The greatest bite force of ancient animals. The strongest jaws of the animal kingdom. Shark bite pressure test

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

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

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 are 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 big 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.

Good afternoon friends!

10. Leo
Bite force - 41 atmospheres

Opens our rating King of Beasts! Lions are the only social cats in the world. They are so cooperative when hunting that this may be one of the reasons why they evolved to have a bite force comparable to that of a panther or other similar cat. Another reason may be hunting habits, since the lion strangles its prey by biting its trachea, that is, the need for strong bite absent. Lions, as a rule, hunt at any time of the day, but often go for large prey at night. They also need water, so they drink daily, but they can live for about five days without it.

9. Tiger
Bite force - 71 atmospheres

Most great view of the cat family, the tiger is a solitary hunter. The length of his body can reach 3.5 meters, and he can weigh up to 140 kg. He hunts and pursues his prey at night. Like lions, they tend to bite their prey on the throat to cut off the flow of air and blood to the animal's head. Their bite is very powerful, it is almost twice as strong as a lion's bite. IN wild nature there are fewer tigers than in captivity. They usually avoid people, however, attacks on people and livestock have been reported around the world.

8 Spotted Hyena
Bite force - 75 atmospheres

Most sources claim that the bite force of a hyena is 75 atmospheres, however, Wikipedia says a higher figure, but there are no other sources confirming the information in the online encyclopedia. Speaking of the fact that the hyena has one of the most powerful bites in the animal kingdom, it should be noted that as a result of her attack, even the bones of a giraffe are crushed. The reason for this bite force is that it needs to get at least some food after lions and other large predators leave the remains of their prey. Even though they look like dogs, hyenas are actually more closely related to cats. It has been discovered that a hyena can kill a dog with a single bite to the neck. Contrary to popular belief, hyenas hunt, and ironically, lions often steal their food. Like lions, they are very social and cooperative animals.

7 Grizzly Bear
Bite force - 81 atmospheres

This North American subspecies of the brown bear is known for its incredible size and aggression. Despite their large size, grizzlies can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h. They feed mainly on berries and nuts, but also hunt. In Yellowstone national park they were seen and filmed while hunting game. Grizzlies are considered more aggressive compared to other bears. It is believed that because of their size, these bears cannot climb trees, which is why they have developed this defense mechanism in order to get their own food. It's probably the same evolutionary path, as a result of which the bear found its powerful jaws, which help him defend himself against wolves and other intruders. They can weigh from 270 to 450 kg. They can be dangerous to humans if startled, or if they are with cubs, they mostly rarely, if ever, prey on humans.

6 Gorilla
Bite force - 88 atmospheres

Some people may be surprised to read this given the vegetarian nature of these creatures. However, gorillas are formidable "inhabitants" of this list. Their jaws are primarily adapted to chewing tough plants like bamboo, which has given them incredibly strong jaws and neck muscles. The gorilla has traditionally been viewed as a large scary monster, but in last years her image became "softer". They are our closest relatives after chimpanzees, and their numbers in the wild are rapidly declining, with about 700 mountain gorillas now left alive. Gorillas can climb trees but usually live on the ground in communities of up to 30 individuals led by a dominant male. Gorillas, as a rule, are "gentle" creatures and do not pose any danger to humans.

5. Hippo
Bite force - 124 atmospheres

How can one not recall a bearded joke about poor eyesight ... This is one of the most powerful herbivores. The hippo belongs to the category of the most dangerous animals in Africa. Living in a specific area, and being very aggressive, there are known cases of attacks on small boats and their crews. The scientists were only able to measure the bite force of the female hippopotamus, because the males are extremely aggressive. The word hippopotamus comes from the Greek for "water horse" because of its incredible love of water. The closest relatives of the hippopotamus are whales and cows. They belong to the order of artiodactyls, so camels, horses and goats are also relatives of the hippopotamus.

4. Jaguar
Bite force - 136 atmospheres

The jaguar's bite is the strongest among all cats, in fact, it has the strongest bite of all mammals. Being the real king of the jungle, the jaguar lives on the territory from Mexico to Argentina. The jaguar kills by biting its prey on the head. Like most other big cats (except the lion), the jaguar is a lone killer. Among the victims of this animal are anacondas and caimans. Its bite is so strong that it can easily bite through even a tortoise shell. The animal got its name from the Indian word, which in translation means "one who kills with one jump." Although smaller than its African and Asian cousins, the jaguar is the largest cat in America. The most numerous populations of jaguars, according to the latest data, live in Belize.

3. American alligator
Bite force - 145 atmospheres

The American alligator is one of only two remaining alligator species in the world, the other being the Chinese alligator. Its population is about 5 million individuals, with more than 1.2 million living in Florida, the rest settled in Texas, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. They share this territory with crocodiles. Their diet consists mainly of fish, turtles and small mammals. In a recent National Geographic study, scientists measured the bite force of an American alligator, which was 145 atmospheres, however, it is worth considering that the study involved rather small alligators, so it is likely that the figure could be higher.

2-1. Saltwater crocodile and Nile crocodile.
Bite force - from 251 to 340 atmospheres

The first and second places were shared by the Sea and Nile crocodiles. Saltwater crocodiles received the highest rating from the National Geographic team for bite force measurements. However, they again measured the strength of several small crocodiles. Experts say that if the power of a small crocodile is translated into the power of a 6-meter monster, then it can reach an incredible 480 atmospheres. These monsters live in East India, South-East Asia and Northern Australia. Saltwater crocodiles eat everything that comes their way. The Australians affectionately refer to them as "pickles", however, they are not at all affectionate when it comes to this giant. They are responsible for most of the known cases of attacks on people, but they have no less on their conscience human lives than the Nile crocodile.

In an experiment by National Geographic, the bite force of the Nile crocodile was estimated to be lower than that of the saltwater crocodile, but most other sources say 340 atmospheres. The Nile crocodile, as a rule, is almost the same size as the saltwater crocodile, and accordingly the strength of its bite is approximately in the same range.

There are animals that should have also been on this list, but they are not here due to the lack of research into the strength of their bite, because of the problematic or high cost of this event.
The notable exception is the large White shark, about the bite force of which there are only theoretical data.

And the Tasmanian devil, apparently, has the most powerful bite in relation to the size of its body (about 14 atmospheres).

For reference: 1 atmosphere is approximately equal to 1 kgf / cm2 (1.0333)

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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 no particular need for a strong bite.

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. There are almost no tigers in the wild, 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 likely reason that the hyena has developed such powerful jaws is that the hyena needs to somehow cope with the remnants of lion meals and what remains after others. 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 Yellowstone National Park, grizzlies were caught on video 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, it was this evolutionary path that led to the fact that the grizzly formed such powerful jaws with which it can cope with wolves and other intruders living in its 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. Despite the fact that public attention is drawn mainly to large predators like lions and leopards, as well as elephants and rhinoceros, perhaps it is the hippopotamus that is the most dangerous animal in Africa, which can only be surpassed by 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, Southeast 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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Everyone knows what cats are. When we hear this word, a picture of a domestic cat merrily frolicking with a ball is drawn in our head. But they are different: the largest are tigers weighing 350 kilograms, and the smallest “rusty” cats reach a weight of only 1.5 kilograms. Today we will look at the 10 scariest facts about wild and domestic cats.
So let's get started!
1. You can't run away from them! As you know, the most common domestic cat can reach speeds of up to 13.5 m / s while running,

By comparison, the fastest sprinter can run at a maximum speed of 12.5 m/s. I suppose there are few among us who can boast that he is an Olympic champion in running? But any "murka" living next door to you may well.

2 Have you already climbed higher, where the feline will not reach you? You can get down!

African leopards and cougars can make the highest jump. They are able to jump onto a tree branch (or rock ledge) located at a height of 5.5 meters. In general, cats jump up to five times their height.

3 Well, goosebumps ran down your back? Ah, you have no time, a Bengal tiger is chasing you?

Then it will be useful for you to know that this type of cat has the longest fangs (about 10 cm)! Running, as mentioned earlier, is useless, look for tall tree, perhaps the tiger will be too lazy to get you out of there.

4 Another great fact about bites. Do you know who has the most strong jaws? Look around.

Yes, yes, this cute tiger that follows you around. The force of his bite is 1000 pounds per inch (that's about 450 kilograms). It's impossible to get out of his grip. For those who stay at home, and the tiger does not threaten them, I note that the domestic cat has thin and long fangs. When bitten, it can harm not only soft tissues (muscles, ligaments), but also joints (just bite through it).

A cat's hearing is 20 times more acute than a human's. They can hear sounds that we bipeds can't.

6 The length of the claws itself major representative the cat family reaches 10 cm.

So don't let the softness and fluffiness of their paws fool you.

7 If a cat decides to hunt, then its victim will know about it at the very last moment.

All representatives of this species, except for the cheetah, use the surprise factor during the hunt. They sneak up on the victim as close as possible and attack unexpectedly. The innate noiselessness of their gait allows them to sneak up on them. Thanks to soft pads and wool on the paws, all possible sounds from their steps are muffled.

8 This type of mammal reproduces at an amazing rate, especially the subspecies of domestic fluffies.

One cat is capable of giving birth and raising more than 100 kittens in one life. Reference: on average, cats live 10-15 years.

9 Do not try to hide from a cat in a dark room or sneak up on a predator during a night safari!

They have a vision of 200 degrees, a person has only 180. Yes, and rods in the retina, which are responsible for the ability to see in the dark, they have more than 20 times more.

10 I hope the previous 9 facts have already frightened you, and the dreams of becoming a trainer of large predators or the second Kuklachev have left you.

I'll get it last. Cats are always watching you! Even during sleep, one half of their brain is constantly fixing where you are.
I hope that after reading this you will be more careful with the representatives of the cat family.

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