In the animal kingdom, long legs serve many purposes, from running at incredible speeds to wading through water or reaching food high above the ground.
Some species are famous for their impressive body-to-leg ratio, which gives them unique advantages in their habitats.
This list is for general information only and is based on publicly available sources. Some animals here are recognised for the absolute length of their legs, while others are noted for their unusually long leg-to-body ratio. Leg measurements can vary within species, and factors such as age, sex, and environment often influence size.
1. Giraffes
Standing up to 19 feet tall, giraffes possess the longest legs of any land mammal, measuring around 6 feet each. These incredible limbs help them browse high tree branches that other herbivores can’t reach.
Their unique cardiovascular system pumps blood up those lengthy legs to their brain, requiring specialized valves and a powerful heart. Despite their ungainly appearance, giraffes can run at speeds of 37 mph when threatened.
2. Ostriches
Did you know ostriches have the longest legs of any bird? Their powerful limbs can measure up to 5 feet in length. These flightless wonders compensate for their inability to soar with incredible running abilities.
Ostriches sprint at speeds reaching 70 km/h, covering up to 5 meters in a single stride. Their legs pack a powerful defensive kick that can seriously injure lions and other predators when threatened.
3. Flamingos
Those iconic pink birds you admire in zoos stand on specialized legs that can be longer than their entire body. Flamingos’ knees actually bend backward, except they’re not knees at all, but ankles.
What looks like a backward knee is actually their heel, with their true knee hidden beneath feathers close to their body. Their lengthy legs allow them to wade into deeper waters while keeping their bodies dry and accessing food sources other birds can’t reach.
4. Red Kangaroos
Australia’s red kangaroos boast incredibly powerful hind legs that can propel them 9 meters forward in a single bound. These muscular limbs allow them to reach speeds of 56 km/h across the outback.
Female red kangaroos have longer, more slender legs than males. Their unique hopping locomotion becomes more energy-efficient at higher speeds, making them one of nature’s most fuel-efficient travelers over long distances.
5. Camels
Camels stride across scorching deserts on legs that keep their bodies safely elevated from burning sands. Their unique, wide-splayed feet prevent them from sinking into soft desert terrain.
A camel’s legs contain special temperature regulation systems that help conserve body water. The dromedary (one-humped) camel typically has longer legs than its Bactrian (two-humped) cousin, allowing it to maintain a more efficient pace across vast desert expanses.
6. Horses
Horse legs represent an evolutionary marvel. They essentially walk on a single elongated toe with a hoof at the end. Thoroughbreds possess particularly long, slender legs that contribute to their racing prowess.
A horse’s legs contain no muscles below the knee and hock joints, relying instead on an intricate system of tendons and ligaments. This lightweight design allows for greater speed and endurance while minimizing energy expenditure during their powerful strides.
7. Herons
Masters of patience, herons stand motionless on stilt-like legs while hunting fish in shallow waters. Their specialized leg joints allow them to maintain this frozen posture for extended periods without fatigue.
Great blue herons possess legs that can exceed 7 inches in length. When flying, these birds extend their legs straight behind them, creating their distinctive silhouette. Their specialized feet can grasp slippery prey or distribute weight on soft mud without sinking.
8. Moose
North America’s largest deer species stands on legs that can measure up to 4 feet long. These lengthy limbs serve a vital purpose: allowing moose to navigate deep snow and marshy terrain with relative ease.
A moose’s gangly legs help it wade through water up to its chest while feeding on aquatic vegetation. Despite their awkward appearance, these massive animals can run at impressive speeds of 35 mph and are surprisingly agile swimmers.
9. Black-Winged Stilts
Aptly named for their extraordinary limbs, black-winged stilts possess the longest legs in proportion to their body size of any bird. Their pink-red legs can be twice as long as their tiny bodies.
These wading birds use their extreme leg length to forage in deeper waters than most shorebirds. Their specialized toes spread their weight across mud without sinking, while their incredible balance allows them to sleep standing on one leg, reducing heat loss in cold water.
10. Cranes
Among the world’s tallest flying birds, cranes possess legs that can measure nearly 5 feet in length. These elegant waders use their extraordinary reach to navigate wetlands while keeping their bodies dry.
Sarus cranes, the tallest flying birds, stand at heights up to 6 feet. Many crane species perform elaborate courtship dances, showing off their impressive legs in synchronized movements. Their specialized toes spread weight evenly, preventing them from sinking in soft mud.
11. Grasshoppers
Though tiny compared to mammals, grasshoppers possess the most impressive leg-to-body ratio in the animal kingdom. Their specialized hind legs can launch them distances up to 20 times their body length.
These remarkable jumping legs contain special proteins that function like biological catapults. When ready to jump, grasshoppers compress these proteins like loaded springs, then release them in an explosive burst. Some species can accelerate from 0 to 8 mph in milliseconds.
12. Praying Mantises
The praying mantis earned its name from its distinctive front legs, which fold together as if in prayer. Don’t be fooled by this pious posture, these elongated limbs are actually lethal weapons.
Lined with sharp spines, mantis forelegs can strike prey in just 50-70 milliseconds. Their specialized leg structure allows them to snatch flying insects mid-air with astonishing precision. Some species have front legs nearly as long as their entire body.
13. Daddy Longlegs
Contrary to popular belief, daddy longlegs (harvestmen) aren’t actually spiders. These arachnids possess some of the longest legs relative to body size in the animal kingdom, with limbs that can stretch 30 times their body length.
Their extraordinary legs contain sensory organs that detect vibrations and chemicals. When threatened, some species can detach a leg to escape predators: a process called autotomy. Their legs continue to twitch after detachment, distracting predators while they escape.
14. Wolf Spiders
Unlike web-building spiders, wolf spiders actively hunt prey using their powerful, elongated legs. These impressive limbs allow them to sprint at speeds equivalent to a human running 34 mph.
Each leg contains specialized hairs that detect air vibrations, allowing them to sense prey movement from remarkable distances. Female wolf spiders carry their egg sacs attached to spinnerets, then carry their spiderlings on their abdomen and legs after hatching.
