10 strongest animal bites in the world

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• The saltwater crocodile has the strongest bite force of any animal, with a bite force of 3,700 PSI, making it one of the deadliest animals in the world. Saltwater crocodiles kill 3,000-5,000 people each year.
• The bite force of the Nile crocodile and the American alligator are also strong, at 3,000 PSI and 2,980 PSI, respectively. Due to its territoriality and aggressiveness, the Nile crocodile is considered the deadliest crocodile species in the world.
• Relative to its size, the jaguar has the strongest bite force of any big cat, at 1,500 PSI. But not far behind is the tiger, the largest wild cat in the world with a bite force of 1,050 PSI.

There are many ways to measure strength, and this fact holds true throughout the animal kingdom. Every animal has to eat, and there's nothing more terrifying than staring at the appetite of a hungry predator.

In this list of the world's 10 strongest animal bite forces, we'll rank living mammals by the pounds per square inch (PSI) they exert when they bite, with some adjustments for size. You'd be surprised how many animals aren't strictly carnivorous, and some aren't carnivorous at all!

#10 Animal with the Strongest Bite in the World: Grizzly Bear

The first entry on our list is the grizzly bear ( Ursus arctos horribilis ). With nearly half a ton of jaw-dropping bite force, this top predator has recorded an impressive 975 PSI crushing force. As impressive as that number is, the Grizzlies don't just rely on strength. Native to North America, this omnivore eats most of its diet consisting of nuts, berries, fruits, and other plants. The grizzly does use its strength to hunt prey of all sizes from rodents to moose.

In general, grizzlies live about 25 years in the wild, where they grow to be 5 to 8 feet tall and weigh close to 800 pounds. They get their name from the white-tipped brown fur that covers this solid body and looks grizzled.

#9 Animal with the Strongest Bite in the World: The Spotted Hyena

The spotted hyena ( Crocuta crocuta ) comes in second with a powerful bite force of 1,100 PSI; that's almost double that of lions, their strong contenders for prey on the African savannah. The largest species in the hyena family is three to four feet long with a stocky tail and weighs between 100 and 200 pounds.

Although they resemble dogs in appearance, they are more closely related to cats and civet cats. Spotted hyenas hunt in groups called clans, which can have up to 80 members. They hunt their prey in packs and then celebrate with their trademark laughter. They use this bite force to crush bones and hooves, eating almost every part of their prey, leaving nothing to go to waste.

#8 Animal with the Strongest Bite in the World: Polar Bears

The polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ) is not only the largest bear species in North America, but it also has the strongest bite. The estimated bite force that polar bears use to eat seals is 1,200 PSI. When food is scarce, they also feed on whale carcasses, fish, and any usable berries they can find. The polar bear eats far less vegetation than its other relatives, mainly because of the harsh arctic environment they inhabit.

Their white fur is covered with skin that is actually black in order to retain as much heat from the sun as possible. Polar bears can weigh up to 1,200 pounds and stand up to 7 feet tall. Even with their size, polar bears' webbed claws make them remarkable swimmers.

#7 Animal with the Strongest Bite in the World: Gorilla

With a powerful bite force of 1,300 PSI, gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla and Gorilla beringei ) rank second on our list of animals with the strongest bites. Here you can learn about four different gorilla subspecies, all sadly critically endangered. Gorillas' broad, muscular necks provide strength for their bite, but they don't use it to crush the bones of their prey like the other animals we've discussed so far.

Gorillas feed primarily on plants, twigs, and fruit, chewing bark, roots, and other fibrous materials with their large molars and powerful bite. Adult males do have very large and prominent canines; however, they are primarily used to display aggression towards challenging males or to scare off intruders. Gorillas live in the forests of Central Africa and are the largest of the great apes. They also share more than 98% of their DNA structure with modern humans.

#6 Animal with the Strongest Bite in the World: The Jaguar

The jaguar ( Panthera onca ), one of the only big cats in the Americas, has the most powerful bite of any panther genus. These large carnivores are 5 to 6 feet long with tails as long as 3 feet and are powerfully built, weighing up to 250 pounds. With a massive jaw force of 1,500 PSI, they are solitary apex predators.

These carnivores are also unique in the way they hunt their prey. Instead of dragging down and removing their lunch, or biting the throat like most other big cats, jaguars crush their victim by biting directly through the skull. Jaguars will even bite through the shells of turtles. Although extremely rare, jaguars can be found in the southwestern United States and throughout Central and South America.

#5 Animal with the Strongest Bite in the World: The Hippopotamus

Given the gigantic size of our next animal, it's no surprise that the hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibious ) tops the list. Weighing between 3,000 and 8,000 pounds, the third largest land mammal can grow up to 14 feet long and live up to 40 years. They are capable of opening their impressive jaws 150 to 180 degrees and develop a bite force of 1,800 PSI. Given how aggressive and territorial they are, hippos have been rumored to snap crocodiles in half.

#4 Animal with the Strongest Bite in the World: American Alligator

The American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ), found throughout the southeastern United States, is the first member of the order Crocodilians to appear on our list, but it won't be the last. American alligators can be visually identified by the fact that their lower jaw and teeth fit completely within the upper jaw, with the lower teeth not visible when their mouth is closed. They are known to have weak jaw opening muscles. Thus, humans can disarm a reptile by clamping the jaws of a crocodile. However, the Predator is still quite powerful in terms of bite force, with a maximum bite force of 2,980 PSI.

#3 Animal with the Strongest Bite in the World: Nile Crocodile

The Nile crocodile ( Crocodylus niloticus ) and the other related species at the top of our list have all been studied by a leading biologist who used sensitive instruments to measure the individual bite forces of all members of the order Crocodilians. A small flaw in the study is that the Nile crocodile specimens measured were only about 8 feet long. Considering that the average Nile crocodile grows to 16 feet, it stands to reason that their actual bite strength should be over 3,000 PSI—a value that surpasses American alligators in terms of bite force.

The 500-pound Nile crocodile lives along the Nile River and is the deadliest crocodile species in the world. They are alone responsible for more attacks on humans than any other crocodile. This is mainly due to the fact that they are extremely territorial and aggressive.

#2 Animal with the Strongest Bite in the World: The Saltwater Crocodile

The saltwater crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus ) is the largest crocodile in the crocodile family, weighing up to 1,000 pounds. They also have the strongest bite in the world. Saltwater crocodiles are among the deadliest animals in the world, killing 3,000-5,000 people each year.

A 17-foot alligator with a bite force of 3,700 PSI, measured by a top scientist in a controlled environment, is a gold medal requirement for its class. Interestingly, by extrapolating these data, the same scientists were able to estimate the bite force of a 40-foot-long prehistoric alligator at 23,000 PSI! Fortunately, these monsters became extinct millions of years ago. The smaller versions that still exist today have given us enough trouble.

The sheer strength displayed by these animals is so impressive that it is frightening to imagine the strength of some other ancient animals. Tyrannosaurus rex's bite force is estimated to be 8,000 PSI, and Megalodon's bite force is estimated to be 40,000 PSI using methods that measure the current strength of great white sharks. No matter how strong an animal is, the vast majority of species on this planet are still mortally threatened, and it's not just strength that can be a risk factor. Check out this article on the world's most venomous mammals.

Despite their incredible power, these creatures are rare and in danger of extinction. Humans may not be able to compete one-on-one with these mighty predators, but we are still their greatest threat. They are all under enormous pressure due to loss of habitat and food supply.

#1 Animal with the Strongest Bite in the World: Great White Shark

The methods we use to measure bite force in great white sharks ( Carcharodon carcharias ) are not as accurate as those used in crocodile studies, so it is much more difficult to obtain the necessary data for a good comparison. Using detailed X-rays, the researchers were able to reliably determine that a 21-foot shark would register about 4,000 PSI. The average great white shark weighs between 4,000-7,000 pounds, a power that pales in comparison to the power our number one animal produces.

Honorable Mention: Tiger

The animals we have listed have bite force relative to their size. In the big cat family, the jaguar wins. But another powerful feline with a super-strong bite is the tiger. Tigers are the largest of the felines, with a bite force of 1,050 PSI, almost twice that of a lion (650 PSI). They are also the most dangerous big cats to humans. The reason, however, is that they live more closely with humans in places like India than other feral cats.

Summary of the 10 Strongest Animal Bite Forces

Even humans can bite with a lot of force. However, we don't care much about the animals found here.

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