What are the strongest animals in the world? The answer to that question is: depends.
We can’t possibly pinpoint the strongest animal in the world because there are many different kinds of strength, like kick and bite force.
So we divided the most powerful animals into different categories to show you the strongest ones.
How to Measure the Strongest Animals?
The force of these strong animals is measured by PSI, pounds per square inch, a measure of force per unit area.
To give you an idea, the average human bite force is between 120-160 PSI.
However, this pales in comparison to many wild animals, many of which use their teeth not only to chew but also to grip and tear. Let’s learn more about the most powerful animals in the world!
Strongest Animals in the World – Part 1
African Bush Elephant – The Strongest Mammal
As one of the big five animals, African bush elephants are considered to be one of the strongest animals in the world.
The African elephants have very powerful trunks with a total of 40,000 muscles. With their trunk alone, they can lift more than 700 pounds, and they can carry up to 25% of their body weight without causing any discomfort or pressure—that would be up to 2,875 short tons on their backs.
Elephants also have an impressive bite force of over 2,175 PSI, making them the strongest and largest land animals.
They can even move around and hold small objects because of the projections located at the tips of the trunks.
Known for their enormous size, adult African bush elephants grow up to 13 feet in height with a length of 24 feet. Those large animals are very heavy and can weigh 11.5 short tons.
Those elephants are native to Africa and prefer the Sub-saharan part, including Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Gorilla – The Strongest Primate
Gorillas have the ability to lift objects about ten times their body.
Especially the silverback gorilla species can typically lift over 4,000 pounds.
They have a bite force of around 1,300 PSI, double that of a lion. Well, that means that if you see a band of gorillas (more collective nouns for animals here) in the area, you might want to keep your distance!
To compare it with human power, a trained person has only the ability to lift a maximum of 885 pounds.
The body length of male gorillas can be as long as 66.9 inches, and the weight is an average of 374 pounds. Females are typically lighter in weight and reach an average of 158 pounds.
Those animals are native to Equatorial Africa and prefer the Congo Basin Forests.
Tiger – The Strongest Paw Swipe of All Big Cats
Tigers are one of the most powerful animals in the world.
When battling with their prey, those large cats can even exert up to 10,000 pounds of force when swiping with their paws. On top of that, the average bite strength of a tiger is 1,050 PSI.
Tigers can weigh between 220 and 660 pounds. Those beautiful creatures are found in the continent of Asia. Specifically, they are native to India, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Grizzly Bear – The Strongest Animal in the Americas
Compared to humans, grizzly bears are five times stronger than us.
These amazing animals can be considered one of the strongest animals in the world because they can lift up to 700 pounds effortlessly and have a bite force of 975 PSI.
Female grizzly bears can weigh up to 400 pounds, whereas the males can go up to 790lbs. When standing on their hind legs, grizzly bears reach heights of 3 to 5 feet.
Those large bears are found in the territories from Mexico to Alaska in North America.
Eagle – The Strongest Bird of Prey
Eagles are amazing birds and one of the most powerful animals of their kind. Those creatures can lift 400 PSI, and with their claws, they can hold and carry the prey up to 5 pounds.
However, the golden eagle is the exception and is considered to be the most powerful eagle species. Those ones can lift with the amount of 650 PSI.
Female eagles are typically larger than males and can reach the weight of 15 pounds. The wingspan of those beautiful birds can spread across 8 feet.
They are distributed in various habitats, however, they generally are found in parts of the world. Bald eagles are especially found in South and Central America.
Musk Ox – The Strongest Bovine
Musk oxen are so strong that they can even lift and carry 1,984 pounds, which is much greater than those animals’ weight.
The interesting fact about those amazing animals is that they have very strong skulls. It is caused by the air that is trapped between the skull and brain. So, it is almost impossible to harm their skull.
Musk ox bulls can reach 5 feet in height, and the average weight ranges from 600 to 800 pounds. Those large animals are native to Alaska, Greenland, and the Northern part of Canada.
Anaconda – The Strongest Snake
Anacondas are one of the strongest animals in the world. Those blood-freezing snakes can squeeze and crush the prey with their jaws with the power of 90 PSI.
Those creatures have jaws with the sides working independently. This makes it possible to swallow their prey no matter what size it is.
Those snakes can be 30 feet long and weigh up to 550 pounds. Anacondas are native tropical forests of South America.
Atlantic Goliath Grouper – The Strongest Fish
Those large fish are native to the Western Atlantic waters. The goliath grouper is known to be one of the stronger animals in the world.
They can grow pretty large and weigh up to 800 pounds. Those creatures are so strong that they can even attack and eat sharks.
They can be a threat to humans and have been cases of them attacking people.
Atlantic goliath groupers are found in the territories of the Florida Keys and the Gulf of Mexico as long as the Caribbean and Brazilian Coast.
Strongest Animals in the World – Part 2
The following creatures are considered the strongest animals relative to their body size:
Dung Beetle – The Strongest Insect in the World
The dung beetle is truly the olympiad winner. This strong insect is a bit smaller than half an inch and has the ability to lift a weight that is much greater than its own.
Typically, those amazing creatures can lift up to 1,141 times their body weight. Imagine a human lifting two fully loaded 18-wheeler trucks. Impossible, right?
Those interesting beetles can live anywhere except Antarctica.
Rhinoceros Beetle
The rhinoceros beetle is one of the most powerful animals of its kind. Those little creatures can even lift objects 850 times their body weight.
They use their brute strength when digging in the soil or under the leaves. Rhinoceros also have horns, which are used for digging too.
The rhinoceros is considered to be the heaviest beetle and can weigh up to 3.5 ounces.
They can be found all over the world, however, they are not found in Antarctica because of the very strict climate.
Leafcutter Ant – The Strongest Ant
Another strong and powerful insect is the leafcutter ant. This particular insect has the ability to carry objects up to 50 times their weight.
With their uniquely designed jaws, they can even lift and carry around twigs, leaves, and flowers.
While the workers can grow up to 1/16 to 1/2 inch long, the queen is larger, growing up to 3/4 inch long. They are native to the Central and Southern parts of America.
Strongest Animal Bite Forces in the World
The following creatures are considered the strongest animals based on their bite power:
Saltwater Crocodile – The Strongest Bite of All Animals
With a bite force of 3,700 PSI, the saltwater crocodile is one of the strongest animals in the world.
These aquatic animals have huge and powerful jaws that can bite into even large prey. The average size of a saltwater crocodile goes up to 17 feet. Those large animals weigh up to 1,000 pounds.
However, there have been found specimens longer and heavier than the measurements mentioned above.
Those crocodiles are found on the Indian coast, the Philippines, Singapore, and Australia’s northern part.
Hippopotamus – The Strongest Bite of All Land Animals
Hippopotamus are undoubtedly very cute, large animals. The male hippos can be very heavy, and their weight typically ranges between 3,500 and 9,920 pounds.
The female hippos are typically less heavy and weigh an average of 3,000 pounds. Hippos can grow up to 16.5 feet long.
Therefore, it is not surprising that these dangerous animals have a bite force of 1,820 PSI—the strongest bite of all land animals. Also, the hippos are considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
Hippos have large jaws, very sharp teeth, and big mouths. All this makes it possible to even bisect the body of an average person in just one bite.
Jaguar – The Strongest Jaw Muscles of All Big Cats
Jaguars are residents of Amazon Junges and are native to the Americas. They typically weigh between 123 and 212 lbs and can grow up to 29.5 inches tall at the shoulders.
They are characterized by a powerful bite but also because of their body structure. Their bodies are designed to fight and hunt larger prey.
The bite force of jaguars goes up to 1,500 PSI. However, the paw swipe force is no less powerful, and it can even swipe 500 pounds. Those creatures have a strength that is nine times greater than the average human.
Hyena
Hyenas are very strong animals who unsurprisingly have a very strong bite. The bite force of those creatures is around 1,100 PSI.
Even though they steal most food from lions, when they need it, those animals can hunt pretty well.
Hyenas are found in the territories of Africa, the Middle East, India, and Central Asia.
Hyenas grow up to 5.8 feet long and can weigh up to 190 lbs. Typically, female hyenas weigh way more than males.
Strongest Animal Kick Forces in the World
The following creatures are considered the strongest animals based on their kick force:
Zebra
Even though zebras may seem very vulnerable, they can actually kill a lion with just one kick.
Zebras are considered to be one of the strongest animals in the world when considering their kick force. The strength of their attack can be up to 3,000 PSI.
Zebras are found in the Eastern and Southern parts of Africa and prefer to stay in the treeless grasslands, wetlands, and rainforests as the deserts.
Zebras grow up to 5.25 feet in length and can weigh as much as 922 pounds.
Giraffe
Giraffes are well known and loved for their unique long-neck and tall legs, which can reach six feet tall.
Therefore, it is no surprise that they can kick very powerfully. The kick force of a giraffe can generate an impact of 2,000 PSI. They also can leave kangaroos behind with those measurements.
Giraffes are native to the savannas and woodland territories of Africa.
Ostrich
Ostriches are one of the rare birds that can kick very powerfully. They can deliver up to 2,000 PSI of raw kicking power.
Those birds have so well-developed legs that they can even sprint at up to 60 mph speed, making them one of the fastest land animals.
Ostriches are found in the territory of African dry lands and savannas. Since they have a limited amount of water sources, they get hydrated from the plants consumed.
Also, ostriches are considered to be the heaviest birds on the planet. Males weigh approximately up to 297 pounds and can be as tall as 9 feet. In comparison, females can weigh up to 240 pounds and grow up to 6 feet in height.
Strongest Punch Power in the Animal Kingdom
The following creatures are considered the strongest animals based on their punch power:
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Whoever sees this colorful animal can’t imagine such a small creature can strike such a powerful punch, according to the Guinness World Records.
The mantis shrimp can whip out their appendages at speeds of 75 feet per second.
To put it into perspective, that’s about 50 times faster than the blink of an eye or as fast as a .22 caliber bullet.
This punch equals a force some 100 times that of its weight, making it the strongest self-powered strike by an animal.
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