Final answer:
The largest mature blood cell in peripheral blood is typically the leukocyte, which includes various larger-sized cells such as lymphocytes, ranging from 6 to 17 um in size, despite erythrocytes being more abundant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Largest Mature Blood Cell in Peripheral Blood
The normally largest mature blood cell in the peripheral blood of domestic species is the leukocyte. Even though red blood cells, or erythrocytes, are the most abundant in terms of numbers, leukocytes are typically larger in size. Leukocytes vary in size but are generally counted in thousands within a blood sample. For instance, lymphocytes, a type of leukocyte, often exhibit a size range of 6-17 µm depending on whether they are classified into two or three size groups based on authoritative recognition. Erythrocytes, although plentiful, lack nuclei and organelles in mammals, and their principal function is to transport oxygen via the hemoglobin they contain. Comparatively, leukocytes are essential for immune responses and can be highly variable in size, such as lymphocytes whose size often falls in the larger range of 10-14 µm, and sometimes extending up to 17 µm, making them notably larger than the average erythrocyte across different species.