14 Animals With Big Foreheads

There are numerous species of animals with big foreheads, and they are found everywhere.

While some of these animals store food in their large foreheads, others use them as a form of defense or to aid in mating.

Animals with big foreheads tend to be highly intelligent. For instance, it has been documented that gorillas utilize tools and sign language to communicate, and elephants have been observed using their trunks for anything from drinking water to fighting.

Let’s begin with a list of animals with big foreheads. 

1. Giant Panda

The Giant panda is first on our list of animals with big foreheads.

Despite being dwarfed by its polar and brown bear cousins, the panda is an important bear species because it possesses the most remarkable forehead. 

Scientists believe that pandas’ broad foreheads result from the evolutionary change they underwent when they switched from eating meat to eating bamboo as their main food source.

Pandas wouldn’t have developed such strong faces without bamboo, whose thick stalks require strong jaws to bite through and even stronger grinding muscles to masticate properly. 

Their cheeks are an amazing accomplishment of nature’s power of adaptability.

Pandas are a rare predator in an otherwise gentle species because they have some of the strongest bites among herbivores compared to body size.

2. Gorilla

The most prominent is their high-domed head, which provides a distinctive side profile appearance.

Their foreheads are thicker than those of most other primates because they curve over their eyes and reach back in a wide arch. 

It occupies a larger area of their face than all their other characteristics. This striking trait distinguishes them from all other animals in the animal kingdom.

3. Elephant

Elephants are the largest terrestrial mammals. Therefore, it should be no surprise that they are among animals with big foreheads.

The greater area for bone construction improves strength and protection for the elephant‘s face during head-on collisions when elephant herds confront other animal herds or fight among themselves for territory, giving them an advantage in warfare.

Furthermore, structurally speaking, this area might offer a way to dissipate force to lessen facial injuries caused by these impacts.

Even though their brains are nearly three times the size of humans, they scale up in accordance with body size rather than being proportionally larger, giving more capacity for bone formation.

4. Beluga Whale

Beluga whales are next on our list of animals with big foreheads. They can reach up to 18 feet, making them exceptionally gorgeous animals.

However, many people are unaware that belugas have highly distinctive melons. 

These animals have big forehead melons, which are large compared to the rest of the body as an adaptation for underwater communication and navigation. They contain a unique organ that can create both high- and low-frequency sound waves. 

It is even more amazing that you can see these enormous foreheads alter their shape in response to sound.

Because of this extraordinary characteristic, the beluga whale is one of the most fascinating marine animals.

5. Sperm Whale

A creature deserving of admiration and wonder emerges from the deep blue seas: the sperm whale.

They have the largest brains of any living or extinct animal, making them the largest predators with teeth. 

Amazingly, the brain of a sperm whale may weigh up to 20 pounds, which is five times larger than the brain of a human.

This demonstrates the necessity of a broad forehead to shield such a sizable, potent organ. 

The sperm whale is proud of how it has dominated its surroundings thanks to its size and power.

Sperm whales have enormous foreheads, but they’re not simply for intelligence; male whales utilize them as weapons while vying for females.

6. Orangutan

Another type of animal with big foreheads is the Orangutan. Although it is simple to believe that the male and female orangutans’ foreheads differ significantly in size, this isn’t always the case. 

While men can have smaller foreheads than women, this is mostly due to men’s larger cheeks, which are solely found in men. 

This is important because the wider cheeks indicate social dominance within the orangutan’s species, corresponding to the larger head size.

In addition, because of their circular facial form, they have some of the most unusual foreheads among all living things on Earth.

7. Rhinoceros

Underneath their tough exterior, rhinos display some of the biggest engineering feats in the animal kingdom, including some of the largest foreheads.

The extraordinarily broad and prominent foreheads of black rhinos, in particular, shield them from the stresses of savannah existence. 

These titan-like protrusions enable rhinos to utilize their horns for defense functions and to scare away possible predators and rivals for resources.

Those with thick noses and lengthy horns are significantly better equipped against life’s dangers than their smaller-browed counterparts, smashing into them at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.

8. American Bison

Although it is undoubtedly a benefit, the remarkable forehead of the bison serves more than only as a warning to other cows.

The bison uses this strong characteristic as a weapon for conflict within their herds and defense mechanism, with the extra protection of a thick mat of hair. 

They are even more formidable due to their two-foot-long horns, which provide them an advantage when using immediate force against other people.

However, given their strength, it is best to take precautions around them and maintain a safe distance while coming into contact with them.

9. Flowerhorn Cichlid

Fish from the flowerhorn cichlid’s species are distinguished by a broad, rounded nuchal hump on their forehead.

The truth behind this creature’s enormous forehead is extremely terrible; while some may believe it to be an attractive trait, it was developed through an unethical breeding method. 

Cichlids were originally intended to be stunning aquarium decorations, but after being released into the wild, they have become a significant environmental problem.

In fact, some nations—including Australia—have outright banned them, and it’s understandable why.

Despite how humorous their humps may appear, the animals suffer internal deformations, which should not be ignored.

10. Bottlenose Dolphin

The brain size to body size ratio of bottlenose dolphins is among the biggest of any mammal, making them exceptional creatures.

Thanks to the huge melons characteristically located over their eyes, they can produce and recognize sound waves in dark or murky waters. 

Military organizations originally trained them for underwater jobs, including finding mines and spotting enemy divers due to their highly developed sense, intelligence, and sociability.

They have a reputation for being the sharpest sea mammals, with amazing huge foreheads, because of this special mix of organic advantage and intelligence.

11. Green Humphead Parrotfish

The largest species may grow up to 1.5 meters in length, so the green humphead parrotfish stands out among other fish species for its astounding forehead size.

These magnificent parrotfish have enormous lifespans of up to 40 years. Therefore, it takes a long time for them to develop their bulb-like foreheads.

Despite its odd appearance, this trait is crucial to their daily existence since it helps them break off coral fragments that would otherwise need too much effort and energy.

Compared to other animals with big foreheads, their large foreheads are extremely valuable since they regularly ingest little pieces of coral.

12. Wild Yak

A massive species of bovine, the wild yak can grow up to six feet tall and weigh more than a tonne.

In addition, it is one of the rare animals with horns that protrude from the side of its head, giving it an exceptionally broad forehead. 

Amazingly, despite their size and strength, they are quite friendly creatures that are simple to tame.

Unfortunately, these magnificent animals with big foreheads are almost exclusively restricted to Tibet and a few northern Chinese provinces. 

13. Uakari Monkey

The fascinating bald uakari monkey, native to the northern Amazon rainforest, is well-known for having a huge forehead.

Uakari monkeys have one of the most exposed and recognizable foreheads of any animal, as their fur only develops at the rear of their heads. 

The tops of their heads and ears, which only emphasize the immensity of their foreheads, are two more distinguishing elements of their straightforward yet striking appearances.

14. Cow

Cows are ending our list of animals with big foreheads, which transport us to a more carefree era with their big, placid eyes.

One of the cows’ initial characteristics is their broad foreheads, which frequently protrude several inches from the head.

Foraging for food is a crucial part of the cow’s life. Therefore, its protruding brow isn’t simply for show.

Thanks to their large skulls, these animals with big foreheads can better use their senses of touch and smell when looking for food on the ground.

Additionally, cows have improved vision, which allows them to see more clearly in dim lighting, such as at night or in densely forested areas.