Buzz
Here’s a list of the ten animals with the most formidable bites in the animal kingdom. Some creatures that could potentially be included have been left out due to a lack of research on their bite strength, as measuring it can be difficult and costly. A notable absence is the Great White Shark, for which accurate data remains theoretical. The Tasmanian Devil holds the title for the strongest bite relative to its size, with 200 psi, closely followed by the African Painted Dogs, who recently made headlines for killing a two-year-old boy who fell into their pit at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Animal bite power is often measured in PSI (pounds per square inch).
10. Lion 600 psi
The ‘King of the Jungle’ (despite never having lived in one) surprisingly ranks here. Lions are the only social big cats, cooperating during hunts, which may explain why they have the weakest bite in the Panthera genus. Their hunting style—strangling prey by biting the throat—doesn't require an exceptionally strong bite. Lions are versatile hunters, active both day and night, and while they generally drink daily, they can go up to five days without water.
9. Tiger 1050 psi
The largest of the big cats, the tiger is a solitary predator. With a length of up to 3.3 meters and a weight reaching 300lbs, they are skilled nocturnal hunters, often stalking their prey before delivering a fatal bite. Similar to lions, tigers typically target the throat to cut off airflow and blood supply to the head. Their bite is nearly twice as powerful as that of a lion. Interestingly, there are more tigers in captivity than in the wild. While they typically avoid humans, there have been incidents of tiger attacks on people and livestock worldwide.
8. Spotted Hyena 1100 psi
Many sources state the hyena's bite is approximately 1100 psi, but Wikipedia claims it’s as high as 11,400. However, I couldn’t find any other sources to verify this number. That said, the hyena’s bite is still one of the most powerful in the animal kingdom, with documented cases of them crushing giraffe bones. Their scavenging habits likely explain the strength of their jaws, which are needed to reach the marrow inside bones left behind by lions and other large predators.
While hyenas may resemble dogs, they are actually more closely related to cats, classified under the suborder feliformia rather than the dog suborder caniformia. Hyenas have been known to kill dogs with a single neck bite. Contrary to what many believe, hyenas do hunt, and in an ironic twist, lions often steal their prey. Much like lions, hyenas are social animals that work cooperatively.
7. Grizzly Bear 1200 psi
The grizzly bear, a subspecies of the brown bear found in North America, is renowned for its enormous size and fierce aggression. Despite their bulk, grizzlies can run up to 56 km/h. Their diet consists mainly of berries and nuts, but they are also hunters. In Yellowstone National Park, they have been filmed hunting wild game.
Grizzly bears are considered more aggressive than other bear species. It’s believed that due to their large size, grizzlies are unable to climb trees, leading them to evolve a defense mechanism to ward off threats. This evolutionary path likely contributed to the development of their powerful jaws, helping them protect themselves from wolves and other intruders. Grizzly bears can weigh between 600 and 1000 pounds. While they can be dangerous to humans if startled or when protecting their cubs, they rarely, if ever, hunt humans for food.
6. Gorilla 1300 psi
This might surprise some, given their herbivorous diet, but the gorilla is a strong contender on this list. Their jaws are built to chew tough plants like bamboo, which has led to the development of incredibly powerful jaw and neck muscles capable of delivering a 1300 psi bite.
Historically, gorillas have been depicted as terrifying monsters, but their image has softened in recent years, with many now seeing them as ‘gentle giants.’ As our closest relatives after chimpanzees, gorillas are critically endangered, with only 700 mountain gorillas remaining in the wild. While gorillas are capable of climbing trees, they are typically found on the ground in groups of up to 30 individuals, led by a dominant older male. Gorillas are generally peaceful and do not pose a threat to humans.
5. Hippopotamus 1821 psi
The hippopotamus is a massive and powerful herbivore. One of Africa’s most feared animals, it is highly territorial and aggressive, often overturning small boats and attacking the crew. Only the bite force of female hippos has been measured, as the males are too aggressive to test, with the recorded force reaching an astounding 1821 psi. The word ‘hippopotamus’ comes from the Greek ‘water-horse,’ due to the animal’s love of water. Hippos are closely related to whales and cows, and they belong to the order Artiodactyla, which also includes other hoofed animals like camels, horses, and goats.
4. Jaguar 2000 psi
The jaguar has the most powerful bite of any cat and, according to my research, the strongest bite of any mammal. Known as the true king of the jungle, jaguars are found from Mexico to Argentina. Unlike most big cats (with the exception of lions), jaguars are solitary hunters. They are famous for their ability to hunt and kill anacondas and caimans, and their bite is so powerful it can easily puncture the shells of turtles. The word ‘jaguar’ comes from the Amerindian term Yaguar, meaning ‘he who kills with one leap.’ Although smaller than their African and Asian counterparts, jaguars are still the largest cats in the Americas.
Once believed to have been wiped out from the southern United States over a century ago, there are now rumors of a breeding population in Arizona. The jaguar is believed to be most abundant in Belize, particularly in the jaguar sanctuary located in the Cockscomb Basin.
3. Nile Crocodile 5000 psi
In a National Geographic experiment, the Nile Crocodile actually showed a lower bite force than the Saltwater Crocodile, but most other sources report the Nile Croc at 5000 psi. Nile Crocs are generally about the same size as Saltwater Crocs, and therefore, their bite forces appear to be in the same range. These two species are interchangeable on this list, as the numbers can vary depending on the size of the crocodile being measured and the difficulty of getting accurate measurements.
Nile crocodiles primarily consume fish, but much like their relatives, they will attack anything unfortunate enough to cross their path. This includes zebras, birds, and even small hippos.
2. Saltwater Crocodile 3700 psi
Saltwater crocs (ever wondered about the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?) had the highest bite force in the National Geographic study, measuring 3700 psi. However, this was based on smaller crocodiles. National Geographic suggests that if larger 20-foot crocs were measured— and these giants are quite common— the bite force could surpass 7,000 psi.
These massive creatures roam areas from eastern India to Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Saltwater crocs are capable of consuming anything they can overpower, from water buffalo to fish, and even sharks. Though affectionately called 'salties' by Australians, there is nothing endearing about these predators. They are responsible for more human attacks than any other croc species, though not by much more than the next croc on the list.
1. American Alligator 2125 psi
The American Alligator is one of only two alligator species still in existence, the other being the Chinese Alligator. With a population of approximately 5 million, 1.2 million are found in Florida alone. These reptiles inhabit regions such as Florida, Texas, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama, where they share territory with crocodiles. Their diet consists mostly of fish, turtles, and small mammals. A National Geographic study recently recorded a bite force of 2125 psi for American Alligators, although the study did not include larger individuals, which may exhibit even stronger bites. This issue also applies to the measurement of bite forces for other members of the crocodilian family.
