVU CITGG VJCV VJG JGCXKGUV DINOSAUR
Triceratops horridus YGKIJGF ǡVQPPGU FKPQUCWT YCU RTQDCDN[ Argentinosaurus Spinosaurus TQCOGF VJG RTGUGPV FC[

ǡND +V NKXGF Ť ǡOKNNKQPǡ[GCTU C VKVCPQUCWTKF HTQO #TIGPVKPC $CUGF QP 5CJCTC CTQWPF OKNNKQP [GCTUǡCIQ
CIQ FWTKPI VJG .CVG %TGVCEGQWU RGTKQF KVU XCUV XGTVGDTCG KV KU GUVKOCVGF VQ JCXG +VǡOGCUWTGF UQOG ǡO
ǡHV NQPI CPF
KP YJCV KU PQY 0QTVJ #OGTKEC YGKIJGF UQOG ǡVQPPGU
ǡND YGKIJGFǡ Ť ǡVQPPGU
Ť ǡND

Largest ziggurat 1250 BCE DATELINE
A terraced temple, known today as the Ziggurat of Chogha Zanbil, is built for King Untas of the
Elamites in what is now Iran. It is roughly 100 m (328 ft) long on each side and 50m (164 ft) tall.

guinnessworldrecords.com 63

CATS & DOGS

Smallest cat ever DID YOU KNOW?CraaehnttcuirdoAnamTggsihg2tnasasa0eoiinmna1zcSse2siea,eatd.deavrstInaanbitcooinjyhdbfnonanoaTyfhe (nmaelhidTaenthdeIsacptgCssohhIsiAnhocwua.wlnt).Icsoaetasshst’brislheenkneurialecapynolpnestn-wsilof2aoteiay0entltahi0aaunsl1nsei,ldy
Tinker Toy, a male blue
point Himalayan-Persian,
measured only 7 cm
(2.75 in) tall and 19 cm
(7.5 in) long when fully
grown (aged 2.5 years).
The unusually tiny feline
was owned by Katrina and
Scott Forbes of Taylorville
in Illinois, USA.

Shortest living cat (height) PDGH D ͥ\LQJ OHDS RI IW Tallest domestic cat (ever)
A nine-year-old female (1.82 m) in Austin, Texas,
Munchkin cat named USA, on 27 Oct 2013. 5CXCPPCJ +UNCPFU 6TQWDNG CMC ū6TQWDNGŬ YCU ǡEO
ǡHV
Lilieput measured 5.25 in ǡKP VCNN YJGP OGCUWTGF CV VJG 5KNXGT %CVU %CV 5JQY KP
FP IURP WKH ͥRRU Greatest mouser 4GPQ 0GXCFC 75# QP ǡ1EV *G YCU QYPGF D[ &GDD[
to the shoulders on 19 Jul 7RZVHU E $SU D /CTCURKPK
75# CPF FKGF QP ǡ#WI 6TQWDNG YCU CP
2013. She is owned by female tortoiseshell owned ( ǡ5CXCPPCJ ECV C DTGGF RTQFWEGF HTQO C FQOGUVKE #HTKECP
Christel Young (USA) of by Glenturret Distillery Ltd UGTXCN
Leptailurus serval ETQUU 6JGUG ECVU CTG QHƒEKCNN[
Napa in California. in Perth and Kinross, UK, TGEQIPK\GF CU FQOGUVKE DWV QYG VJGKT GZQVKE NQQMU UVTQPI
caught an estimated 28,899
Fastest cat breed mice. She averaged three OCTMKPIU CPF NQPI NGIU CPF DQF[ VQ VJGKT YKNF HQTGDGCTU
The Egyptian Mau has mice per day until her death
been called a “feline on 20 Mar 1987.
greyhound” for its ability to
reach speeds of 48 km/h Wealthiest cat
(29.8 mph). It is also superb When Ben Rea (UK) died in
at leaping, thanks to its May 1988, he left his entire
powerful, muscular hind £7-m ($12.5-m) fortune to
legs. Despite its name, it is of Blackie, the last surviving of
European-American origin. the 15 cats with whom
he had shared his
Longest jump by a cat mansion.
Alley, a rescue cat owned
by Samantha Martin (USA),

Most tricks LONGEST CAT (LIVING)
by a cat
in one minute Ludo, owned by Kelsey Gill (UK), measured 118.33 cm (3 ft 10.6 in) long on 6 Oct
2015 in Wakefield, UK. Ludo is one of the oldest American breeds: a Maine Coon,
Didga (AUS) and her owner named after the US state. There is a myth – impossible in reality, but encouraged by its
Robert Dollwet (USA) typical brown tabby colouring and abundant fur – that it resulted from matings between
RGTHQTOGF ǡVTKEMU KP 6YGGF semi-wild cats and raccoons. The Maine Coon’s robust health and companionable, lively
*GCFU #WUVTCNKC QP ǡ5GR personality has ensured its popularity as a family pet for well over a century.
2KEVWTGF HTQO VJG VQR
UJG KU UGGP IKXKPI C JKIJ ƒXG
TQNNKPI QXGT UMCVGDQCTFKPI
CPF LWORKPI QP VQ 4QDGTVŨU
JCPFU &KFIC YJQ YCU
CFQRVGF HTQO C ECV UJGNVGT ECP
GXGP VCMG QP VJG EJCNNGPIG
QHǡC TGCN UMCVGDQCTFKPI RCTM

DATELINE 850 BCE Oldest bridge
A slab-stone single-arch bridge is built over the River Meles in Smyrna (Izmir in modern-day
Turkey). It will continue to be used into the 21st century.

64 Animals

FAST FACTS

Palaeolithic humans in east Asia domesticated dogs about 15,000 years ago by

breeding aggression out of wolves • Cats were domesticated at least 9,000 years

ago, probably by being given food in return for helping to control rodents

person from the Kaarster
See lake in Germany on
11 Jun 2013.

Fastest time to climb
ǡUVCKTU QP JKPF NGIU
Walking on his back paws,
Chinese poodle Arsenal
scaled 20 steps in just
7.47 sec on the set of
CCTV’s Guinness World
Records Special in Beijing,
&KLQD RQ -DQ
Arsenal’s owner, Xu Ligang
(CHN), had to tell the eager
pooch to “slow down” during
the attempt, fearing that he
might lose his balance.

Tallest female dog First litter of
ūVGUV VWDGǡFQIUŬ
.K\\[ C )TGCV &CPG UVQQF ǡEO
ǡHV ǡKP VCNN KP (QTV /[GTU (NQTKFC 75# QP ǡ0QX 5JG Seven healthy puppies
YCU OGCUWTGF CIGF UGXGP [GCTU DWV QYPGT )TGI 5CORNG UC[U UJG YCU VJKU VCNN D[ VJG CIG QH VJTGG ͤYH SXUH EHDJOHV DQG
*GǡECNNU JGT C ūUJQY UVQRRGTŬ CFFKPI VJCV UJG CNYC[U CVVTCEVU CVVGPVKQP YJGP VJG[ŨTG QWV CPF CDQWV two beagle-cocker spaniel
crosses), conceived by
Smallest dog ever German rescue organization KPǡXKVTQ fertilization (IVF),
A dwarf Yorkshire terrier DLRG. With his handler were born to a surrogate
owned by Arthur Marples Hans-Joachim Brückmann female in summer 2015.
(UK) was 7.11 cm (2.8 in) (DEU), he took 1 min
tall and 9.5 cm (3.7 in) long. VHF WR UHWULHYH D Wealthiest dog
In 1931, Ella Wendel of New
A female Chihuahua York City, USA, bequeathed
called Milly, owned by $15 m (£10.5 m) to her
Vanesa Semler (USA), standard poodle, Toby. After
PHDVXUHG FP LQ her death, Toby was looked
tall on 21 Feb 2013, and is after by three servants.
the smallest dog (living).

Heaven Sent Brandy, a
female Chihuahua belonging
to Paulette Keller (USA), is
the smallest dog by length:
FP LQ IURP QRVH
to tail tip on 31 Jan 2005.

Tallest dog ever Most tricks
Zeus (USA), a Great Dane, by a dog
measured 111.8 cm (3 ft in one minute
8 in) on 4 Oct 2011. He lived
in Otsego, Michigan, with 5OWTH CPF JKU RTQWF QYPGT
Denise Doorlag and family. 5CTCJ *WORJTG[U
7-
RGTHQTOGF ǡVTKEMU KP
Fastest time for a dog Longest tail on a dog *GTVHQTFUJKTG 7- QP ǡ#WI
VQǡTGVTKGXG C RGTUQP HTQO 2KEVWTGF HTQO VJG VQR
water over a 25-m distance -GQP CP +TKUJ YQNHJQWPF QYPGF D[ +NUG .QQFVU
$'. 5OWTH KU UJQYP JQNFKPI TQNNKPI
Jack the Black vom Mühlrad TGXGCNGF VJG HWNN GZVGPV QH JKU EO
HV KP VCKN KP QXGT DQYKPI CPF LWORKPI QXGT
is a Newfoundland 9GUVGTNQ $GNIKWO QP ǡ#WI +NUG CRRNKGF HQT VJG 5CTCJŨU CTO 6CNGPVGF 5OWTH
working for the TGEQTF QP -GQPŨU DGJCNH YJGP JGT UQPU TGCNK\GF VJCV JKU KU C ƒNO CPF 68 UVCT (QT JKU
VCKN UWTRCUUGF VJCV QH VJG RTGXKQWU TGEQTF JQNFGT C HGNNQY TQNG KP VJG ƒNO Sightseers
7-
YQNHJQWPF D[ LWUV QXGT ǡEO
ǡKP JG YQP VJG 2CNO &QI
CYCTF CV %CPPGU

First Olympic Games 776 BCE DATELINE
The Olympic Games are held for the first time in July, when Koroibos, a cook from Elis in

southern Greece, wins the foot race. They are inaugurated to honour the god Zeus.

guinnessworldrecords.com 65

FANTASTIC BEASTS

.CTIGUV DTGGF QH ECVVNG 1NFGUV OCPCVGG KP ECRVKXKV[ hybrid from a male ass and
Chianina cattle were female zebra. This animal
brought to the Chiana Valley 5PQQV[
D ǡ,WN YCU CIGF ǡ[GCTU ǡFC[U CU QH ǡ/CT 5PQQV[ YCU DTQWIJV when old had hardly any
in Italy from the Middle East VQ VJG 5QWVJ (NQTKFC /WUGWO KP $TCFGPVQP (NQTKFC 75# CU C ECNH KP *G NKXGU KP C stripes; but I was assured
in pre-Roman times. Four 75 ICN
NKVTG RQQN YKVJ VYQ QVJGT OCPCVGGU 5PQQV[ŨU NQPIGXKV[ QYGU OWEJ by the superintendent, that
types of the breed exist, VQ VJG HCEV VJCV JG NKXGU KP C EQPVTQNNGF GPXKTQPOGPV +P VJG YKNF HCEVQTU UWEJ CU CNICN DNQQOU when young it had shoulder-
the largest of which is the DQCV UVTKMGU CPF ƒUJKPI FGDTKU UGG OQUV OCPCVGGU FKG DGHQTG VJG[ TGCEJ VJG CIG QH stripes, and faint stripes on
Valdichiana Chianina, found LWV ͥDQNV DQG OHJV , PHQWLRQ
on the plains and low hills Although widely distributed Rarest domestic naturalist Charles Darwin this case more especially as
of Arezzo and Siena. Bulls in the wild across Eurasia, JQTUGǡJ[DTKF (UK) described a unique an instance of the stripes
average 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) the species is critically In his book The Variation three-species specimen. being much plainer during
at the shoulder and weigh endangered in certain QHǡ#PKOCNU CPF 2NCPVU He wrote: “Many years youth than in old age.” This
1,300 kg (2,866 lb), but some European countries. 7PFGTǡ&QOGUVKECVKQP (1868), ago I saw in the Zoological hybrid’s father was a fertile
Chianina oxen have reached It can live for eight Gardens [of London] a
1.9 m (6 ft 2.8 in). years in captivity. male donkra (a rare hybrid,
curious triple hybrid, from resulting from a male
6CNNGUV EQY GXGT a bay mare, by a donkey mating
Blosom, owned by Patricia with a female
Meads-Hanson (USA), zebra).
measured 1.9 m (6 ft 2.8 in)
from the hoof to the 4CTGUV OCTUWRKCN RGV
withers (the ridge between A male mountain pygmy
the shoulder blades) in possum ($WTTCO[U RCTXWU)
Orangeville, Illinois, USA, was found in the kitchen
on 24 May 2014. of a ski-lodge in eastern
Victoria’s Australian
Largest hamster species Alps in Aug 1966. It
The European or common became the pet of
hamster (%TKEGVWU ETKEGVWU) mammalogist
has a head-and-body length
of up to 34 cm (1 ft 1.4 in),
plus a tail length of up to
6 cm (2.3 in), yielding a

total length of around
40 cm (1 ft 3.7 in).

DID YOU KNOW?RsapaddRsedovpcaiwtisiusosmtfpnot iatinur emnhtctnoteia(ote n1 tiwnsdvRh8’hdsbeau6efoslob9adsaturrsnpa–iclesi1hiapkdatle9m.iei’ebdssn1Tare6eCpchhraadt)aizianries–anvsadrdrpectfc.ahteaNwilehne:orirhtbnicgmigGlihcgasthuyo,retclaisllykagatrisorec rIaIil, LARGEST HORN SPAN
ON A GOAT (LIVING)

Rasputin is an eight-year-old Walliser black-necked
goat (Capra hircus). The distance between the tips of
his horns measured 1.35 m (4 ft 5.1 in) in Lienz, Tyrol,
Austria, on 5 Jun 2015.
• Largest horn span on a steer (living): 9 ft 9.25 in
(2.97 m), for Lazy J’s Bluegrass (USA), a Texas longhorn
(Bos taurus) living in Greenleaf, Kansas, USA, as of
4 Oct 2014. That’s greater than the height of Sultan
Kösen (TUR), the tallest living man.
• Longest horns on a steer: 10 ft 4.75 in (3.16 m), for
a Texas longhorn steer named Gibraltar, bred and
owned by Dickinson Cattle of Texas, USA.
• Longest horns on a bull: 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m), with a
circumference of 2 ft 6 in (0.76 m), for a bull named
Gopal, on 21 Aug 2002. The bull is owned by Bhagwan
Mahavir Pashu Raksha Kendra Anchorwala Ahinsa
Dham animal protection centre in Gujarat, India.
• Longest horn on a sheep: 1.91 m (6 ft 3.1 in), for a
Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii). The species is
indigenous only to the Pamir Mountains bordering
Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and China.

DATELINE 510 BCE First permanent theatre
The outdoor Theatre of Dionysus is built in Athens, Greece. With an estimated capacity of 17,000 people,
the theatre is “in the round”, with stone rows built up a slope overlooking the stage.

66 Animals

FAST FACTS

Goats and sheep have rectangular pupils • Only about 15% of young rabbits reach

one year old • Many male and female parrots look almost identical • A “cama”

is a cross between a one-humped camel (aka dromedary) and a llama

Dr John Seebeck (AUS).
7KH SRVVXP ZDV WKH ͤUVW
VFLHQWLͤFDOO\ UHFRUGHG OLYLQJ
specimen of its species.
Until then, the mountain
pygmy possum had been
known to science only from
fossil remains dating back
20,000 years and was
thought long-extinct.

5OCNNGUV URGEKGU /QUV YQQN UJGCTGF HTQO C UJGGR KP QPG UJGCTKPI
QHǡ#OC\QPǡRCTTQV
Amazon parrots from # VQVCN QH ǡMI
ǡND ǡQ\ YCU UJGCTGF HTQO %JTKU Ť CP GTTCPV QXGTITQYP UJGGR
Mexico, South America TGUEWGF D[ CPKOCN EJCTKV[ 452%# #%6
#75 Ť D[ PCVKQPCN UJGCTKPI EJCORKQP +CP 'NMKPU KP
and the Caribbean islands 9GUVQP %TGGM #WUVTCNKCP %CRKVCN 6GTTKVQT[ QP ǡ5GR 9JGP HQWPF %JTKU YCU UQ YQQNN[
are popular pets. Almost HTQO NKXKPI KP VJG YKNF HQT UGXGTCN [GCTU VJCV JG EQWNF DCTGN[ UVCPF CPF YCU KP WTIGPV PGGF
30 species are currently QHǡC VTKO VQ RTGXGPV KPHGEVKQP 6JG UJGCTKPI VQQM CRRTQZKOCVGN[ ǡOKP
recognized. The smallest
.QPIGUV TCDDKV of these is the black- .CUV /CUECTGPG RCTTQV Germany, where it lived until
billed amazon (#OC\QPC As accepted by the IUCN, at least 1834, by which time
&CTKWU C (NGOKUJ IKCPV TCDDKV CIKNKU), which is just the last Mascarene parrot it was very old. This species
QYPGF D[ #PPGVVG 'FYCTFU 25 cm (9.8 in) long and (/CUECTKPWU OCUECTKP) was native to Réunion, one

7- YCU HQWPF VQ DG ǡHV native to mountainous was a pet owned by King of the Mascarene Islands
ǡKP
ǡEO NQPI YJGP rainforests in the centre Maximilian I Joseph of in the Indian Ocean, but
OGCUWTGF HQT CP CTVKENG KP VJG of the island of Jamaica. Bavaria. He kept it in the last account of wild
7-ŨU Daily Mail PGYURCRGT Once a common species, his royal gardens and specimens there dates
QP ǡ#RT *G KU UJQYP its numbers have fallen menagerie at Munich in from the 1770s.
CDQXG YKVJ )GQTIKC *CFNG[ owing to deforestation,
YJQ YCU VJGP UKZ [GCTU QNF specimen collection for
the pet trade and poaching
for food. It is categorized
as vulnerable by the
International Union for
Conservation of Nature
(IUCN).

3.9 km/h

(CUVGUV ǡO QP JKPF NGIU D[ C JQTUG *KIJGUV LWOR D[ C NNCOC

&GUGTV -KUOGV
7#' C [GCT QNF ITG[ IGNFKPI EQXGTGF C %CURC QYPGF D[ 5WG 9KNNKCOU
7- ENGCTGF C DCT UGV CV ǡO
FKUVCPEG QH ǡO
ǡHV ǡKP QP JKU JKPF NGIU KP ǡUGE CV &WDCK
ǡHVǡ KP FWTKPI &QI(GUV CV #TNG[ *CNN KP %JGUJKTG 7- QP ǡ,WP
2QNQ 'SWGUVTKCP %NWD KP &WDCK 7#' QP ǡ(GD &GUGTV 6JG DCT YCU RCTV QH C UVCPFCTF JQTUG LWOR QP YJKEJ JGKIJVU
-KUOGV KU QYPGF D[ǡ* * 5JGKMJC /CT[CO DKPV /QJCOOGF DKP YGTG OCTMGF CV TGIWNCT KPVGTXCNU
4CUJGF #N /CMVQWO CPF VTCKPGF D[ 4WK &G 5QWUC
CDQXG

Largest empire (by percentage) 490 BCE DATELINE
The Achaemenid (aka Persian) Empire accounts for around 49.4 million of the world’s 112.4 million people

– or 44%. It includes parts of Central Asia, the Mediterranean, North Africa, Thrace and Macedonia.

guinnessworldrecords.com 67

HUMANS

DATELINE 480 BCE Largest naval battle
In September, the Battle of Salamis takes place off the coast of Greece, near the port of Piraeus. An estimated 200,000 men
are divided between 800 vessels in the defeated Persian fleet and 370 in the victorious fleet of the Athenians and their allies.

68 Humans

CONTENTS 70

HUMANS 72
FACTOGRAPHIC 74
76
BODY MODIFIERS 78
MEDICAL MIRACLES 80
OLDEST...
FAMILY VALUES
BODY EXTREMES

100%

Largest gape

No one likes to be called a big mouth… but in the case of Bernd
Schmidt (DEU), it’s actually a record-breaking compliment! The
ICR DGVYGGP JKU KPEKUQTU OGCUWTGF ǡEO
ǡKP CU QHƒEKCNN[
TCVKƒGF CV C FGPVCN RTCEVKEG KP 9GPFNKPIGP )GTOCP[ QP ǡ,CP
6JG OGCUWTGOGPV YCU EQPƒTOGF D[ FGPVKUV 5KNXKC .QEMNCKT
$GTPFŨU UQPǡJCF CUMGF JKO VQ UWDOKV CP CVVGORV CHVGT UGGKPI VJKU
TGEQTF NKUVGF KP VJG GFKVKQP QH Guinness World Records.

First history book 400 BCE DATELINE
The History of the Peloponnesian War, by Greek politician Thucydides, is the earliest work to try to recount and understand
past events. Its eight books detail the political and military developments of the 431–404 war between Sparta and Athens.

guinnessworldrecords.com 69

FACTOGRAPHIC

BODY PARTS

The complex, multi-functional, yet extraordinarily neat machine that is the AORT A 100%
JWOCP DQF[ WUWCNN[ TWPU UQ GHƒEKGPVN[ VJCV YG FQPŨV VJKPM CDQWV YJCV KVŨU
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this page, your brain is receiving oxygen to help you concentrate, your pulmonary artery is the
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LARGEST ORGAN The vena cava, which returns The aorta wall is very elastic, 100%
blood to the heart from the allowing it to pulsate in
Skin, which protects all other organs and rest of the body, is the rhythm with the heartbeat LONGEST BONE
body systems, and regulates temperature and largest vein, with a diameter and helping to propel blood
moisture, is itself an organ. An average adult of 1.2–2 cm (0.47–0.78 in). around the body. Excluding a variable number of
sesamoids (small rounded bones), the
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The skin has three layers: = The longest recorded bone was
the outer, waterproof C HGOWT OGCUWTKPI EO
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epidermis; the dermis with 1,603 sheets of A4 that belonged to a German giant named
hair follicles, blood vessels %QPUVCPVKPG
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and sweat glands; and the OGCUWTGF D[ FQEVQTU CHVGT JKU FGCVJ KP
subcutis or fat layer.
The femur is also the strongest bone, and
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100% SMALLEST BONE The heart, about the size of The The femur supports the body’s whole
930% \RXU FOHQFKHG ̧VW SXPSV heart is made weight in all activities, from standing to
Named after its shape, the stapes or stirrup blood around a 150,000-km of involuntary muscle, extreme sport. The American College of
bone is one of three auditory ossicles (“tiny (93,200-mi) system of blood so it works all by itself Sports Medicine states that, in a healthy
bones”) in the middle ear. The others are the vessels – long enough to – all the time. Beating adult female, it can support more than
malleus (hammer) and incus (anvil). These wrap round the world more 100,000 times a day, it 30 times the body weight!
transmit sound vibrations, and their absence than three times. clocks up 3 billion beats
over an average
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The stapes measures some lifetime.
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forms the smallest joint, ventricle – as wide as the orange circle on the right.
with the incus bone, +V RCUUGU DNQQF VQ VJG JGCTVŨU EQTQPCT[ CTVGTKGU
and is controlled by the before feeding vital organs, via the arterial network,
body’s smallest muscle, HTQO VJG JGCF VQ VJG RGNXKE CTGC *GTG ǡKV PCTTQYU
the stapedius, less than VQ CDQWV ǡEO
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100% 100% MOST ACTIVE MUSCLE

As well as being the largest internal The eye muscles have been estimated to move more
organ (see below right), the liver VJCP VKOGU C FC[ CPF CTG VJG DQF[ŨU fastest-
is also the body’s largest gland. reacting muscle CDNG VQ EQPVTCEV KP ǡUGE
Glands secrete substances such Their seven coordinated movements allow the
as hormones and release them into G[GU VQ VTCEM OCP[ MKPFU QH OQXKPI QDLGEV ǡ6JG[
the bloodstream; in the case of the also ensure that the eye’s receptors are not
liver, it secretes bile, which helps overloaded, so good vision is maintained.
us digest fats.

The liver is divided into four parts, or “lobes”, of Three pairs of extraocular
differing size and shape. The liver’s functions muscles in the orbit (eye
LQFOXGH ̧JKWLQJ RII LQIHFWLRQ UHPRYLQJ WR[LQV socket) anchor each eye,
from the blood, and storing nutrients, vitamins moving it up and down and
and blood sugar. At any one time, it contains side to side, and rotating it.
about 13% of your blood (0.57 litres or 1 pint
in a fully grown adult).

100% LARGEST SESAMOID BONE LARGEST DID YOU KNOW?ymafBeenoalmmdlnroarfuewmoorsrwruo.mcoCnsomwathdnlrr,yitairelaankdrodiseerwna,odsehflani;notasi’cnestnleofiwgbssaryssobedbeeunoulloneolneflot.otemibwRsdaloei.liactnlkdryeieerslfoltahshw;tae,lifs
INTERNAL ORGAN
Sesamoid bones are bones that act like
pulleys in the complex arrangements of +P CP CFWNV VJG NKXGT ECP YGKIJ Ť ǡMI
tendons around some joints. Most are only a
ǡNDǡ ǡQ\Ť ǡND ǡQ\ Ť VJG GSWKXCNGPV QH HQWT (+(#
approved soccer balls. Located behind the lower ribs,
few millimetres wide and shaped like eggs KVǡRGTHQTOU OQTG VJCP UGRCTCVG XKVCN HWPEVKQPU +V KU
or sesame seeds (the name “sesamoid” the only organ that can regenerate itself, so one person
comes from “sesamum”, the Latin for can donate a portion of their liver, which will then grow
sesame seed). The body’s largest back to normal size. What’s more, the donated part will
is the patella or kneecap, which ITQY VQ VJG TKIJV UK\G KP VJG TGEKRKGPVБ
protects the ends of the femur
and tibia (shin bone) where =
they meet at the knee joint.
The average human kneecap is
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The inside of our larger bones Blood vessels and nerves run
have a spongy appearance. It’s through our bones. Red and
between the microscopically white blood cells are formed
thin walls of this honeycomb-like inside bone, then carried around
material that marrow is found. the body via the bloodstream.

BODY MODIFIERS

/QUV HNGUJ VWPPGNU
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As of 27 Nov 2014, Joel OQFKƒECVKQPU
Miggler (DEU) had acquired
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Kalawelo Kaiwi (USA)
/': JCU ǡDQF[
had a 10.5-cm (4.13-in) OQFKƒECVKQPU KPENWFKPI
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clinic in Hawaii, USA, EJGUV CPF CTOU CPF OWNVKRNG
on 14 Apr 2014. RKGTEKPIU KP JGT G[GDTQYU
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Ataye Eligidagne’s VCVVQQ EQXGTCIG QP JGT
(ETH) lip plate DQF[ CU QH ǡ(GD UJG
spanned 19.5 cm KU CNUQ VJG most tattooed
female (living)
(7.7 in) in width and
59.5 cm (23.4 in)
in circumference, as
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The previous maximum
width of these clay
plates was 15 cm (6 in).

Most facial piercings Most surgical-needle consisting of dark spots artists: 836 tattoos by
Axel Rosales (ARG) piercings in one session on a yellow background. 12 artists, on 26 Oct 2013.
had 280 piercings On 14 Dec 2014, Russ Foxx
on his face, as of applied 4,550 needles to Longest tattoo session And on 10 Oct 2015, Alle
17 Feb 2012. Matthew Menczyk (both
OWNVKRNG RGQRNG Tattoo arranged the most
On the same day, CAN) in 8 hr 12 min at “Alle Tattoo”, aka people to form a tattooed
Francesco Vacca Wicked Tattoo & Piercing Alessandro Bonacorsi (ITA), sentence: 77. They spelt out
(USA) revealed the in Maple Ridge, British completed a session of “Step by step together for
most piercings in Columbia, Canada. 50 hr 8 min in Palermo, Italy, a world of peace happiness
the tongue: 16. on 10–12 Oct 2014. family passion art love
Most pierced senior citizen tattoo and music.”
DID YOU KNOW?naiDbettsmeeeaidpotnwiwletnhgeoonuanobrpdrteideieidnrenst.e,gwrAgbgrcmeereottecoodananowtrywmtte5iohinia0noitengdhvaaigofmontgahlvpedvdaeersege3rotaedt,gta0hli,orctm0ewtehno0sseoigos tkt.shiiwiievsmnnteai’tln,sehysy “Prince Albert”, aka John With Riccardo Rivieccio
Lynch (UK, b. 9 Nov 1930), (ITA), Alle Tattoo also Most tattoos of…
had a grand total of achieved the most tattoos • Squares: Matt Gone (USA)
241 piercings – including in 12 hours by a team of had 848 squares tattooed
151 in his head and neck –
as counted in London, UK,
on 17 Oct 2008.

Most tattooed
UGPKQTǡEKVK\GPǡ
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Tom Leppard (UK) has
99.9% of his body covered
in a leopard-skin design,

MOST TATTOOED /QUV RKGTEGF YQOCP
SENIOR CITIZEN (FEMALE)
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Charlotte Guttenberg’s (USA) tattoos cover JCXKPI RKGTEKPIU QP JGT HCEKCN CTGC CPF QP
CPF
91.5% of her body, as revealed in Melbourne, KPUKFG JGT DQF[ #U QH ǡ,WP 'NCKPG JCF CEEWOWNCVGF
Florida, USA, on 3 Jun 2015. She told GWR that VJG most piercings in a lifetime (female) 'NCKPG KU
her “gallery” began with a tattoo of a butterfly, EQPUVCPVN[ CFFKPI CPF TGRNCEKPI LGYGNNGT[ OQUVN[ KP JGT HCEG
a birthday present to herself in 2006. Since
then, and about 1,000 tattooing hours later,
Charlotte’s body art has burgeoned into floral
and animal imagery, symbols from Shintoism
and an emperor dragon winding around her
leg. While her inspiration is Japanese culture,

she has added a few details of her own, such
as delicate Victorian mittens. She plans
to continue with a full head tattoo, a
“secret garden” below her hair.

DATELINE 341 BCE First use of a crossbow
The use of a crossbow is documented for the first time at the Battle of Ma-Ling in Linyi, China.
It is probably a single-shot weapon held with a pistol-style grip.

72 Humans

FAST FACTS

Stone Age people probably inked themselves with natural dyes • From the 1770s,

circuses became centres of tattooing in Europe and the USA • Early tattooed

attractions, such as Englishman John Rutherford, started touring in the 1820s

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EQWRNG over his body, including 201 DID YOU KNOW?mthjoeubvnoagoedhgccudLyoiliniusrsaln clsdcbleguaekaocyysyrcute.ielwtbeHurd.siehbHenmgoeigefiafnnonrnctkrtsaooreehttnawdtihtvcsoaoaeepottndplatuilonittashn.toghoissgsewomaswhiisnatitiphhghltlh,ee
on his head, as counted on
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KP /KNCP +VCN[ QP ǡ,WN 6JGUG EQPUKUV QH ǡRKGTEKPIU • A cartoon character:
ǡDQF[ KORNCPVU GKIJVǡOKETQFGTOCNU ƒXGǡFGPVCN KORNCPVU Lee Weir (NZ) had been
HQWTǡGCT GZRCPFGTU VYQǡGCT DQNVU CPF QPGǡHQTMGF VQPIWG tattooed with 41 portraits
of Homer Simpson, as of
5 Jun 2014.
• Bones: “Rico”, aka Rick
Genest (CAN), has 139
human bones tattooed on
his body, reproducing part
RI KLV VNHOHWRQ DV YHULͤHG LQ
Milan, Italy, on 27 Apr 2011.
• Insects: As of the same
date, “Rico” also had
176 insect tattoos on his
upper body and head.

Most pierced
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Largest group of life-size statues 221 BCE DATELINE
A group of 6,000–8,000 life-size clay soldiers and other figures – later known as the “Terracotta Army” –

are created for Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi’s tomb near Xi’an in China. They will be discovered in 1974.

guinnessworldrecords.com 73

MEDICAL MIRACLES

First skull and scalp transplant Most extensive skull implant using 3D printing

Following treatment for leiomyosarcoma (a rare form of cancer), +P 0QX PGWTQUWTIGQP $QP 8GTYGKL CPF OCZKNNQHCEKCN UWTIGQP /CTXKEM /WTCFKP
DQVJ
James Boysen (USA) was left without the top of his skull. A 15-hr 0.& TGRNCEGF CDQWV QH C UMWNN WUKPI & RTKPVKPI VGEJPQNQI[ 6JG RCVKGPV C [GCT QNF
QRGTCVKQP QP ǡ/C[ UCY JKO TGEGKXG RCTVKCN UMWNN CPF UECNR YQOCP UWHHGTGF HTQO C OGFKECN EQPFKVKQP VJCV OCFG JGT ETCPKCN DQPG VJKEMGP 6JG ITQYKPI
ITCHVU KPXQNXKPI RCKPUVCMKPI OKETQUWTIGT[ *G CNUQ TGEGKXGF C DQPG YCU RWVVKPI RTGUUWTG QP JGT DTCKP CHHGEVKPI XKVCN DQF[ HWPEVKQPU 6JG QRGTCVKQP VQQM
PGY MKFPG[ CPF RCPETGCU 6JG RTQEGFWTG VQQM RNCEG CV *QWUVQP RNCEG CV VJG 7PKXGTUKV[ /GFKECN %GPVGT 7VTGEJV KP VJG 0GVJGTNCPFU CPF NCUVGF JT
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HTQO DQVJ VJCV JQURKVCN CPF VJG #PFGTUQP %CPEGT %GPVGT More than 95 organs the most organ donations FIRST…
were transplanted per from deceased people, with
million citizens. 35.3 organs donated per Bionic bone implant
million of the population. In Jul 2006, scientists
As of the same year, at University College
Spain was the country with London, UK, announced
that early clinical trials at
Youngest organ donor were performed that year, Most sensitive bionic skinARK-CmOosCQ bfeDTaRTiVneToGtN GCQselnCeCPoHr ic icMVrCVat yJV PcrlJ+GoPoeFtT an mlQ J e%kiWWc mpeCIO osOseJ neCnt D enKPh tPTTns seGKD FtoVU–QfJIriGosFsGGCtr[ se mtTƒ hE/omYGJamoNKCpFGVtfUeJeT ctQUUt rhCahaC HHPin itETnUnu QJ[G,mgrOWPrNeGuteUV, hEJbKaGPaVsGbVTUtVQuVeVUKrPrKrEe Vey K Wp7EDtsVl 5KhaKQhQQ#crTePPe e GeK UesECNt G KsPoUPEPrMw V5QTKePiQGWtnO hQP h6WEGaaJNGEn lGFJ5ac CetQtPsWicKVaEJeC N Mount Vernon Hospital in
On 1 Dec 2015, Hope Lee out of a total of 118,127 RTGUUWTG CPF OQKUVWTG Middlesex, UK, had been
(UK) donated her kidneys transplants – about 67% completed for a method
and liver cells just 74 min of all such operations. of attaching a titanium rod
after her birth. directly to human bone.
According to the same While rods and pins have
Most transplanted organ source, in 2013 Norway long been used in broken-
In 2013 – the most recent was the country bone repair, this was the
year for which statistics with the most ͤUVW WLPH WKDW WKH PHWDO URG
are available – the kidney transplanted protruded through the skin.
was the most widely organs per The aim is to enable direct
transplanted organ. million attachment of prosthetic
According to the Global population. limbs to residual bone,
Observatory on Donation
and Transplantation, 79,325 rather than strapping
kidney transfer operations them to the limb
as a whole.
DID YOU KNOW?twhsfauoeeTdrcaoshahfivefpiensnaetbsslwegbeeodeitci orhurltislnsenrsb,giiewcctetediheannsrhrtleki eoimtscigdrhtnusah.esetrWtmnei orebmrsefhoasintsutdymeheytlyn,aenaao.wvntaslfeelichitsnatnniieimvcebvnahiraetosrvytcoeuee:aarnsdnst,s
Bionic brain prosthesis
The hippocampus is the part
of the brain that forms and
stores long-term memories.
Professor Theodore Berger
(USA) has developed a
working hippocampal
prosthesis. In 2011 – in
collaboration with Sam
Deadwyler and Robert
Hampson at Wake Forest
Baptist Medical Center in
North Carolina, USA – it was
successfully tested with

DATELINE 200 BCE First battery
An unknown inventor in what is now Baghdad, Iraq, discovers that by placing a copper cylinder and
an iron rod in a ceramic pot filled with acid, it is possible to generate around 1.5 volts of electricity.

74 Humans

FAST FACTS

In 2013, Austrian scientists began growing pea-sized brains from cells to help with
research into brain disease • Surgeons transplanted a robotic heart into a sheep
in 2015 • Artificial toes dating from 900–600 BCE have been found in Luxor, Egypt

DID YOU KNOW?SDwSpCimatt,hchiFUiMse rtrchhScoaeMouuAusnypumoreg.kyrnsTrh aeteo’ihshnnaaufe  eontmPlrmlwa aeryNsou,rinheanthfsri otfeeBfiW-iauuosecccscnmraioeeaatsan.don-lhlgvlhnAiateonuetriegrdmstrtheasoasennnd,

was successfully tested on
primates. The breakthrough
opens up the possibility of
repairing brains damaged
by diseases such as
Alzheimer’s.

Most bionic body parts Bionic eye to overcome
KPǡCPǡCTVKƒEKCNǡJWOCP macular degeneration
In Jul 2015, Ray Flynn
ū(TCPMŬ
UJQTV HQT ū(TCPMGPUVGKPŬ KU CP GZRGTKOGPV VQ UJQY VJCV C (UK) became the
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7PXGKNGF QP ǡ1EV (TCPM Ť YJQ JCU KPFKXKFWCN DKQPKE bionic eye implanted
DQF[ RCTVU Ť YCU KPURKTGF D[ 2TQH $GTVQNV /G[GT
CDQXG PQY to recover the sight
QH %JGOPKV\ 7PKXGTUKV[ QH 6GEJPQNQI[ KP )GTOCP[ CPF ETGCVGF he had partially
D[ǡ&CTNQY 5OKVJUQP 2TQFWEVKQPU CPF 5JCFQY 4QDQV
DQVJ 7- lost from macular
degeneration.
live rats. The prosthesis and appropriate responses The operation
uses electrodes to record were then generated took place at the
both from the input and to stimulate an output Manchester Royal
output nerve bundles of pattern. This mimicked Eye Hospital, UK.
a damaged hippocampus. the way in which a healthy Macular degeneration
The input was analysed by hippocampus functions. is the most common
an external processor array In 2013, the prosthesis cause of sight loss in
the developed world.

Child to survive paralysis.
ūKPVGTPCNǡFGECRKVCVKQPŬ Fortunately,
In Oct 2015, 16-month- Jaxon’s spinal cord
old Jaxon Taylor (AUS) did not snap. Surgeon
suffered the fracture of his Dr Geoffrey Askin and his
ͤUVW WZR YHUWHEUDH DQG WKHLU team at the Lady Cilento
ligaments as a result of a car Children’s Hospital in
accident. This meant that his Brisbane, Australia, were
head was separated from able to repair Jaxon’s injury
his neck, a trauma known as with complete success.
“internal decapitation”. This
is fatal in 68% of cases, with
survivors usually suffering

Most organs transplanted FIRST PROSTHETIC HAND 100%
in a single operation CONTROLLED BY THE BRAIN

5KZ OQPVJ QNF +VCNKCP #NGUUKC FK /CVVGQ
Ť WPFGTYGPV In Sep 2015, the USA’s Defense Advanced Research
VJG VTCPURNCPV QH GKIJV QTICPU KP C JT QRGTCVKQP CV *QNV\ Projects Agency (DARPA) developed the first prosthetic
%JKNFTGPŨU *QURKVCN CV 7PKXGTUKV[ QH /KCOK ,CEMUQP /GOQTKCN hand that could be controlled directly by the brain.
*QURKVCN 75# QP ǡ,CP 6JG QTICPU YGTG VJG NKXGT It could also transmit tactile sensations (i.e., a sense
UVQOCEJ RCPETGCU UOCNN CPF NCTIG KPVGUVKPG URNGGP CPF DQVJ of touch) allowing users to pick up delicate objects
MKFPG[U 6TCIKECNN[ #NGUUKC FKGF QH EQORNKECVKQPU YKVJKP C [GCT without damaging them. The hand was implanted in a
28-year-old man who had been paralysed for 10 years
as a result of a spinal-cord injury. The prosthetic
limb was developed by DARPA in collaboration with
scientists from the Applied Physics Laboratory at
Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, USA.

Oldest analogue computer 100 BCE DATELINE
A Greek inventor builds a complex mechanical computer, known today as the Antikythera

Mechanism. The computer is lost in a shipwreck and not rediscovered until 1901.

guinnessworldrecords.com 75

OLDEST…

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Person (ever) In 1990, she survived hip the oldest person to climb Woman to row across in Dover, UK, to Wissant
Jeanne Louise Calment surgery aged 114 years a mountain over 8,000 m. any ocean solo Bay near Calais in France in
(FRA) lived for 122 years 11 months, making her the Diana Hoff (UK, b. 1 May 12 hr 52 min, aged 73 years
164 days. Born on 21 Feb oldest surgery patient. Tamae Watanabe (JPN, 1944) was 55 years 177 days, on 6 Sep 2014.
1875, Jeanne died at a b. 21 Nov 1938) became 135 days old at the start of
nursing home in Arles, The oldest man ever the oldest woman to climb her crossing of the Atlantic The oldest English
France, on 4 Aug 1997. was Jiroemon Kimura (JPN, Everest when she summitted east to west solo, in Star Channel swimmer (female)
b. 19 Apr 1897), who died on – for the second time – on #VNCPVKEǡ++, between 13 Sep is Sue Oldham (AUS,
DID YOU KNOW?hiFGsrtcWhigHehewarRiaotstoiitHlfrkfildiaadenace,rsaaowsgIdwsttweaermloer afotcfdraehnaoemRelengn,dses sifiialcluImieytrosfrcme.rrhprrMa.doie”liesesnutrl:hMfngKK“oodIrharrm iedirissmdcoettoanabialln’y’tss 12 Jun 2013 aged 116 years 19 May 2012, at the age of 1999 and 5 Jan 2000. b. 24 Nov 1945), who made
73 years 180 days. the crossing in 17 hr 11 min,
54 days. English Channel swimmer aged 64 years 257 days, on
Abseiler Otto Thaning (ZAF, b. 8 Aug 2010.
Person to climb Everest Aged 101 years 55 days, 13 Mar 1941) crossed
Yuichiro Miura (JPN, Doris Cicely Long MBE (UK, from Shakespeare Beach Person to fly in zero gravity
b. 12 Oct 1932) reached b. 18 May 1914) abseiled At 86 years 90 days old,
down the Spinnaker Tower Ugo Sansonetti (ITA,
the peak of Everest in Portsmouth, UK, on b. 10 Jan 1919) took
on 23 May 2013 at 12 Jul 2015. D ]HUR JUDYLW\ ͥLJKW

80 years 223 days.
This also made him

OLDEST LIVING PEOPLE

As of 11 Mar 2016, the oldest living man was Israel
Kristal (ISR, left), who was aged 112 years
178 days, as verified by the Gerontology
Research Group and Jewish Records
Indexing. Mr Kristal was born on 15 Sep
1903 in the village of Maleniec,
near Żarnów in Russia (now
Poland). Since 1950 he has
lived in Haifa, Israel.
Susannah Mushatt Jones
(USA, b. 6 Jul 1899, right) was
116 years 303 days old as of
4 May 2016. Ms Jones lives in
Brooklyn, New York City, where
she received her certificate just
before her 116th birthday, which
she celebrated with two parties.
She is the oldest living person.

DATELINE 75 BCE Oldest synagogue
The Wadi Qelt Synagogue is erected as part of the Hasmonean Winter Palace complex on the road
between Jericho and Jerusalem in the Middle East. It will be toppled by an earthquake in 31 BCE.

76 Humans

FAST FACTS

The study of ageing and the elderly is known as “gerontology”, from the Greek

geron (“old man”) and logos (“explanation”) • Of the 50 people aged 110 or more,

23 were born in Japan • The odds of you reaching 120 years old are 1 in 10 billion

2GTUQP VQ TGEGKXG VJGKT ƒTUV VCVVQQ Silver
URQTVUǡUVCTU
1P ǡ#RT Ť VQ EGNGDTCVG JKU VJ DKTVJFC[ Ť ,CEM
4G[PQNFU
7- D ǡ ǡ#RT JCF C VCVVQQ QH JKU QYP FGUKIP 6JG oldest bodybuilder
TGCFKPI ū,CEMQ Ŭ KPMGF QP JKU WRRGT CTO CV 2GVG 9JQŨU KU ,KO #TTKPIVQP
75#
6CVVQQU KP %JGUVGTƒGNF 7- # TGNCZGF ,CEM EQOOGPVGF ū+ŨF D ǡ ǡ5GR NGHV CIGF
TCVJGT DG FQKPI VJKU VJCP JCXKPI C JCKTEWV Ŭ Good Morning Britain ǡ[GCTU ǡFC[U YJGP

+68 7- VQQM WR JKU UVQT[ CPF ƒNOGF JKO TGEGKXKPI JKU )94 EQORGVKPI CV C RTQHGUUKQPCN
EGTVKƒECVG CVǡJQOG VJG PGZV FC[ DQF[DWKNFKPI EQORGVKVKQP KP
8GPKEG %CNKHQTPKC QP ǡ5GR
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ǡ[GCTU ECOG HQWTVJ QWV QH
OQTG VJCP ǡEQPVGUVCPVU

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%QORGVKVKQP KP -[QVQ
,CRCP QP ǡ5GR VJG
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sprinter /T /K[C\CMK TCP
VJG ǡO TCEG KP ǡUGE

RQ D PRGLͤHG %RHLQJ 1917) launched compilation is an acronym for the feat in 1961 (Best Director of a DID YOU KNOW?OAmenJoai g2ehfth0rgRrneilet ec Fro G4tmsaebuhe lnhbeereoarnnt1ntrb ohc95enteh6dhr6octe 2sroammseb,pmaohitiinatnrsieecmdbst.ehitcionhetieprnsi3eicnE6oiSfilnaee nTyrrddeSsetaehta-t9yhr.rs5se,
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, album National Treasure of winning an Emmy, a Drama: Big Fish, Little Fish);
USA, on 10 Apr 2005. – The Ultimate Collection Grammy, an Oscar and a a Grammy in 1979 (Best
(Decca) on 2 Jun 2014. Tony. Only 12 individuals Spoken Word, Documentary
2GTUQP VQ NCPF QP VJG /QQP have earned an EGOT, the or Drama Recording: Ages
On 4 Feb 1971, Alan Australian artist Herbert oldest being British actor/ of Man); an Oscar in 1982
Shepard (USA, b. 18 Nov Henry “Smoky” Dawson director John Gielgud (Best Actor in a Supporting
1923) was 47 years 78 days MBE (19 Mar 1913–13 Feb (14 Apr 1904–21 May Role: Arthur DQG ͤQDOO\ DQ
old when he walked on the 2008) is the oldest person 2000), who achieved his in Emmy in 1991 (Outstanding
Moon during the Apollo 14 to release an album of 1991 at the age of 87 years Lead Actor in a Miniseries
lunar mission. new material. He was 133 days. He won: a Tony or Special: Summer’s Lease).
92 years 156 days old when
Person to release Homestead of My Dreams Astronauts
CǡPGYǡCNDWO came out on 22 Aug 2005.
Aged 97 years 74 days, 1P ǡ1EV ,QJP
Dame Vera Lynn (UK, Winner of an EGOT )NGPP
75# D ǡ ǡ,WN
b. Vera Welch, 20 Mar Known as the “Grand Slam TKIJV DGECOG VJG
of Show Business”, EGOT oldest astronaut CV VJG
CIG QH ǡ[GCTU ǡFC[U
OLDEST SUPERCENTENARIANS YJGP JG YCU NCWPEJGF
CU RC[NQCF URGEKCNKUV QP
A “supercentenarian” is anyone who is aged 110 years VJG 565 5RCEG 5JWVVNG
or more. As of 4 May 2016, there were 49 women in the OKUUKQP +P PKPG FC[U VJG
50 oldest living supercentenarians and only one man. ETGY EQPFWEVGF PGCTN[
ǡGZRGTKOGPVU
Name Born Age
1 5WUCPPCJ /WUJCVV ,QPGU
75# ǡ,WN ǡ[T ǡFC[U 6JG oldest astronaut
2 'OOC /QTCPQ /CTVKPW\\K
+6# ǡ0QX ǡ[T ǡFC[U (female) KU $CTDCTC /QTICP
8KQNGV $TQYP
,#/ ǡ/CT ǡ[T ǡFC[U
75# D ǡ ǡ0QX
0CDK 6CLKOC
,20 ǡ#WI ǡ[T ǡFC[U KPUGV YJQ YCU ǡ[GCTU
%JK[Q /K[CMQ
,20 ǡ/C[ ǡ[T ǡFC[U ǡFC[U QNF YJGP UJG
'WFQZKG $CDQWN
(4# ǡ1EV ǡ[T ǡFC[U NKHVGF QHH QP VJG 565
#PC 8GNC 4WDKQ
'52 ǡ1EV ǡ[T ǡFC[U OKUUKQP VQ VJG International
/KVUWG 6Q[QFC
,20 ǡ(GD ǡ[T ǡFC[U Space Station (ISS QP
/CTKG ,QUGRJKPG )CWFGVVG
+6# ǡ/CT ǡ[T ǡFC[U ǡ#WI /QTICPŨU TQNGU
;WMKG *KPQ
,20 ǡ#RT ǡ[T ǡFC[U KPENWFGF GFWECVQT CPF
TQDQVKE CTO QRGTCVQT
Source: Gerontology Research Group

Longest-lasting empire 27 BCE DATELINE
After thwarting Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, Octavian dissembles the Roman

Republic and appoints himself Emperor Augustus. The new Roman Empire will endure for 503 years.

guinnessworldrecords.com 77

FAMILY VALUES

Consolata, into the world
on 22 Aug 1907. Over the
next 27 years, she would
be joined by eight brothers
and sisters. By 20 Jun 2014,
with Consolata aged 106,
the nine siblings’ total age
was 837 years 6 days.

Highest age of 12 living siblings Three generations Oldest couple to marry
to run a marathon
CIITGICVGǡCIG
6JG EJKNFTGP QH /CIPWU CPF 'NUGDGVJ 1NUGP
&'0 Ť CNN QH At the Tokyo Marathon on
YJQO YGTG DQTP KP VJG (CTQG +UNCPFU DGVYGGP CPF 22 Feb 2015, a Japanese 6JG EQODKPGF CIG QH VJG QNFGUV EQWRNG VQ OCTT[ KU ǡ[GCTU
Ť JCF C EQODKPGF CIG ITGCVGT VJCP C OKNNGPPKWO [GCTU grandfather, daughter and ǡFC[U 6JG NCPFOCTM YCU CEJKGXGF D[ NQXGUVTWEM EQWRNG
ǡFC[U 6JG ƒXG UKUVGTU CPF UGXGP DTQVJGTU JCF VJGKT EQODKPGF grandson, with a combined )GQTIG -KTD[
7- D ǡ,WP CPF &QTGGP -KTD[
7- née
CIG EQPƒTOGF QP ǡ#WI age of 173 years 163 days, .WEMKG D ǡ5GR YJGP VJG[ YGTG OCTTKGF KP 'CUVDQWTPG
raced their way into the 'CUV 5WUUGZ 7- QP ǡ,WP
HIGHEST AGE OF… The highest combined record books. Shigetsugu
age for a living parent Anan and Yasuko Nakatake lived in Shuya, Russia, in the Centenarian siblings
A parent and child and child, meanwhile, is both crossed the line in 6 hr 18th century, gave birth to The Clarke family (IRL) lays
Sarah Knauss (USA, 1880– 210 years 48 days, set by 42 min 28 sec, while the four sets of quads. She also FODLP WR ͤYH FHQWHQDULDQV
1999) was once the oldest Jamaican mother and son youngest member of their bore seven sets of triplets Joseph, Charles, Patrick,
living woman. On 30 Dec Violet Brown (b. 10 Mar group, Suguru Nakatake, and 16 pairs of twins. Her James and Margaret. The
1999, the 119-year-old and 1900) and Harland ͤQLVKHG VHF HDUOLHU overall total of 69 children UHFRUG ZDV FRQͤUPHG RQ
her 96-year-old daughter Fairweather (b. 15 Apr easily makes her the most Margaret’s 100th birthday
Kathryn Knauss Sullivan 1920) on 21 Apr 2015. MOST… SUROL̨F PRWKHU. on 30 May 2014.
(USA, 1903–2005) had Violet is also believed to
a total mother- be the last living subject Living generations
daughter age of Queen Victoria. On the birth of her
of 215! great-great-great-great
Nine living siblings grandson in 1989, Augusta
Francesco Melis and his Bunge (USA) became MOST SIBLINGS WITH
wife Eleonora Mameli the matriarch of a seven- THE SAME BIRTH WEIGHT
(both ITA) welcomed generation family.
WKHLU ͤUVW FKLOG Oliver, Keanu and Phoenix, three of the four sons of
Quadruplets born to
the same mother Megan and Luke Bell from Queensland, Australia, all
Valentina
Vassilyev, who weighed precisely 7 lb 8 oz (3.4 kg) when they were born

between 2007 and 2013. Incredibly, the Bells’ first son,

Hayden, was born only one ounce heavier, weighing

in at 7 lb 9 oz (3.43 kg) in 2006.

DATELINE 40 CE Longest Roman aqueduct
Roman engineers complete a 275-m-long (902-ft) aqueduct – known today as the Pont du Gard – to supply
the settlement of Nemausus (present-day Nîmes in France) with clean drinking water.

78 Humans

FAST FACTS

The British royal family celebrates each new baby with a 41-gun salute

• Among OECD countries, Turkey has the largest average household:

4.11 people vs the average 2.63 • In the USA, the average marrying age is 28

Most family members Most siblings to play in an
to complete a marathon international rugby union match

6JG OCLQTKV[ QH WU EJGGT QP NQXGF QPGU HTQO VJG UKFGNKPGU $TQVJGTU #TEJKG ,CEM (TCPM )GQTIG CPF /CZ 5MQƒE
CNN 580
CV C OCTCVJQP DWV PQV VJG *WIJGU HCOKN[
+4. 1P ǡ1EV RNC[GF HQT VJGKT EQWPVT[ KP C 'WTQRGCP 0CVKQPU %WR ICOG CICKPUV
CV VJG &WDNKP /CTCVJQP TGNCVKXGU
RKEVWTGF $WNICTKC CV 2CTM 5KUMC KP .LWDNLCPC 5NQXGPKC QP ǡ#RT
HTQO OWNVKRNG IGPGTCVKQPU VQQM VQ VJG VTCEM 6JG HCUVGUV
YCUǡ*KNNCT[ *WIJGU YJQ TCP C VKOG QH ǡJT ǡOKP ǡUGE

Siblings to marry siblings star. She joined her great Costello, great-grandfather Most siblings to compete
from another family uncle Lionel Barrymore, who Maurice Costello and her KPǡCǡOQVQTURQTV EQORGVKVKQP
Between 1977 and 1996, boasts two stars, along with father John D Barrymore,
ͤYH GDXJKWHUV RI 1DUDQGUD great aunt Ethel, grandfather who each have one. That’s $TQVJGTU #TVQ /CVVK #TK ,[TMK /CTMWU CPF 2CUK *KPVUCNC
Nath and Taramoni Roy John, grandmother Dolores eight gold stars for the
CNNǡ(+0 YGPV JGCF VQ JGCF CV VJG CPPWCN 8GJMCOCCP
PDUULHG ͤYH VRQV RI family altogether. OQVQTǡTCEG KP .KOKPMC (KPNCPF QP ǡ#WI
Trarpoda Karmaker and
Khana Rani Roy (all BGD).

Family members on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2004, continuing a long
lineage of acting talent, E.T.
child star Drew Barrymore
(USA) became the
seventh member
of her family to
be honoured
with a gold

Oldest adoptee2TQXKPI VJCV KVŨU PGXGT VQQ NCVG VQ DG CFQRVGF /CT[ $CPMU DID YOU KNOW?hsierbMMerctlloimaoaanarutrlsgoiiynyhsvvstidweeeah.nsAneMfwas,erdfsbbuiltwtttuMyerhahritabkueMasahlelrop’gieuinsnopeerrmdlsiidifnetae;aoi1sMrlttb,t4teuh.hywatseaervihhrcoyraeetdn’wrusrimiaeaeeofladlriuolzetyvsaehenfided,drrst Most leap-year generations
in one family
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+4' D EGPVTG
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DGECOG VJGǡoldest adoptive parent CIGF [GCTU FC[U

$QVJ YQOGP YGTG FGNKIJVGF D[ VJG NQPI EQOKPI CHƒTOCVKQP

YKVJǡ/CT[ EQOOGPVKPI ū+ HGGN XGT[ JCRR[ 5JG JCU DGGP /QO

HQTǡCǡNQPIǡVKOG CPF PQY KVŨU QHƒEKCN Ŭ

First documented volcanic eruption 79 CE DATELINE
Mount Vesuvius erupts, destroying of the town of Pompeii, Italy. The Roman politician and writer Pliny the Younger

writes two letters to his friend, the historian Tacitus, detailing the events and their aftermath in great detail.

guinnessworldrecords.com 79

BODY EXTREMES

Tallest man ever
When last measured,
on 27 Jun 1940, Robert
Pershing Wadlow (USA)
was 272 cm (8 ft 11.1 in)
tall. His shoe size was
37AA, or UK size 36 –
equivalent to 47 cm
(18.5 in) long – and his
hands measured 32.3 cm

(12.7 in) from the wrist
to the tip of his middle
ͤQJHU 7KHVH DUH WKH
largest feet ever
and the largest
hands ever,
respectively.

Largest afro

6[NGT 9TKIJV
75# KU VJG RTQWF QYPGT QH C JGCF QH JCKT VJCV OGCUWTGU ǡEO
ǡKP JKIJ
ǡEOǡ
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ǡHV ǡKP KP EKTEWOHGTGPEG 6[NGTŨU CHTQ YCU OGCUWTGF KP
5Vǡ.QWKU ǡ/KUUQWTK 75# QP ǡ,WP YJGP JG YCU ǡ[GCTUǡQNF

The largest afro (female) DGNQPIU VQ #GXKP &WICU
75# +VǡOGCUWTGF ǡEO
ǡKP JKIJ
ǡEOǡ
ǡKP YKFG CPF JCF C EKTEWOHGTGPEG QH ǡEO
ǡHV ǡKP YJGP XGTKƒGF QP VJG UGV
QHǡ.Qǡ5JQY FGK 4GEQTF KP 4QOG +VCN[ QP ǡ/CT

TALLEST… LONGEST… • Beard on a living person: length of 9.85 m (32 ft
Sarwan Singh (CAN) had 3.8 in) when measured
• Man and person: Currently, the tallest living human • Beard ever: a beard measuring 2.495 m RQ 0D\
is Sultan Kösen (TUR), who measured 251 cm (8 ft 2.8 in) When he died in 1927, (8 ft 2.5 in) long as of • Fingernails on a pair
on 8 Feb 2011. For the tallest man ever, see above. Hans N Langseth’s (NOR) 8 Sep 2011. Sarwan leads of hands ever (female): Lee
• Woman: Siddiqa Parveen (IND) measured at least beard measured 5.33 m the congregation of the Redmond (USA) started to
222.2 cm (7 ft 3.4 in) tall in Dec 2012. Owing to Siddiqa’s ill IW LQ ORQJ 7KH Guru Nanak Sikh temple, JURZ KHU ͤQJHUQDLOV LQ
health and her inability to stand upright, it’s impossible record-breaking facial located in Surrey, British She carefully manicured
to ascertain her exact stature; however, Dr Debashish hair was presented to the Columbia, Canada. them to reach an overall
Saha, who performed the measurements, estimated • Fingernails on a pair length of 8.65 m (28 ft 4.5 in),
her standing height to be at least 233.6 cm (7 ft 8 in). Smithsonian Institution of hands ever (male): DV FRQͤUPHG RQ WKH VHW RI
in Washington, DC, USA, 7KH QDLOV RI 0HOYLQ %RRWKH .Qǡ5JQY FGK 4GEQTF LQ 0DGULG
in 1967. (USA) had a combined Spain, on 23 Feb 2008.

…AND SHORTEST

• Woman: Jyoti Amge (IND, far left) measured 62.8 cm
(24.7 in) tall on 16 Dec 2011.
• Man: Since GWR 2016, we have said a farewell to Chandra
Bahadur Dangi (NPL, 1939–2015). At 54.6 cm (21.5 in) tall, he
remains the shortest man ever. Chandra, who was mobile,
was shorter than the shortest non-mobile living man, though
the opposite is usually true. After his death, GWR re-opened
separate categories for the record. The shortest living man
(mobile) is once more Khagendra Thapa Magar (NPL, centre
left), who stood 67.08 cm (26.4 in) tall on 14 Oct 2010. The
shortest living man (non-mobile) is Junrey Balawing (PHL,
near left), who was 59.93 cm (23.6 in) tall on 12 Jun 2011.

DATELINE 112 CE First shopping mall
Located in Rome, Italy, Trajan’s Forum includes a covered market area with 150 shops and
offices set over six gallery levels. It is designed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus.

80 Humans

FAST FACTS

Hair retains a short-term record of the substances in the bloodstream – which

is why it is so useful as forensic evidence • Of all the mammals, only primates

have fingernails • The human tongue “print” is unique – just like a fingerprint

Youngest female DID YOU KNOW?a5ad23ru o3blui tojnionhnniaduenTctsfmhtha2osil5ee,nloa%re2fitneda.6n’oT as ppbfgarsahoeaekkianrlere1lslenl0aoteashnf7ttnae oogfldneignebgeedst.oato.tTn1mhreh9eeesees prman,birrntteuoeshsnsa,eecnenlsets
with a full beard
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on a woman is that
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• Hair (male): In 1949, the hair so matted that it • Moustache: When
Indian monk Swami cannot be untangled. measured for Italy’s .Q 5JQY
Pandarasannadhi was • Hair (female) 7KH KDLU FGK 4GEQTF LQ 5RPH RQ 0DU
reported to have hair 26 ft of Xie Qiuping (CHN) 2010, the moustache of
P LQ OHQJWK 7KLV measured 5.627 m (18 ft Ram Singh Chauhan (IND)
may have been caused by a LQ RQ 0D\ was 14 ft (4.29 m) long.
scalp condition called plica She began growing her • Nose on a living person:
neuropathica, which makes lengthy locks in 1973. 7KH QRVH RI 0HKPHW
˜]\¾UHN 785 PHDVXUHG
Longest eyebrow hair 8.8 cm (3.46 in) long from
the bridge to the tip when
<JGPI 5JWUGP
%*0 JCU QPG G[GDTQY JCKT VJCV GZVGPFGF VQ UHFRUGHG RQ 0DU
ǡEO
ǡKP YJGP OGCUWTGF CV /CP\JQWNK +PPGT /QPIQNKC • Tongue: Nick Stoeberl
%JKPC QP ǡ,CP (USA) had a tongue 10.1 cm
(3.97 in) long, from its tip to
The longest ear hair KU QPN[ OCTIKPCNN[ UJQTVGT #PVJQP[ 8KEVQT the middle of the closed top

+0& JCU JCKT URTQWVKPI HTQO VJG EGPVTG QH JKU QWVGT GCTU
OKFFNG lip, as of 27 Nov 2012.
QH VJG RKPPC VJCV OGCUWTGU ǡEO
KP CV KVU NQPIGUV RQKPV • Tongue (female): Chanel
7DSSHU̵V 86$ WRQJXH
measured 9.75 cm (3.8 in)
long on 29 Sep 2010.

HEAVIEST…

• Man ever: Jon Brower
0LQQRFK 86$ ̰
weighed over 1,400 lb
(635 kg; 100 st) when
DVVHVVHG LQ 0DU
• Woman ever: Rosalie
Bradford (USA, 1943–2006)
was reported to have a peak
weight of 1,200 lb (544 kg;
85 st) in Jan 1987.
• Living woman: As of
0D\ 3DXOLQH
Potter (USA) weighed
643 lb (291.6 kg; 46 st).

First use of gas warfare 254 CE DATELINE
Persian forces attacking the Roman garrison of Dura-Europos in eastern Syria dig tunnels to try to

gain access. They ignite bitumen and sulphur crystals to fill the tunnels with noxious fumes.

guinnessworldrecords.com 81

RECORDOLOGY

DID YOU KNOW?iWNblnloouaabrslWmbtltyhrlNaeeaiAol-sstth:ormetHhwarhreteuUMaeitr’ngyesbicacdo,arGkraH eltinbe,dniaooonCrotlmySwihgHiowegnananarorenInaleoidtiynsdasefe,lWfnEbDiWyonyn!eraaigFndmnllldlr.mydiaaoTsinnhahinnrcyeke,,

DATELINE 330 CE Oldest travel guide
An anonymous traveller writes the Itinerarium Burdigalense, a guide for pilgrims going from
France to Jerusalem. It gives recommendations for hostels, inns and stables along the route.

CONTENTS 84
86
RECORDOLOGY 88
FACTOGRAPHIC 90
FOOD 92
GARDEN GIANTS 94
CHOCOLATE 96
COLLECTIONS 98
MASS PARTICIPATION 100
COSPLAY 102
BIG STUFF
SMALLTOWN BIG STUFF
BALL SKILLS

Largest gathering of
RGQRNGǡFTGUUGFǡCU 9CNN[

Where’s Wally? If you were at the Street Performance World
Championship at Merrion Square West in Dublin, Ireland, on
ǡ,WP [QW YQWNF JCXG UGGP JKO GXGT[YJGTGБ +P VQVCN
ǡRCTVKEKRCPVU FQPPGF 9CNN[ŨU VTCFGOCTM URGEU DQDDNG JCV
CPFǡTGF UVTKRGU #PF KV YCU CNN KP C IQQF ECWUG RTQEGGFU TCKUGF
HTQO VJG UCNG QH 9CNN[ QWVƒVU QP VJG FC[ YGTG UWDUGSWGPVN[
FQPCVGF VQ #HTKECǡ#YCTG CP +TKUJ EJCTKV[ YQTMKPI KP /CNCYK

Longest pole-sitting overall 459 CE DATELINE
St Simeon the Stylite, a Christian mystic and hermit, dies atop the 15-m (50-ft) pillar on which he had sat
for the previous 39 years. He came down just once, so that the pole could be slightly increased in height.

guinnessworldrecords.com 83

FACTOGRAPHIC FARTHEST EYEBALL
PROTRUSION
PICTURE THIS!
-KO )QQFOCP
75# KU C VTWN[ eye-conic
Every year, the Guinness World Records Picture Editors criss-cross the TGEQTF JQNFGTБ 5JG KU CDNG VQ RQR JGT
planet in search of the most striking record-holder images. To celebrate
the work of our global team of photographers, we present here 10 of our RGGRGTU QWV QH VJGKT UQEMGVU D[ CP
favourite images snapped for the last few editions of the book. These G[G YCVGTKPI ǡOO
ǡKP CU
iconic record holders are not only inspiring, fascinating ambassadors for EQPƒTOGF KP +UVCPDWN 6WTMG[ KP
GWR, they also symbolize the diversity and scope of record-breaking…
FASTEST COMPLETION OF THE
DID YOU KNOW?IptutolmlAot(kimh3nhKe5ioes.epna8stvlie vgtamiroinntme’nshueFsoneolta8tstemsha.hts8t no;ecu 1mu7era sm9osrcr(,eusel12iecn4spp8-ol5buu 1yfr o6tllld(bllu 11sees)n05eddaa) dcirn.netdo). BOG SNORKELLING TRIATHLON
(FEMALE)
HEAVIEST AIRCRAFT PULLED
The fastest time to complete the World Bog Snorkelling
1P ǡ5GR 4GXGTGPF -GXKP (CUV QH 1PVCTKQ %CPCFC 6TKCVJNQP KU ǡJT ǡOKP ǡUGE CPF YCU CEJKGXGF D[ 0CVCNKG
RWNNGF C %% )NQDGOCUVGT +++ YGKIJKPI CP KPETGFKDNG $GPV
7- CV VJG 9QTNF $QI 5PQTMGNNKPI 6TKCVJNQP KP
ǡVQPPGU
ǡND *G JCWNGF VJG CKTETCHV CV VJG .NCPYTV[F 9GNNU 9CNGU 7- QP ǡ,WN
%CPCFKCP (QTEGU $CUG KP 6TGPVQP 1PVCTKQ %QKPEKFGPVCNN[
VJG )NQDGOCUVGT +++ YGKIJGF CNOQUV GZCEVN[ VJG UCOG CU VJG 4WPPKPI Bog snorkelling %[ENKPI
largest blue whale GXGT OGCUWTGF
ǡVQPPGU ǡND ǡMO
ǡOK ǡO
ǡHV ǡMO
ǡOK
QPǡ /CT
TALLEST AND
SHORTEST DOGS

+P YG DTQWIJV VQIGVJGT VJG
mightiest and meekest dogs for
C RJQVQ UJQQV KP 5CETCOGPVQ

%CNKHQTPKC 75# #V ǡEO

ǡKP VQ VJG UJQWNFGT )TGCV
&CPG )KDUQP YCU VKOGU VCNNGT
VJCP %JKJWCJWC $QQ $QQ CV LWUV

ǡEO
ǡKP Б

= MOST BIG MACS EATEN
+P &QPCNF # )QTUMG
75# EGNGDTCVGF JKU VJ CPPKXGTUCT[ CU C EWUVQOGT
QH VJG HCUV HQQF EJCKP /E&QPCNFŨU D[ EQPUWOKPI JKU VJ $KI /CEБ &QPCNF
KU UWEJ C HCP QH VJG DWTIGT EJCKP VJCV JGŨU GCVGP CV QPG QH VJGKT QWVNGVU GXGT[
UKPING FC[ UKPEG /C[ +H [QW VQQM VJG
DGGH HTQO CNN VJG $KI /CEU VJCV &QPCNFŨU
GCVGP KP JKU NKHGVKOG [QWŨF DG HCEGF YKVJ
C UKPING VQPPG
ND DWTIGT
RCVV[ OGCUWTKPI C OCOOQVJ ǡO
ǡHV
ǡKP YKFG CPF ǡEO
ǡKP VJKEMБ

LARGEST COLLECTION LARGEST WALKING ROBOT
OF STAR WARS
MEMORABILIA (CPP[ KU C TCFKQ EQPVTQNNGF TQDQV FTCIQP OGCUWTKPI
ǡO
ǡHV ǡKP NQPI D[ ǡO
ǡHV ǡKP VCNN 5JG YCU
5VGXG 5CPUYGGV
75# JCU EQNNGEVGF UQ OCFG D[ <QNNPGT 'NGMVTQPKM #)
&'7 KP <CPFV )GTOCP[
OCP[ RKGEGU QH OGOQTCDKNKC TGNCVKPI HQT CP CPPWCN HQNMNQTG HGUVKXCN 6JG VGTTKH[KPI ETGCVWTG
VQ JKU HCXQWTKVG OQXKG HTCPEJKUG VJCV KU RQYGTGF D[ C NKVTG VWTDQ FKGUGN GPIKPG CPF YGKIJU
JG ECPŨV NQI VJGO HCUV GPQWIJ #U VJKU ǡVQPPGU
ǡND Ť CDQWV VJG UCOG CU -QOQFQ
RCEMGF RKEVWTG UJQYU JG JCU C NQV FTCIQPU CV E ǡMI
ǡND VJG TGCN YQTNFŨU largest lizard
of 5VCTǡ9CTU KVGOU CV VJG NCUV
=
QHƒEKCN EQWPV *QYGXGT JG QYPU CP
GUVKOCVGF KVGOU KP VQVCN
OCMKPI JKU QHƒEKCN EQWPV C OGTG
QH JKU CEVWCN EQNNGEVKQP

+= 7PEQWPVGF
%QWPVGF
FASTEST 30 M ON A
SCOOTER BY A DOG

0QTOCP VJG 5EQQVGT &QI QYPGF D[ -CTGP
%QDD
75# UGV VJKU WPWUWCN URGGF
TGEQTF KP /CTKGVVC )GQTIKC 75#
QP ǡ,WN 6JG pawesome
RQQEJ EQXGTGF ǡO
ǡHV QP C
UEQQVGT KP ǡUGE Ť CXGTCIKPI
C URGGF QHǡ ǡMO J
ǡORJ
+V JCU DGGP GUVKOCVGF VJCV VJG
CXGTCIG FQI KU CU KPVGNNKIGPV
CU C VYQ [GCT QNF EJKNF
Ť CPF GXGP ECRCDNG QH
DCUKE CTKVJOGVKEБ

LARGEST MONSTER TRUCK MOST PIERCED WOMAN AND
MOST PIERCED SENIOR CITIZEN
$KIHQQV KU ǡO
ǡHV ǡKP VCNN YKVJ O VCNN
HV V[TGU $WKNV KP
CU QPG KP C UGTKGU QH D[ $QD %JCPFNGT QH 5V .QWKU /KUUQWTK 6JKU KPETGFKDNG RQTVTCKV QH 'NCKPG &CXKFUQP
7- D $4# NGHV CPF ,QJP .[PEJ
75# $KIHQQV KU PQY RGTOCPGPVN[ RCTMGF KP 5V .QWKU CPF OCMGU
7- TKIJV UJQYU VJG GZVGPV QH VJGKT RKGTEKPIU #V VJG NCUV EQWPV VJG RKGTEGF
QEECUKQPCN CRRGCTCPEGU CV NQECN UJQYU 6KRRKPI VJG UECNGU CV C RCKT RQUUGUUGF C EQODKPGF VQVCN QH ǡTKPIU UVWFU CPF TQFU #UUWOKPI
YJQRRKPI ǡND
ǡMI KVŨU GSWKXCNGPV KP ǡI
ǡQ\ RGT RKGTEKPI VJKU GSWCVGU VQ GPQWIJ OGVCN VQ
YGKIJV VQ VJTGG DWNN #HTKECP GNGRJCPVUБ RTQFWEG UQFC ECPUБ

= =

FOOD

.CTIGUV XGIGVCDNG UVGY Carolina Reaper chillies in
60 sec in New York, USA,
1P /CT -PQTT (KPG (QQFU
'); UGTXGF WR C UVGY on 26 Apr 2015. That’s
YGKIJKPI MI
ND Q\ YJKEJ VQQM JT VQ RTGRCTG some feat: the Carolina
KP %CKTQ 'I[RV 1PG QH 'I[RVŨU PCVKQPCN FKUJGU foul (aka ful Reaper is the hottest chilli.
QTǡfoule KPENWFGU EQQMGF HCXC DGCPU QRVKQPCNN[ UGCUQPGF Grown by the PuckerButt
YKVJ NGOQP LWKEG CPF C OKZ QH JGTDU CPF URKEGU Pepper Company (USA), it
averages 1,569,300 units
Fastest time to eat )TGCVGUV YGKIJV QH on the Scoville heat scale. Largest cupcake mosaic
Cǡ KPEJ RK\\C %CTQNKPCǡ4GCRGT EJKNNKGU
Kelvin Medina (PHL) ate a GCVGP KP QPGǡOKPWVG /QUV GZRGPUKXG UCPFYKEJ The Spar Group Ltd (ZAF) put together a 138.56-m²
pizza in 23.62 sec in Taguig, Russel Todd (USA) The “Quintessential Grilled (1,491.44-sq-ft) cupcake mosaic in Durban, South Africa, on
Philippines, on 12 Apr 2015. scoffed 70 g (2.5 oz) of Cheese” was selling ǡ5GR %QORTKUKPI EWRECMGU KV YCU ETGCVGF CU C
for $214 (£132.64) at VTKDWVG VQ VJG 5RTKPIDQMU HQT VJG 4WID[ 9QTNF %WR CU YGNN
Serendipity 3 in New York, CU C HWPF TCKUGT HQT %JKNFJQQF %CPEGT #YCTGPGUU /QPVJ
USA, as of 29 Oct 2014.

/QUV UCWUCIGU RTQFWEGF
KP QPG OKPWVG
Liam O’Hagan of O’Hagan’s
Sausages (both UK) made
44 sausages in 60 sec at a
charity event in Chichester,
UK, on 2 Nov 2015.

MOST ICE-CREAM SCOOPS BALANCED ON A CONE

Dimitri Panciera (ITA) carefully balanced 121 scoops of ice-cream on a single cone
in Forno di Zoldo, Italy, on 20 Sep 2015. In doing so, he topped his own record of
109 scoops, set in the same location on 20 Jul 2014 at the Gelatiamo festival, an

annual celebration of the ice-cream that
the Val di Zoldo area produces.
When it comes to cones, though,
one towers above all the rest.
The tallest ice-cream cone
measured 3.08 m (10 ft 1.26 in)
and was made by Hennig-
Olsen Is AS and Trond L
Wøien (both NOR) at
Kristiansand, Norway,
on 26 Jul 2015.

DATELINE 650 CE Largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure
A veteran soldier buries 5 kg (11 lb) of gold in Staffordshire, UK.
The hoard creates a sensation when it is uncovered in 2009.

86 Recordology

FAST FACTS

Americans eat 100 acres (40.4 ha) of pizza every day • Hot dogs were
among the first foods eaten during the Apollo 11 Moon mission •
Heinz sells 11 billion single-serve packets of ketchup each year

.QPIGUV UCWUCIG

5 % %CTTGHQWT 4QOCPKC 5 # CPF #NFKU 54. %CNCTCUK
DQVJ 41/ ETGCVGF C MO NQPI

OK UCWUCIG KP 2NQKGɲVK 4QOCPKC QP ǡ&GE 6JCVŨU PGCTN[ VYQ CPF C JCNH
VKOGUǡVJG NGPIVJ QH CNN VJG EQTTKFQTU KP VJG 75 2GPVCIQPБ

/QUV NKOGU UNKEGF Glass of beer: Angus Wood Sticky rice cake: On 13 Apr Pulled pork: The Pork
KPǡJCNHǡKPǡQPGǡOKPWVG and Ed Dupuy of Stod Fold 2015, Salakhet Siem Reap Association (AUS) produced
Brewing Company (all UK) (KHM) made a sticky rice a 707-kg (1,558-lb 10-oz)
1P ǡ/CT ,WNKQ %ȌUCT 6ȄXCTC
2'4 JCNXGF ǡNKOGUǡKP served up a 2,082-litre cake weighing 4,040 kg portion of pulled pork – the
ǡUGE CV Reporte Semanal
.CVKPC 68 KP .KOC 2GTW ,WNKQǡ%ȌUCT (550-US-gal) glass of ale (8,906 lb 10 oz) – the weight of two grand pianos
YQTMU KP C UGCHQQF TGUVCWTCPV PGCT 2KWTC KP 2GTW CPF JKU – equivalent in volume to weight of six dairy cows – – in the Australian city of
PKEMPCOG KU ū6JG .KOGU 0KPLCŬ 26 bathtubs of beer – in in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Sydney on 14 Apr 2015.
Halifax, West Yorkshire,
Largest… .CTIGUV RK\\C
Cheese sculpture: On UK, on 6 Jul 2014.
18 Sep 2015, the Melt fast- Rice cracker: 9KVJ C UWTHCEG CTGC QH ǡOq
ǡUS HV VJKU
food eatery in Hollywood, On 26 Oct 2014, IKICPVKE RK\\C
CNUQ VJG largest gluten-free pizza YCU PGCTN[
California, USA, carved JCI Noda (JPN) ƒXG VKOGU VJG UK\G QH C VGPPKU EQWTVБ +V YCU RTGRCTGF D[ &QXKNKQ
a 1,524-lb (691.27-kg) unveiled a 2.35-m² 0CTFK #PFTGC /CPPQEEJK /CTEQ 0CTFK /CVVGQ 0CTFK CPF
cheeseburger out (25.3-sq-ft) rice /CVVGQ )KCPPQVVG
CNN +6# HTQO 0+2HQQF CV VJG (KGTC FK 4QOC
of a block of cracker in Noda, VTCFG HCKT KPǡVJG +VCNKCP ECRKVCN EKV[ QH 4QOG QP ǡ&GE
Wisconsin
cheddar. Chiba, Japan.

DID YOU KNOW?hfroTffiemrherseaisuaepstcvgildgRhzaeeaizovrheatraimeotegeslwhatsaeOaiy,mlananntcpsoshtetpreufabrnoarmvgaheaomninyeepmvad n,aoilen en1elitrctnv0iAdgohnrec0ruec“glrb.%sdOhgeAed.iuoatntg itglsseglaeeituldenvfisuutstiwgttseteaes,inri”,vntto-heih-lne

Oldest Viking boats 700 CE DATELINE
A defeated Viking raiding party buries its dead in a longship on the island of Saaremaa,

Estonia. The remains of this ship represent the oldest evidence of Viking seafarers.

guinnessworldrecords.com 87

GARDEN GIANTS

HEAVIEST FRUIT & VEG

FRUIT/VEG WEIGHT GROWER DATE
Apple ǡMI
ǡND ǡQ\ %JKUCVQ +YCUCMK
,20 1EV
,CP
Avocado ǡMI
ǡND ǡQ\ )CDTKGN 4COKTG\ 0CJKO
8'0 5GR

Beetroot MI
ǡND ǡQ\ +CP 0GCNG
7-
#WI
Broccoli MI
ǡND ǡQ\ ,QJP CPF /CT[ 'XCPU
DQVJ 75# #WI

Cabbage MI
ǡND ǡQ\ 5EQVV # 4QDD
75# 5GR
,WP
Cantaloupe MI
ND Q\ 5EQVV CPF /CTFKG 4QDD
DQVJ 75#
melon
#WI
*GCXKGUV RWORMKP Celery MI
ND Q\ +CP 0GCNG
7-

$GPK /GKGT QH 5YKV\GTNCPF YQP VJG 'WTQRGCP %JCORKQPUJKR Cherry I
Q\ )GTCTFQ /CIIKRKPVQ
+6# #WI
2WORMKP 9GKIJ QHH YKVJ C JQOGITQYP URGEKOGP YGKIJKPI 0QX
ǡMI
ǡND ǡQ\ Ť CU JGCX[ CU HWNN[ ITQYP OGP Courgette MI
ǡND ǡQ\ $GTPCTF .CXGT[
7-
6JG ICTICPVWCP IQWTF YCU CWVJGPVKECVGF D[ VJG )TGCV 2WORMKP ,CP
%QOOQPYGCNVJ KPǡ.WFYKIUDWTI )GTOCP[ QP ǡ1EV Fig I
Q\ /GJVCR 1OGT
7- #WI
5GR
Garlic head MI
ND Q\ 4QDGTV -KTMRCVTKEM
75# #WI
0QX
Largest rose bush Most blooms on an orchid Gooseberry I
Q\ -GNXKP #TEJGT
7- ,WN
A specimen of the rose In all, 91 blooms were
bush Lady Banks (Rosa counted on an orchid grown Grapefruit MI
ND Q\ %NQ[ &KCU &WVTC
$4# 5GR
banksiae) located in by Shi Yuanfeng (CHN), as 1EV
Tombstone, Arizona, USA, YHULͤHG LQ %HQ[L /LDRQLQJ Lemon MI
ND Q\ #JCTQP 5JGOQGN
+54 (GD
has a trunk circumference China, on 20 May 2014. /CT
of 13 ft 5 in (4.09 m), stands Mango MI
ǡND ǡQ\ 5GTIKQ CPF /CTKC 5QEQTTQ $QFKQPICP
DQVJ 2*. 5GR
some 9 ft (2.75 m) tall and Most tomatoes
covers 8,000 sq ft (743 m²). HTQOǡCǡUKPING RNCPV Parsnip MI
ND Q\ &CXKF 6JQOCU
7-
Surjit Singh Kainth (UK)
harvested 1,355 tomatoes Peach I
ND Q\ 2CWN (TKFC[
75#
from just one of his plants
in Coventry, West Midlands, Pear MI
ND Q\ , # #KEJK 6Q[QVC 0CUJK $WMCK
,20
UK, on 11 Sep 2013.
Plum I
Q\ /KPCOK #NRU %KV[ ,# -QOCPQ 5GEVKQP -K[Q
,20

Potato MI
ǡND ǡQ\ 2GVGT )NC\GDTQQM
7-

Pumpkin MI
ND ǡQ\ $GPK /GKGT
%*'

Largest cashew tree Radish MI
ND Q\ /CPCDW 1QPQ
,20
A cashew tree in Natal,
Brazil, reputedly planted by Sweet potato MI
ND Q\ /CPWGN 2ȌTG\ 2ȌTG\
'52
D ORFDO ͤVKHUPDQ LQ
1888, covers an area Turnip MI
ND Q\ 5EQVV CPF /CTFKG 4QDD
DQVJ 75#
as large as 28 tennis
courts – c. 7,500 m2

(80,700 sq ft) –
and yields up to
80,000 fruit
(and “nuts”)
per year.

HEAVIEST... ONION CARROT CUCUMBER
1P ǡ5GR 6QP[ )NQXGT
7- RTGUGPVGF 2GVGT )NC\GDTQQM
7- ITGY C ECTTQV VQ C 1P 5GR CV VJG /CNXGTP #WVWOP
WATERMELON CP QPKQP VJCV YGKIJGF ǡMI
ǡND ǡQ\ YQTNF DGCVKPI YGKIJV QH ǡMI
ǡND ǡQ\ 5JQY CV VJG 6JTGG %QWPVKGU 5JQYITQWPF
%JTKU -GPV QH 5GXKGTXKNNG 6GPPGUUGG 75# 6JG G[G YCVGTKPIN[ NCTIG XGIGVCDNG YCU #U YKVJ 6QP[ )NQXGTŨU IKICPVKE QPKQP
UGG KP /CNXGTP 7- &CXKF 6JQOCU
7-
ITGY C YCVGTOGNQP VJCV YGKIJGF ǡND ǡQ\ RTGUGPVGF CV VJG *CTTQICVG #WVWOP (NQYGT NGHV VJG TGEQTF YCU XGTKƒGF CV VJG *CTTQICVG RTGUGPVGF C EWEWODGT YGKIJKPI CP

ǡMI +V YCU XGTKƒGF CV VJG 1RGTCVKQP 5JQY KP *CTTQICVG 0QTVJ ;QTMUJKTG 7- #WVWOP (NQYGT 5JQY 7- QP 5GR CUVQPKUJKPI ǡMI
ǡND ǡQ\
2WORMKP HGUVKXCN JGNF KP *COKNVQP 1JKQ
75# QP ǡ1EV

DATELINE 717 CE Oldest family business
Buddhist monk Garyo Houshi sets up a ryokan, a traditional inn, in the village of Awazu, Japan, near a spring
reputed to have healing powers. The current owner is Houshi’s 46th-generation descendant.

88 Recordology

FAST FACTS

Strawberries are not true berries… but bananas, watermelons and avocados

are • Botanically, there is no such thing as a vegetable • Peanuts, coconuts,

cashews and pine nuts are not nuts... but pecans, acorns and hazelnuts are

TALLEST PLANTS

PLANT HEIGHT GROWER DATE
Amaranthus O
HV KP ,GUUG 'NFTKF
75# 1EV
#PCUVCUKC )TKIQTCMK
)4%
Basil O
HV KP 5VCVQP 4QTKG
75# ,WN
Bean (speckled O
HV KP 0QX
butterbean) 5TK &JCTOCUVJCNC /CPLWPCVJGUJYCTC
100% %QNNGIG QH &GPVCN 5EKGPEGU
+0& &GE
0CPE[ .GG 5RKNQXG
75#
Cactus (homegrown) O
HV KP 9QQFTQY 9KNUQP )TCPIGT
75# 1EV
%QUOQU 'ZGEWVKXG %QOOKVVGG
,20 /C[
Coleus O
HV KP & / 9KNNKCOU
75# 1EV
/ .QYG
7- ,WN
Heaviest Collard O
HV KP ,Q 4KFKPI CPF ,QG[ (WUEQ
DQVJ %#0
strawberry 4GKPJCTF $KGJNGT
&'7 1979
Cosmos ǡO
HV KP )QUUG *CKUOC
#75 5GR
-QLK 0CMCQ
,20 EWNVKXCVGF C I
Q\ UVTCYDGTT[ VJCV # * (GPPGNN
+4. ,WP
OGCUWTGF Z ǡEO
Z ǡKP CPF JCF CǡEKTEWOHGTGPEG Cotton O
HV 2TCUCPVC /CN
+0&
QHǡ Ť ǡEO
Ť ǡKP +V YCU YGKIJGF KP (WMWQMC &CXKF $TGPPGT
75# 1987
(WMWQMC 2TGHGEVWTG ,CRCP QP ǡ,CP Daffodil O
HV KP .CWTC .KCPI
75#
$GTPCTF .CXGT[
7- 5GR
Dandelion O
HV KP #PPG CPF %JCTNGU )TCPV
DQVJ 75# ,WP
4QDGTV $GPFGN
75# 1999
Fuchsia (climbing) O
HV KP *QQXC[[C )QYFC
+0& 1994
*CPU 2GVGT 5EJKHHGT
&'7 #WI
LONGEST… Bottle gourd Kale O
HV KP ,CUQP -CTN
75# 1EV
Alan Eaton (CAN) presented %JTKUVKPG 5CFNGT
%#0 ,WP
Beetroot a 3.797-m-long (12-ft 5.5-in) Lupin O
HV KP #WI
On 26 Sep 2015, at the bottle gourd (Lagenaria &GE
Three Counties Showground siceraria) at Bracebridge Papaya tree O
HV #WI
in Malvern, Worcestershire, Fall Fair in Ontario, Canada,
UK, Joe Atherton (UK) on 19 Sep 2015. Parsley O
HV KP
presented a 7.212-m-long
(23-ft 7.9-in) beetroot. Cucumber Pepper O
HV
By way of contrast, the Ian Neale (UK) grew a
reticulated python – the 1.07-m-long (3-ft 8-in) Petunia O
HV KP
longest snake – grows to cucumber for presentation
around 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in). at the Royal Bath & West Rose (climbing) O
HV
Show in Shepton Mallet,
The year before, at the UK, on 26 Sep 2011. Rose bush (supported) O
HV KP
same competition, Joe
submitted the longest Radish Sugar cane O
HV
parsnip, which measured Jamie Courtney-Fortey,
6.28 m (20 ft 7.2 in). Gareth Fortey and Kevin Sunflower O
HV KP
Fortey (all UK) grew a radish
measuring 2.235 m (7 ft Sweetcorn (maize) O
HV KP
4 in) in Cwmbran, Gwent,
Wales, UK, Thistle O
HV
DV YHULͤHG
on 25 Oct
2015.

SWEDE LEEK CAULIFLOWER
+P 5GR +CP 0GCNG
7- WPXGKNGF 2CWN 4QEJGUVGT
7- RTGUGPVGF C MI $KI XGI URGEKCNKUV 2GVGT )NC\GDTQQM
C RTK\G YKPPKPI MI
ND UYGFG
ND Q\ NGGM CV VJG /CNXGTP #WVWOP
7- ITGY C ECWNKHNQYGT VJCV
CV VJG 7- 0CVKQPCN )KCPV 8GIGVCDNG 5JQY QP 5GR 2CWN UC[U VJCV VJG YGKIJGF ǡMI
ǡND ǡQ\
%JCORKQPUJKR JGNF FWTKPI VJG UGETGV VQ JKU UWEEGUU KU RNC[KPI OWUKE VQ JKU QPǡ #RT *G KU UGGP JGTG
/CNXGTPǡ#WVWOP 5JQY XGIGVCDNGU C VKR JKU HCVJGT 9KNHTGF ICXG JKO YKVJ JKU YKHG /CT[

Oldest university 859 CE DATELINE
The University of Karueein is founded in Fez, Morocco, and remains a seat of learning

to this day. Its specialist subjects are Islamic studies and Arabic linguistics.

guinnessworldrecords.com 89

CHOCOLATE

Most expensive “Galak”. The bar was Tallest chocolate Santa Claus
chocolate bar gradually introduced
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under various names, O VCNN
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9JGP $TKVKUJ GZRNQTGT including Milky Bar $WKNV QXGT VJTGG YGGMU D[ UKZ EJQEQNCVKGTU HTQO 6QUEC C
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GODCTMGF QP VJG INC\GF 5CPVC YCU JQNNQY [GV UVKNN YGKIJGF C OCUUKXG ǡVQPPGU
Discovery GZRGFKVKQP First Valentine’s
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to Antarctica DQZ QH EJQEQNCVGU
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supplies were the eldest son of John
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QH GXGT[FC[ DTCPFU the now iconic brand, was
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CFXGPVWTG 2TQFWEVU KPENWFGF %QNOCPŨU to commercialize the
'PINKUJ OWUVCTF $KTFŨU EWUVCTF CPF UQOG association between the
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KP C EKICTGVVG VKP UQNF HQT c
VQ CP CPQP[OQWU DW[GT box of chocolates for
CVǡ%JTKUVKGŨU CWEVKQP JQWUG KP .QPFQP 7- QP ǡ5GR Valentine’s Day in 1868.

Oldest chocolate 3XEOLVKHG LQ Chocolate: or, TRIVIA Highest chocolate Chocolate bar with
In 2007, anthropologist an Indian Drinke, penned by consumption per capita VJGǡOQUVǡHNCXQWT XCTKCPVU
John Henderson (USA) Spanish physician Antonio Chocolate is derived Based on annual To date, the standard four-
found traces of cacao in Colmenero, the book from the fruit (“pods”) confectionery sales, no ͤQJHU .LW.DW FKRFRODWH EDU
pottery fragments dating expounded the food's health of the cocoa, or cacao, nation eats a greater has been made available
WR Ύ΍΋ QHDU 3XHUWR EHQHͤWV FODLPLQJ LW FRXOG tree Theobroma cacao, LQ PRUH WKDQ ͥDYRXUV
Escondido in Honduras. cure coughs and sickness, amount of chocolate than The variations include
It’s thought the cacao was and even aid conception. native to the tropics Switzerland. In 2015, the cucumber, wasabi,
fermented and drank as a of Central and South average Swiss person watermelon and salt, and,
mildly alcoholic beverage. First white chocolate America. Cocoa beans consumed an estimated of course, milk chocolate.
White chocolate was are actually seeds from 9.3 kg (20 lb 8 oz).
Although cacao- introduced by Nestlé in the trees’ pods (below);
based drinks may 1930, and marketed in after harvesting, the
have emerged Switzerland under the name beans are fermented
centuries before,
the earliest recipe and dried.
for chocolate drink
dates from 1631.

Longest chocolate sculpture

Master chocolatier Andrew Farrugia of Malta used up
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ever made. The intricately detailed Belcolade Express
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modern electric locomotive at
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loco at the other. Pictured is
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unveiling ceremony for the
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DATELINE 870 CE Largest ancient castle
Construction begins on Prague Castle (in the present-day Czech Republic).
When completed, the castle covers an area of 18 acres (7.3 ha).

90 Recordology

FAST FACTS

The oldest person ever, Jeanne Louise Calment (FRA), who lived

to 122, partly put down her long life to eating chocolate • White

chocolate is not technically chocolate as it has no cocoa solids

TOP OF THE CHOCS

Chocolate is seriously big business. Here we take a look
at the biggest-selling chocolate confectionery brands…

Brand Maker Revenue (2014) 4
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75#
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.7: +6#
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75#
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75#
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75#
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75#
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5QWTEG 'WTQOQPKVQT +PVGTPCVKQPCN GUVKOCVGF ƒIWTGU 7
1

.CTIGUV DQZ QH EJQEQNCVGU behemoth bunny at the Sculpture 27 Nov 2014. At
annual Chocofest event, $ͤFLRQ &KRFRODWH &+1 13.5 m (44 ft 4.2 in) high, it
1P #RT EQPHGEVKQPGT[ TGVCKNGT 6JQTPVQPU CPF RTQR held in Gramado, Brazil. crafted a building 4.08 m was 61 times smaller than
OCMGT 4WUUGNN $GEM 5VWFKQ
DQVJ 7- ETGCVGF C DWORGT DQZ Training agency Senac-RS (13 ft 4.6 in) long on 30 Sep the real tallest building.
QH EJQEQNCVGU VJCV VQYGTGF ǡO
ǡHV ǡKP VCNN 6KRRKPI VJG %5$ XQYHLOHG WKH ͤQDO 2015. Weighing 10,187 kg
UECNGU CV ǡMI
ǡND Ť VJG YGKIJV QH C UOCNN ECT Ť KV 3,850-kg (8,488-lb) sculpture (22,458 lb 7 oz), this edible Meanwhile, the Namba
YCU VKOGU JGCXKGT VJCP C UVCPFCTF I
Q\ DQZ on 12 Apr 2014. The rabbit HGLͤFH RXWGLG WKH previous Walk mall in Osaka, Japan,
QHǡ6JQTPVQPU /QOGPVU was posed with a chocolate record by 1,900 kg (4,188 lb). made the largest chocolate-
football in honour of the candy sculpture in 2012:
LARGEST 6TWHHNG 2014 FIFA World Cup, which Crafted by Andrew a 267.4-kg (589-lb 8-oz)
CHOCOLATE… $ WLWDQLF WUXͧH ZHLJKLQJ was hosted by Brazil. Farrugia (see choc train sugar-coated heart.
802 kg (1,768 lb 2 oz) opposite), the tallest
Easter egg – the equivalent of 11 Bell chocolate sculpture
In 2011, Le Acciaierie adult men – was made Bonbons Verdier of Serres- UHFUHDWHG WKH %XUM .KDOLID
Shopping Village in by Mirco Della Vecchia, Castet in France crafted a at Dubai Airport, UAE, on
Cortenuova, Italy, unveiled Andrea Andrighetti, Rimini gold-coated chocolate bell
a chocolate egg weighing Fiera, Fabbri 1905, Icam weighing 293 kg (645 lb
7,200 kg (15,873 lb) and and Martellato (all ITA) 15 oz) on 16 Jun 2011. The
standing 10.39 m (34 ft 1 in) in Rimini, Italy, on 21 Jan 1.51-m (4-ft 11.4-in) bell
tall. At more than twice the 2012. The 1-m-wide (3-ft had to be moved into the
height of a typical London LQ WUXͧH ZDV FRQFRFWHG shade to prevent it melting
double-decker bus, this from dark chocolate, cream in the intense summer
eggs-treme creation is also and Amarena cherries. heat; electric fans were
the tallest Easter egg. also deployed to keep the
Rabbit record-breaking choc cool.
Some 6,000 chocolate bars
were axed and chiselled
into shape to produce a

LARGEST CHOCOLATE COIN

Tipping the scales at 658 kg (1,450 lb 10 oz),
this colossal chocolate 1-Euro coin was
presented at the Cioccoshow fair in an
event organized by the BF Servizi SRL (ITA)
in Bologna, Italy, on 15 Nov 2012 to mark
Guinness World Records Day. The coin had
a diameter of 1.96 m (6 ft 5.17 in) – more
than the height of the average male adult
– and was 17 cm (6.69 in) thick. The outsized
confectionery took 22 hr to prepare, after which
sculptors Stefano and Tommaso Comelli (both ITA)
spent a further 12 hr carving it into shape.

Oldest parliament 930 CE DATELINE
A great assembly (the Althing) is held in Iceland, gathering men from all the island’s
clans to decide on matters of law. The Althing, Iceland’s parliament, still meets today.

guinnessworldrecords.com 91

COLLECTIONS

Largest collection of sunglasses Autographed golf balls Doctor Who memorabilia
As of 1 Mar 2015, Joe Beginning in 1974 with
In 1999, “Auntie” Betty Webster (USA) began wearing and collecting novelty sunglasses while Galiardi (USA) had 204 golf a yellow “Bump and Go”
YQTMKPI CU C TGUVCWTCPV JQUVGUU KP -COWGNC *CYCKK 75# *GT TWPPKPI VQVCN QH ǡKPFKXKFWCN balls, all signed by different Marx Dalek received for
FGUKIPU YCU XGTKƒGF VJGTG QP ǡ1EV -PQYP VJTQWIJQWV VJG KUNCPFU CU VJG ū*QUVGUU professional golf players. Christmas, Ian O’Brien (UK)
YKVJǡVJG /QUVGUUŬ $GVV[ EQNQWT EQQTFKPCVGU JGT UWPINCUUGU YKVJ JGT QWVƒVU CPF KU CNYC[U has 2,021 Doctor Who items,
on the lookout for new designs, while fans and followers Comic books DV YHULͤHG RQ -XO
regularly contribute to her collection. On 6 Aug 2015, Bob Bretall
(USA) updated his record Dragon-related items
for the third time, with Born in the year of the
101,822 publications. He dragon, Huang Xiaojing
began buying comics as a (CHN) had spent 40 years
child and adds (and reads) gathering 3,201 different
around 100 titles a month. dragon-related objects,
as of 18 Apr 2015.
Corkscrews
Ion Chirescu (ROM) had Jade
acquired 23,965 pieces over Lam Chung Foon (HKG) had
10 years, up to 18 Jun 2015. collected 7,176 exquisite
In Aug 2015, he opened pieces of jade art and
a museum in Bucharest, jewellery by 20 Jun 2015.
Romania, to house them. He also has the largest
collection of candles: 6,360,
The Dark Eye YHULͤHG RQ 'HF
memorabilia
Alexander Grimme Lupin the Third memorabilia
(DEU), a devotee of the %RRNV PDJD]LQHV ͤJXULQHV
role-playing game, had collectable cards, keychains,
assembled 2,848 print guitar tabs and toys
comprise the 2,281 items
items, artworks, related to the Japanese
videogames, animation character,
miniatures gathered by Dario Calabria
and more by (ITA) up to 12 Apr 2015.
11 Apr 2015.

DID YOU KNOW?ancCitpnohdoandapptlitathrlcaeacoaraioonelnttinevettd:exetmmetosaihpsllaaeaetoomttecrgspeteodiieurltsshariwecytanisdahsiglttnstfhtsaheohdslbmaruyteopnhwcsvduodeh.ahultlcalaaeneurnstnxgeeittb.a,dmhiToatnbeuhnancyyrleedtsese LARGEST COLLECTION
OF COPROLITES

George Frandsen (USA) owns 1,277 coprolites, or
fossilized faeces, as documented at the South Florida
Museum in Bradenton, Florida, USA, on 1 Aug 2015. His
prehistoric poo comes from 15 states in the USA and
eight countries worldwide. George began finding the
fossils on camping trips to Utah as a youngster. A prize
piece is “Precious” (below right), his largest true-to-form
coprolite, weighing in at 1.92 kg (4 lb 3.5 oz). It was found
in South Carolina and dates from the Miocene epoch,
23.8–5.3 million years ago. It is naturally glossy, feels and
smells like rock, and was produced by a huge crocodilian

species around 6 m (20 ft) long. “Coprolite” comes
from the Greek for “dung stone”.

DATELINE 960 CE First paper money
Chinese merchants of the Song Dynasty (960–1279) begin to use banknotes as currency.
Secret cyphers are included within the design to try to prevent counterfeits.

92 Recordology

FAST FACTS

Collectors have “proper” names based on their speciality, such as

archtophilists (teddy bears), deltiologists (postcards), pannapictagraphists

(comic books), planganologists (dolls) and sucrologists (sugar packets).

DID YOU KNOW?R$g2Meca0yoaUtnI0sIhrnttoSi(ceulAl£2hyrdm08in.s(nS01U’eMfsg1h)soS–cfeoirAw1coon h4$o,rlalr4a1,nes“oa9d.tci6aecch5tsu ti5imapponrc)tieen.t”eT Tsin(coodh£shtenfre2Dedsee3.,S8eedsd,ae5bc5srnv0ia bewmnedd0sineoset) pfi.hrssYanloeemiladbdry Swamp Thing memorabilia ANIMAL COLLECTIONS 1
The DC Comics character 2
has loomed large in the life It may begin with a gift, an ornament or a plush toy, or
simply with a fondness for a certain kind of animal. But soon 3
of John Boylan (USA), as a collector will be the custodian of an entire menagerie…
WHVWLͤHG E\ KLV FROOHFWLRQ
of 797 items – among Theme Number Collector &CVG XGTKƒGF
them 501 comics – 1 /QWUG CPF TCV Christa Behmenburg (DEU) ǡ1EV
on 21 Mar 2015. John’s Steve Lubanski and ǡ/CT
favourites include a Rabbit
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member jacket and Pig 18,055 Dianne Turner (USA)
2 Cow 16,779 Anne Langton (UK) ǡ,WP
original comic-book art. Penguin Ruth Klossner (USA) ǡ/CT
(TQI Birgit Berends (DEU) ǡ/C[
Rackets Crocodile Sheila Crown (UK)
Chicken 6,739 Andrew Gray (UK) ǡ5GR
On 1 Jul 2015, Igor Kucej Tea glass holders 'NGRJCPV 6,505 %GEKN CPF ,QCPP &KZQP
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of 1,260 historic wooden glasses are often collected 3 5JGGR 5WUC (QTUVGT
&'7 ǡ#WI
1,365 Tyesha Elam (USA) ǡ#WI
tennis rackets, all made as works of art in their own ǡ0QX

between 1890 and 1985. right. As of 11 Apr 2015,

Sergey Kruglov (RUS) had

Skylanders memorabilia amassed 1,921 holders,

The 4,100 Skylanders items each distinctively crafted

collected by Christopher in metal or enamel.

Desaliza (USA), as of

27 Jan 2015, include all Videogames

YHUVLRQV RI DOO WKH ͤJXUHV Joel Hopkins (AUS) had

plus cards, covers, lanyards 17,466 games to his name

and posters. as of 12 Jan 2016.

Largest collection of
hamburger-related items

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burger mobile from the movie Good Burger (USA, 1997).
along with two burger beds and one burger waterbed.
*KU RTK\G RQUUGUUKQP KU C JCODWTIGT *CTNG[
Davidson motorcycle, aka Hamburger Harley,
C *& 5RQTVUVGT DWKNV KP *G CNUQ
has hamburger toys, books, CDs, statues,
RQUVGTU ǡDCIU ICOGU CPF ENQVJKPI

Brightest supernova 1006 DATELINE
Exploding star SN 1006 exceeds the luminosity of Sirius – today’s brightest
star seen from Earth – by up to 1,500 times. It remains visible for two years.

guinnessworldrecords.com 93

MASS PARTICIPATION

of 11.85 km (7.3 mi) was
covered in the attempt, put
on by Hong Kong-based
company GP22 (CHN).

Largest pantomime animal race Wearing hair in a beehive Most bodies painted
With brushes, hairspray
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YCEM[ TCEGTU YGTG TCKUKPI HWPFU HQT NQECN EJCTKV[ 5Vǡ1UYCNFŨU hairdos in Milan, Italy, on UOQVJGTGF VJGO KP RCKPV QP ǡ,WN 6JKU DGVVGTGF
*QURKEG CU RCTV QH CP GXGPV VJCV YCU QTICPK\GF D[ǡ6JG )TGCV 19 Mar 2015. The distinctive 2.#;ŨU QYP GP OCUUG DQF[ RCKPVKPI TGEQTF CEJKGXGF
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to have originated in 1960,
MOST PEOPLE… Festival and Highland when Chicago-based salon on “snow angels” – on was just one of 406 people
Games, an annual event owner Margaret Vinci Heldt 6 Jun 2015. Keep Wales to twerk their way into the
Caber tossing in Ontario, Canada. (USA) was challenged to Tidy arranged the event record books on 15 Nov
On 8 Aug 2015, a group of conceive an original coiffure to promote the nation’s 2014. The event took part
69 people simultaneously In a zorbing relay to see in the new decade. pristine coast, plus its at the eighth Annual Central
launched a volley of Each running inside a big 41 Blue Flag beaches. City Festival held in New
near-6-m (20-ft) wooden plastic zorb ball, 237 people A more dramatic change Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
poles known as “cabers” completed a 50-m (164-ft) of hairstyle was chosen Twerking simultaneously
into the air. The mass feat leg of a course within the by Pedal for Hope (CAN), American hip-hop star Eating breakfast in bed
of strength took place at required 10 sec on 25 Apr to raise money for the Talk about dedication
the 70th Fergus Scottish 2015. That means a total Canadian Cancer Society. Big Freedia, aka to customer service…
On 16 May 2015, a total Frederick Ross, The Sheraton Langfang
of 267 people gathered Chaobai River Hotel served
at Peterborough Airport, up its “Color Your Plate”
Ontario, to say goodbye to breakfast – which includes
their locks and set a new pastries, fruit, orange juice
record for the most heads and yoghurt – to 418 guests
shaved simultaneously. on 16 Aug 2015. It was
an al-fresco affair, with
Making “sand angels” 225 beds laid out on the
Freshwater West beach in hotel’s lawn in Beijing, China.
Pembrokeshire, UK, was
imprinted with 352 “sand
angels” – the seaside take

Dressed as Catrinas
and Catrines
$W D ͤHVWD VWDJHG LQ
Cuauhtémoc, Mexico, on
1 Nov 2014, La Catrina
Fest MX (MEX) assembled

Most people riding a surfboard DID YOU KNOW?bUySbpwbAbyaoa,ioM ratmwahgttiasr-hnroCkbdowiu iAuCl-unelemidDapgrlalCdaeiessteAfkoshftorefheMfesrotrmenwrbWinNtnibiaa.geemlrIR,yvstbeUhtawwoHebnoSarayaydAurlsmsyeAdf.hdaMIuarcaseenslatsntaqu.irrdnguTiranlnhedielriedee,deaddn

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DATELINE 1040 Oldest working brewery
The monks of Weihenstephan Abbey in Bavaria (now part of Germany) are given permission to open
a brewery near Freising. It will still be operating 976 years later, although no longer staffed by monks.

94 Recordology

FAST FACTS

The largest yoga lesson included: 5,000 schoolchildren, 15,000 yoga

specialists, 500 diplomats and foreign nationals, 5,000 National Cadet

Corps, 1,200 police officers and 5,000 army troops

509 people decked out race event was celebrating evening, which attracted a Popping bubble wrap Modelling on a catwalk
in traditional skeleton the region’s newly acquired combined 7,960 visitors – In all, 2,681 boy scouts On 4 Jul 2015, eRetailer
costumes. The event was Special Municipality status. the most people stargazing assembled at Denver Area Very.co.uk and Culture
held to celebrate Mexico’s in multiple locations. The Council’s Camporee on Liverpool (both UK) joined
annual Day of the Dead Stargazing event was threatened by 19 Sep 2015 to pop bubble forces to organize a unique
festival, at which deceased As part of a nationwide cold weather and cloudy wrap together. They easily fashion show. Comprising
loved ones are remembered. science week in Australia, skies, but the passion for wrapped up the record, more both professional models
1,869 astronomy lovers, stars, and records, paid off. than doubling the previous and runway wannabes,
Riding unicycles wielding telescopes and best of 1,011 people, set a total of 3,651 people
Balance and co-ordination binoculars, were brought Twirling batons in Jan 2015. The feat took strutted their stuff down
– not to mention a total together by Mt Stromlo On 21 Sep 2015, a gathering place at the Peaceful Valley Liverpool’s Pier Head
of 1,682 unicycles – were Observatory, the Australian of 2,002 members of the Scout Ranch in Elbert, riverside promenade
all required to secure this National University and Osaka Baton Twirling Colorado, USA. to set this record in style.
record on 1 Nov 2014. the Canberra Astronomical Association (JPN) performed
Staged by Taoyuan County Society on 21 Aug 2015 to at the Japanese city’s central LARGEST LESSONS
Government (Chinese study the night sky. This gymnasium. The dizzying
Taipei), the 500-m (1,640-ft) gathering in Australia’s display was the centrepiece Extraordinary examples of en-masse education…
capital city was just one of of the 25th Osaka Baton
37 around the country that Twirling Competition. Subject Organizer People Date

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LARGEST YOGA LESSON

A staggering 35,985 people adopted a cross-legged “lotus”
position in honour of the inaugural International Day
of Yoga on 21 Jun 2015. Organized by the Government
of India’s Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and
Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), dedicated
to natural wellbeing pursuits, the event took place on
a 1.4-km (0.8-mi) stretch of the Rajpath in the heart of
New Delhi. As well as soldiers, civil servants and students
(see Fast Facts), even India’s Prime Minister, Narendra
Modi (left), demonstrated his flexibility.

First use of rockets 1042 DATELINE
Chinese scholar and military engineer Zeng Gongliang describes the use of “fire arrows” – simple

gunpowder rockets launched from crossbows – by the armies of Song Dynasty China.

guinnessworldrecords.com 95

COSPLAY

LARGEST
GATHERING OF
PEOPLE DRESSED AS…

Comic-book characters Harry Potter
Conventions for comics
fans are where cosplayers 1P ǡ/CT VGCEJGTU CV 6CPDTKFIG *QWUG 5EJQQN
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large events attracting JCVU *QIYCTVU WPKHQTOU CPF INCUUGU VQ EQORNGVG VJG GHHGEV
huge numbers of costumed
attendees. An impressive Dragon Ball characters popular with cosplayers.
1,784 dressed-up comic- Although cosplay has its On 1 Nov 2012, the Saló del
book heroes and villains RULJLQV LQ $PHULFDQ VFL ͤ Manga comic festival in
gathered at the Salt Lake fandom, it grew into the Barcelona, Spain, hosted
Comic Con in Salt Lake City, cultural phenomenon it 307 Dragon Ball characters
Utah, USA, on 25 Sep 2015. is today as part of the as part of an event staged
Japanese anime and manga by Editorial Planeta (ESP).
Daleks scene. The manga Dragon
Many cosplayers put Ball and its anime offshoot Robin Hood
hundreds of hours of Dragon Ball Z are The UK’s Camping and
work into their creations, particularly Caravanning Club hit the
and when they’re copying target on 27 Aug 2011,
something from a movie when 1,215 people dressed Rosie the Riveter
or TV show, the end result up as the legendary archer.
can be hard to distinguish The attempt took place at We can do it! Inspired by the rallying cry of America’s iconic
from the original. This made the Newark Showground in female war worker, 1,084 boiler-suited women and girls
it all the more terrifying Nottinghamshire, UK, during ICVJGTGF CV VJG 9QTNF 9CTǡ++ *QOG (TQPV 0CVKQPCN *KUVQTKECN
when a force of 95 Daleks, the annual National Feast
Doctor Who’s seemingly of Lanterns camping rally. 2CTM KP %CNKHQTPKC 75# QP ǡ#WIǡ
indestructible enemy, rolled
on to the grounds of the
National Space Centre in
Leicester, UK, on 29 Nov
2008, waving
their eyestalks
and barking
“Exterminate!”
at anything
that moved.

Spider-Man DID YOU KNOW?“cctoahAINsstlCellpoiwtonclb1hnaoac9Cuoyesvs8ayu”p ect4lugnlihioaftkhWteiosyiinewro1Tohelnn9farhdail3kiaaisdsb0nat,b ySrshUwLee, cafioSetleisahselAnmhw tneA.iaivco- ntr(meeeuJogPlrlFuyeamdNilnknce)edtseair,wotn. Star Trek characters
As part of Destination
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Charterhouse drew 438 spider folk to the streets of Sydney, convention organizers
#WUVTCNKC &QPCVKQPU raised by the masked web-slingers went to Media 10 Limited (UK)
UWRRQTV JGCNVJ EJCTKV[ .KHG 'FWECVKQP 6JG QTICPK\GTU UGVVNGF QP gathered 1,063 Star Trek
the classic red, blue and black costume of The Amazing Spider- cosplayers for an event
Man VJG HCXQWTKVG QH 5RKFGT /CP RWTKUVU UJWPPKPI VJG O[TKCF on 20 Oct 2012. Most
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uniforms, but the crowd
also included Klingons,
Borg and a variety of
alien monsters from
the original series.

Superheroes
On 2 Oct 2010,
exactly 1,580
caped crusaders,
web-slingers and

DATELINE 1187 Largest monolithic church
Work begins on the church of Medhane Alem in Lalibela, Ethiopia. Rather than building up, the builders dig down, carving
the church out of a uniform piece of bedrock. It measures some 10 m (32 ft) high from the bottom of the pit in which it sits.

96 Recordology

FAST FACTS

Cosplay is a portmanteau of “costume” and “play” •  The World

Cosplay Summit attracted teams from 26 different countries in 2015

• Competitive cosplayers have to create their own costumes

Santa Claus The Hulk

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on the streets of Castleblayney
other costumed heroes have had characters Zombies KP +TGNCPF CV VJG CPPWCN /WEMPQ
assembled at Paramount to dress up as. The A 15,458-strong horde of /CPKC (GUVKXCN
Studios in Los Angeles, Särkänniemi theme park in the shambling undead
USA, in an event to promote Tampere, Finland, mustered groaned and lurched its
WKH ͤOP Megamind. 491 gaming cosplayers on way through the streets of
7 Sep 2013. The park is no Minneapolis in Minnesota,
Videogame characters USA, on 11 Oct 2014,
People have been stranger to gaming, as part of the
enjoying game cosplay for having opened up annual Zombie
almost as long as games an Angry Birds Land
attraction in 2012. Pub Crawl.

PETER PAN

As part of a charity event organized on 29 Aug 2014
by recruitment firm Goodman Masson, 280 people
donned the green tunic and tights of The Boy Who
Wouldn’t Grow Up in London, UK. The event
was staged to raise money and publicity for
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children,
a much-loved institution and the favourite
philanthropic cause of J M Barrie, the author
of Peter Pan. The Pan-tastic gathering took
place on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Largest New World civilization 1200 DATELINE
The Inca Empire reaches its greatest extent, stretching along the Pacific coast of South America from what

is now southern Colombia to central Chile. Its population is estimated to be around 10 million.

guinnessworldrecords.com 97

BIG STUFF

Horseshoe
Kentucky Derby Museum
(USA) has made a
horseshoe 2.06 m (6 ft
9.1 in) wide and 2.13 m
(6 ft 11.8 in) tall. It was
measured at Eagle Sign
& Design in Louisville,
Kentucky, USA, on
9 Sep 2015.

Largest wheelbarrow Lunch box Largest
A 2.6-m-wide folding chair
#V ǡO
ǡHV NQPI CPF YKVJ C YJGGN FKCOGVGT QH ǡO
ǡHV ǡKP VJKU UWRGT UK\GF YJGGNDCTTQY (8-ft 6-in) lunch box with
VQQM C VGCO QH RGQRNG OQTG VJCP ǡJT VQ RNCP CPF DWKNF +V YCU EQPUVTWEVGF D[ *GKOCVXGTGKP a capacity of 8.47 m³ 4GVCKNGT +PVGTOCTEJȌ CPF
$QMG G 8
&'7 CPF KV YCU RTGUGPVGF CPF OGCUWTGF KP $QMG )GTOCP[ QP ǡ/C[ (299.11 cu ft) was produced OCPWHCEVWTGT 0G[TCV
by Altus Viljoen and 2G[TQPKG
DQVJ (4#
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the ski resort in Kvitfjell, (both ZAF). It was measured C EQNNCRUKDNG EJCKT ǡO
Bean bag Norway, on 7 Mar 2015. in Stellenbosch, South
ǡHV ǡKP VCNN 6JG JKIJ
Yogibo (USA) presented Africa, on 12 Apr 2015. seat was presented and
a 211-ft-wide (64.3-m) Colouring book OGCUWTGF KP $QPFQWHNG
bean bag with a volume of You’d need a lot of felt tips Magazine (single edition) (TCPEG QP ǡ/C[
1,406.23 cu ft (39.82 m³) at for the 10-m² (107.63-sq-ft) The River Group and
Nashua, New Hampshire, colouring book produced by Polestar (both UK) produced
USA, on 15 Sep 2015. the Zielona Sowa Publishing a version of the Aug 2015
House (POL). Its size was issue of Healthy magazine
Cheese slicer FRQͤUPHG DW WKH 1DWLRQDO that measured 2.35 m (7 ft
Kristen Gunstad (NOR) Stadium in Warsaw, Poland, 8.52 in) wide by 3.05 m
unveiled a 7.79-m-long on 24 May 2014. (10 ft 0.28 in) tall. Its size
ZDV UDWLͤHG LQ 6KHͦHOG 8.
on 30 Jun 2015.

Largest ukulele

Lawrence Stump (USA, below) has created a tunable and
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KVǡKU ǡVKOGU NCTIGT

DATELINE 1250 First gun
Anecdotal evidence suggests that firearms are in use in China and northern Africa, although the
first documentary evidence for gun construction will not emerge until the following century.

98 Recordology