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Which animal do you think has the strongest bite? A lion? Hyena? Turtle? Or maybe someone smaller, like a piranha? The answer may surprise you. There is a famous saying that says: big fish eats small fish, ”and if you look at how nature works, there is a lot of truth in this statement. It is especially true in the animal world, where most animals survive using a wide range of tactics and evolutionary characteristics. As you may have guessed, bite strength is one of the many characteristics that help animals not only in their search for food, but also in self-defense. It is for this quality that today we will compile a list of the most “successful” representatives of the animal kingdom. From the beautiful Siberian tiger to the fearsome polar bear, we bring you the 25 most powerful bites in the animal kingdom.

25. Killer whale, PSI: 19000 ~ unknown

Until now, it has not been possible to accurately measure the strength of a killer whale's bite. However, based on incidents involving killer whales in captivity, it appears that their bite force may exceed 19,000 PSI. Since this is just speculation, this moment killer whale gets only 25th place.

24. Piranha, PSI: unknown


If we talk in the context of boxing, then the piranha would come out as the absolute champion in its weight. The force of her bite exceeds her body weight by 30 times, which is simply unheard of in the animal world. However, her exact strength has never been measured.

23. Leopard, PSI: 300-310


The leopard is one of the five big cats» a kind of panther and lives in many parts of the world, such as parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Western Asia, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia and even Siberia. Known for its athleticism and speed, the bite of the leopard is definitely something to avoid.

22. Tiger shark, PSI: 325


This marine animal is possibly one of the most deadly dangerous predators ocean and definitely looks very intimidating. However, her bite force is only 325.

21. Hyena dog, PSI: 340


The wild dog is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and is considered the largest member of its genus in Africa. Don't let her appearance fool you, she can compete with cougars in terms of bite power.

20. Puma, PSI: 350


Puma is considered the largest wild land mammals in the western hemisphere and one of the fastest animals. They do not have the strongest bite, however, they have muscular jaws and long fangs that are adapted to bite into meat, tendons and muscles.

19. Wolf, PSI: 406


The wolf is one of the most famous and well-studied animals. They also have some of the most paradoxical relationships with humans. The wolf is an excellent hunter, they usually hunt in packs to take down animals that are much larger than them. The wolf boasts an impressive bite force of 406 PSI.

18. Mastiff, PSI: 556


The Mastiff has the strongest bite among domesticated dogs. Even a Rottweiler, Pit Bull or German Shepherd cannot be compared with him.

17. White shark, PSI: 669


While sharks should generally have the strongest bite of any fish, this shark's bite is surprisingly weak. However, this may be due to the fact that sharks do not need a strong bite, as they do most of the damage with their teeth.

16. Lion, PSI: 691


It was sad to see the "king of beasts" in such a low place, but it is obvious that his bite is not his main advantage. However, lions have a fairly strong bite that has earned them a place on this list of the 25 most powerful bites.

15. Jaguar, PSI: 700


The jaguar is not terrible because of its powerful bite, but because of the way its teeth are designed: they can pierce the skull and are able to pierce the shell of a turtle. By comparison, jaguars have the strongest bite relative to body weight of any cat family.

14. Brown bear, PSI: 850


The modest brown bear lives in the forests and mountains in the north North America, Europe and Asia. It is the most widely distributed bear in the world, boasting an impressive bite force of up to 850 psi.

13. Kodiak, PSI: 930


Kodiak lives on the islands of the Kodiak archipelago in southwestern Alaska, from which he borrowed his name. It is the largest subspecies of the brown bear and one of the two largest representatives of the bear genus. The second is the polar bear.

12. Amur tiger, PSI: 950


Amur tigers have not only incredibly powerful jaws, but also very sharp teeth, with which they dig into the throats of their victims.

11. Cayman Tortoise, PSI: 1000


According to a bite force test by Dr. Brady Barr of National Geographic, the caiman tortoise has a bite force of approximately 1,000 PSI.

10. Bengal tiger, PSI: 1050


Bengal tigers are the most major representatives cat families and are famous for their strength and power. Despite their formidable reputation, most tigers shy away from humans, but the few that don't are responsible for many deaths in India, where they live.

9. Hyena, PSI: 1100


This not-so-cute and scary animal, which we learned about as a child watching The Lion King, has teeth that are specially adapted for eating rough food, as well as crushing and digesting large bones. Their milk is rich in calcium due to the huge amount of bones included in their diet.

8. Polar bear, PSI: 1235


Polar bears are among the strongest and most enduring mammals on the planet, and as such, they also have a very powerful bite. Their diet consists mainly of seals, which are by no means soft-skinned, but their teeth are also adapted to a vegetable diet.

7. Grizzly bear, PSI: 1250


The grizzly bear is a majestic and dominant symbol of wild and primordial strength. They are omnivorous and have very strong teeth. Their incisors are relatively large, as are their fangs. Unlike most other animals, their teeth are also adapted for a vegetable diet.

6. Blunt shark, PSI: 1250


Bullhead sharks have the strongest bite of any fish, but their strength is only half of their power, as they also have very sharp teeth.

5. Gorilla, PSI: 1300


The teeth of typical male gorillas are white and large, but not very sharp. However, they have a very strong neck and jaw muscles that make their bite very strong.

4. Hippo, PSI: 1821


Hippos may not look like they have a strong bite, but the truth is that these huge animals have very strong jaw muscles. Even though they are herbivores, their bite is considered to be the strongest among all mammals.

3. Mississippi alligator, PSI: 2125


The Mississippi alligator is rare story breeding success of an endangered animal. This species has been saved from extinction. The Mississippi alligator is one of the most vicious and deadly predators in the world, and its bite is third on our list.

2. Nile crocodile, PSI: 5000


The Nile crocodile has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most vicious cannibals in all of Africa. Exact amount difficult to name, but it is estimated that about 200 people die every year in the pasture of the Nile crocodile. It comes second on our list.

1. combed crocodile, PSI: 7700


To put it bluntly, the combed crocodile is the most large reptile living on our planet at the moment. It is also the largest land and coastal predator in the world. The length of males of this species can reach 6.7 meters, and weight 2000 kilograms. In addition, they have the strongest bite of any animal in the world.

Recall that 1 atmosphere = 101 325 Pa.

Leo - 40 atmospheres. Oddly enough, the bite of the “king of beasts” is considered not the strongest when compared with other representatives of big cats. However, it is quite enough to hold the prey, and then tear it to pieces.

Tiger - 71 atmospheres. The largest representative of big cats and one of the most impressive predators of the planet. The mass of some Amur tigers reaches 380 kg, and their bite is almost twice as strong as that of a lion.

Spotted hyena - 74 atmospheres. The jaws of hyenas are among the most powerful among mammals, they are specially designed for crushing bones. Hyenas easily eat the cleanly gnawed remains of the prey of other predators, if necessary, gnawing even the bones of a giraffe.

Grizzly bear - 81 atmospheres. The largest subspecies of the American brown bears live in Alaska. Their mass can exceed 450 kg, and the strength of the jaws exceeds that of many big cats. Brown bears usually do not prey on people, but often show aggression, protecting their territory.

Gorilla - 88 atmospheres. Luckily for most of the gorillas' natural neighbors, they are vegetarians. But to protect their group, the largest of the monkeys use not only their paws, but also the most powerful jaws that can bite almost anything.

Hippo - 124 atmospheres. Surprisingly, many still consider hippos to be good-natured bumpkins from children's books. In fact, these are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, incredibly aggressive and territorial. With one bite, they can kill a lion or a crocodile, what can we say about a person caught in the tooth?

Jaguar - 136 atmospheres. The winner in terms of bite strength is not only among all big cats, but among all mammals on the planet. Jaguars are the only predators that kill prey by crushing its skull with its jaws. And they often hunt cows.

Mississippi alligator - 144 atmospheres. For crocodiles and alligators, nothing is more important than the right bite, so they take three prizes. Mississippi alligators are large enough to attack humans, but rarely do so, preferring to feed on fish and turtles.

Salted crocodile - 251 atmospheres. Heavy artillery was launched. The largest reptiles of the planet grow up to 7 meters in length with a mass of up to two tons. Sometimes they attack pleasure boats, biting through them.

Nile crocodile - 340 atmospheres. Those same “big evil crocodiles”, because of which children, and not only them, should not go for a walk in Africa. Nile crocodiles are slightly inferior in size to combed ones, but more than compensate for this with a truly monstrous jaw strength. Seasoned crocodiles can kill and eat even adult male lions, not to mention other predators of the savannah.

They are able to gnaw through steel, eat huge crocodile or bite through the thick skin of a hippo... Let's look into the mouth of those who are capable of this thanks to their powerful jaws.

Photos and text by Alexey Osokin

1. Let's start, of course, with the lions. These incredibly beautiful and graceful cats are real killing machines. No one can feel at ease being near them. Lions attack even adult hippos. Nothing is impossible for them. At the same time, the bite force of a lion by African standards is very small - only about 40-50 atmospheres.

2. Cheetahs don't have the most strong bite, but incredibly sharp fangs and incisors leave no chance for the victim ...

3. Note: The cheetah's head is designed by nature to take up most of the respiratory system allowing you to run at great speed. There was no room left for large teeth.

4. Another cat that can kill an animal much larger than itself, and then drag the carcass up a tree - a leopard.

5. In terms of bite strength, the leopard is the most strong cat in Africa - according to various sources, from 100 to 125 atmospheres.

6. The hippopotamus has the most powerful jaws. And although it feeds mainly on grass, the hippopotamus needs a powerful jaw for battles with other hippos and for protection from predators. They are said to be able to bite into two parts of a huge crocodile. The bite force of these fat men reaches 125 atmospheres.

7. There are legends about the power of the jaws of a crocodile. And not in vain. These cutest creatures have a bite force of 340 atmospheres and this is the highest among all African animals.

9. Hyenas easily gnaw through strong bones and are even able to gnaw through steel bars of cages.

10. The strength of a hyena bite, according to various sources, ranges from 70 to 90 atmospheres, but incredibly strong and sharp teeth give power to the bite.

Which animal do you think has the strongest bite? A lion? Hyena? Turtle? Or maybe someone smaller, like a piranha? The answer may surprise you. There is a famous saying that says: “Big fish eat small fish” and if you look at how nature works, there is a lot of truth in this statement. It is especially true in the animal world, where most animals survive using a wide range of tactics and evolutionary characteristics. As you may have guessed, bite strength is one of the many characteristics that help animals not only in their search for food, but also in self-defense. It is for this quality that today we will compile a list of the most “successful” representatives of the animal kingdom. From the beautiful Siberian tiger to the fearsome polar bear, we bring you the 25 most powerful bites in the animal kingdom.

25. Killer whale, PSI: 19000 ~ unknown

24. Piranha, PSI: unknown

23. Leopard, PSI: 300-310

22. Tiger shark, PSI: 325

21. Hyena dog, PSI: 340

20. Puma, PSI: 350

19. Wolf, PSI: 406

18. Mastiff, PSI: 556

17. Great White Shark, PSI: 669

16. Lion, PSI: 691

15. Jaguar, PSI: 700

14. Brown bear, PSI: 850

13. Kodiak, PSI: 930

12. Amur tiger, PSI: 950

11. Cayman Tortoise, PSI: 1000

10. Bengal tiger, PSI: 1050

9. Hyena, PSI: 1100

8. Polar bear, PSI: 1235

7. Grizzly bear, PSI: 1250

6. Blunt shark, PSI: 1250

5. Gorilla, PSI: 1300

4. Hippo, PSI: 1821

3. Mississippi alligator, PSI: 2125

2. Nile crocodile, PSI: 5000

1. Salted crocodile, PSI: 7700

The jaw is probably the most common weapon in the animal kingdom. True, it is worth noting right away that the list is inaccurate due to the fact that there is no data on the bite of some animals.

For example, there is only theoretical data about the bite of a great white shark, and the most powerful bite in relation to its own size has Tasmanian devil, vaguely reminiscent of a wolverine in its habits and power.

In this list, you can get acquainted with the rating of the most powerful bites in the animal world.

10. Leo

Jaw strength - 41 atmospheres.

It may seem strange that this mighty predator and part-time King of beasts, occupies only the tenth position. The lion is the only social cat in the world. Lions prefer to hunt collectively, and perhaps for this reason, the jaws have not evolved as much as the jaws of some other cats. In addition, lions, attacking their victims, as a rule, suffocate them by simply biting their trachea, for which there is a special need for strong bite not available.

Lions hunt both at night and during the day, although they hunt large prey mainly at night. They prefer to stay close to water, although they can live without it for up to five days.

9. Tiger

Jaw strength - 71 atmospheres.

Tigers are the largest representatives of the cat family and, moreover, solitary hunters. In length, they can reach 3.5 meters, and weight up to 320 kilograms. The tiger goes hunting at night. Like lions, tigers prefer to choke their prey by the throat, cutting off the blood and air supply to the animal's brain. The bite of a tiger is much more powerful than a lion's bite, which may be due to the fact that they lead a solitary lifestyle. IN wild nature there are almost no tigers, the reason for which is excessive hunting. Tigers usually avoid humans, but attacks on humans have been recorded around the world.

8 Spotted Hyena

Jaw strength - 75 atmospheres.

Most sources say that the bite force of the spotted hyena is seventy-five atmospheres, but others indicate a much higher figure, which unfortunately cannot be verified. But one thing is for sure: the hyena has one of the most powerful bites in the animal world, and its jaws are so strong that they can even crush the bones of a giraffe. The probable reason that the hyena has formed such powerful jaws, lies in the fact that the hyena needs to somehow cope with the remnants of lion meals and what remains after other large predators.

Despite the fact that the hyena looks like a dog, in fact they are much closer to cats. In any case, hyenas are included in the cat-like suborder, like the cat family. Hyenas have been found to be capable of killing a dog with a single bite to the neck. It is a common misconception that hyenas steal prey from lions, but in fact, hyenas are much more successful hunters than lions and it is the lions who steal their prey for an hour. Just like lions, hyenas are very social animals and are excellent at cooperating with each other.

7 Grizzly Bear

Jaw strength - 81 atmospheres.

The grizzly bear is a North American subspecies of the brown bear and is distinguished large sizes and aggressiveness. True, biologists say that this is just fiction and that grizzlies are practically no different from those living in Eastern Siberia brown bears. Despite its considerable weight, the grizzly can reach speeds of up to fifty-six kilometers per hour. For the most part they feed on nuts, berries and other vegetation, but they can also hunt. IN national park Yellowstone grizzlies were caught on video while hunting.

Compared to other bears, grizzlies are considered more aggressive. It has been suggested that because of their huge size, grizzlies cannot climb trees. For this reason (also presumably) a powerful mechanism of aggression has developed in them, which allows not only to get their own food, but also to effectively resist any competitor. Presumably this one evolutionary path led to the fact that the grizzly formed such powerful jaws, with which he can cope with wolves and other intruders living in his possessions. Average weight the largest living in Alaska, the grizzly is about 450 kilograms. Contrary to the popular myth about super-dangerous killer bears, the grizzly bear does not consider a person as prey and will only attack in case of old age, illness, or being provoked to do so.

6 Gorilla

Jaw strength - 88 atmospheres.

It will seem strange to many that this herbivore is on the list of owners of the most powerful jaws. However, the gorilla is one of the rather formidable inhabitants of the jungle. With a height of about 170 cm, the weight of an adult male can reach 235 kilograms, despite the fact that these animals do not tend to accumulate excessive fat deposits and most of their weight falls on powerful muscles. IN scientific literature it was noted that individual male gorillas can reach a height of two meters and twenty centimeters!

The gorilla has not only a very strong jaw, but also powerful limbs. They almost never fight each other and limit themselves to demonstrating their power. They never attack other animals, but can defend themselves if necessary. Strong jaws evolved as an adaptation to eating hard plant food such as bamboo. The length of the fangs is 5 centimeters and, despite the overall colossal power, the muscles of the jaw and neck, which provide the gorillas with such a powerful bite, should be especially highlighted.

In the old days, gorillas were portrayed as huge monsters, but in Lately their image has become softer thanks to scientific research. After the chimpanzee, the gorilla is our closest relative. Unfortunately, these animals are on the verge of complete extermination, and there are only about seven hundred of them in the wild. They climb trees well, but prefer to live on the ground, huddle in groups of up to thirty individuals with a dominant male at the head. Completely safe for humans.

5. Hippo

Jaw strength - 124 atmospheres.

The hippopotamus is one of the most powerful herbivores. Although public attention has been drawn mainly to large predators like lions and leopards, as well as elephants and rhinos, perhaps it is the hippopotamus that is the most dangerous animal in Africa, which can only be surpassed by the black mamba or mosquitoes.

Hippos tend to defend their territory, and during mating season male hippos become extremely aggressive. It happens that a furious hippo will attack even small boats along with their passengers. Unfortunately, the scientists failed to measure the bite force of the male due to their excessive aggressiveness. As for the females, their bite force is given above. It is worth considering that females are not only less aggressive, but also inferior to males both in body weight (by about ten percent), and in size and sharpness of fangs.

The word "behemoth" itself comes from the Greek phrase "water horse", which was caused by incredible love this animal to the water. In the past, it was believed that the closest relatives of the hippopotamus are pigs, but more recent studies have shown that these are whales.

In addition, the hippopotamus is included in the order of artiodactyls, so goats and camels are also its relatives.

4. Jaguar

Jaw strength - 136 atmospheres.

The jaws of the jaguar are the most powerful among all members of the cat family. Moreover, we can safely say that its bite is superior in strength to the bite of any other mammal.

From Argentina to Mexico, the jaguar is the real king of the jungle. The jaguar kills its prey by biting its head. Like most cats, the jaguar is a solitary hunter. The jaguar even attacks the anaconda and caiman. The strength of his jaws is so great that he is able to bite through even a turtle shell. Although the jaguar is inferior in size to its cousins ​​living in Asia and Africa, they are the largest cats in America. The most numerous populations of jaguars, according to the latest data, live in Belize.

3. American alligator

Jaw strength - 145 atmospheres

American alligators are one of only two surviving alligator species (the other being the Chinese alligator). The American alligator has a population of about five million, with over 1.2 million living in Florida. Another part of the population lives in Alabama, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Louisiana and Texas.

American alligators share this territory with crocodiles. Their diet consists mostly of small mammals, turtles and fish. Recent studies, during which the bite force of this animal was measured, showed that this reptile occupies an honorable third place, and its bite force is 145 atmospheres. True, it is worth considering the fact that these data were obtained in the study of rather small alligators, therefore, in the case of more powerful individuals, the bite force can be noticeably higher.

2 Saltwater crocodile

Jaw strength - 251 atmospheres.

The saltwater crocodile was ranked first in the studies mentioned above for the strength of its bite, but again the bite strength of smaller specimens was measured. According to experts, if the strength of these small crocodiles is translated into the strength of a mighty six-meter giant, the strength of his bite can reach 480 atmospheres. These monsters live in Northern Australia, South-East Asia and East India.

Almost everything that he meets will be suitable as food for the saltwater crocodile. The inhabitants of Australia affectionately call these reptiles "salties", but in the event of a meeting with them, they, of course, would prefer not to meet such a salty. Saltwater crocodiles are responsible for most of the recorded attacks on humans, in any case, they are much more dangerous lion. True, it is worth noting that, like other animals, they do not consider a person as a prey and will not hunt him specifically. And since the habitats of these reptiles are designated as dangerous or completely prohibited for walking and swimming, a meeting with this giant does not threaten a cautious and law-abiding person.

1. Nile crocodile

Jaw strength - 340 atmospheres.

In the same experiment that measured the bite force of the saltwater crocodile and the American alligator, the Nile crocodile came in second, giving the palm to the saltwater crocodile. However, most sources claim that the force of his bite is three hundred and forty atmospheres! In size, the Nile crocodile practically does not differ from the saltwater crocodile.

Accordingly, it can be assumed that the strength of its bite is approximately in the same range as that of its marine counterpart. It should be noted that the Nile and saltwater crocodiles are interchangeable champions in terms of bite force, and their performance will vary quite markedly depending on how exactly the measurements were taken in the case of a particular crocodile. feed on Nile crocodiles mostly fish, but like their brethren they tend to attack any animal that is careless enough to cross their path. Mostly zebras, and even birds and small hippos.

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