The strongest grip. The most powerful bites in the animal kingdom. Not with just teeth

They are able to chew through steel and have a bite huge crocodile or bite through the thick skin of a hippopotamus... Let's look into the mouths 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 lions. These are incredibly beautiful and graceful cats- real killing machines. No one can feel calm when they are around them. Lions even attack 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 can't boast the most strong bite, but the 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 significantly 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 a huge crocodile in two. The bite force of these fatties reaches 125 atmospheres.

7. There are legends about the power of the crocodile’s jaws. And for good reason. These cutest creatures have a bite force of 340 atmospheres and this is the highest among all African animals.

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

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

The jaw is probably the most common weapon in the animal kingdom. However, 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 most powerful bite In relation to its own size, the Tasmanian devil has, in its habits and power, vaguely reminiscent of a wolverine.

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 powerful predator and also the King of Beasts occupies only tenth position. Leo is the world's only social cat. Lions prefer to hunt collectively and it is perhaps for this reason that their jaws have not evolved as much as the jaws of some other cats. In addition, when lions attack their victims, as a rule, they strangle them by simply cutting through 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. They can reach 3.5 meters in length and weigh up to 320 kilograms. The tiger goes hunting at night. Like lions, tigers prefer to strangle their victims by the throat, reducing the flow of blood and air to the animal's brain. A tiger's bite is much more powerful than a lion's, which may be due to the fact that they lead a solitary lifestyle. IN wildlife There are almost no tigers, the reason for which is excessive hunting. Tigers usually avoid people, but attacks on humans have been recorded all over the world.

8. Spotted hyena

Jaw strength – 75 atmospheres.

Most sources say that the spotted hyena's bite force 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 kingdom, and its jaws are so strong that they can even crush the bones of a giraffe. The probable reason that the hyena developed such powerful jaws, is that the hyena needs to somehow cope with the remnants of lions’ meals and what remains after other large predators.

Although hyenas look like dogs, they are actually much closer to cats. In any case, hyenas are included in the suborder Felidae, like the cat family. Hyenas have been found to be able to kill 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 that 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 brown bear and different large sizes and aggressiveness. True, biologists claim that this is just a fiction and that the grizzly bear is practically no different from those living in Eastern Siberia brown bears. Despite its significant weight, a grizzly bear 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 captured on video while hunting.

Compared to other bears, grizzlies are considered more aggressive. It has been suggested that due to its enormous size, the grizzly bear cannot climb trees. For this reason (also presumably) they have developed a powerful mechanism of aggression, which allows them not only to obtain food for themselves, but also to effectively resist any competitor. Presumably this one evolutionary path led to the fact that the grizzly bear has developed such powerful jaws, with the help of which he can cope with wolves and other intruders living in his domain. Average weight The largest grizzly bear living in Alaska weighs about 450 kilograms. Contrary to the common myth about super-dangerous killer bears, the grizzly bear does not consider humans as prey and can attack only in case of old age, illness or being provoked to do so.

6. Gorilla

Jaw strength – 88 atmospheres.

Many will find it strange that this herbivore is on the list of those with 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 excess 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 not only has 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 food. plant food, such as bamboo. The length of the fangs is 5 centimeters and, despite the overall colossal power, special mention should be made of the muscles of the jaw and neck, which provide gorillas with such a powerful bite.

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

5. Hippopotamus

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 rhinoceroses, perhaps the hippopotamus is the most dangerous animal in Africa, surpassed only by the black mamba or mosquitoes.

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

The word “hippopotamus” itself comes from the Greek phrase “water horse,” which was caused by this animal’s incredible love for water. In the past, it was believed that the hippopotamus's closest relatives were pigs, but later studies showed that they were whales.

In addition, the hippopotamus is part of the artiodactyl order, so its relatives are also goats and camels.

4. Jaguar

Jaw strength – 136 atmospheres.

The jaguar's jaws are the most powerful among all members of the cat family. Moreover, we can safely say that its bite is stronger than the bite of any other mammal.

From Argentina to Mexico, the jaguar is the true 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 anacondas and caiman. The strength of his jaws is so great that he can even bite through a turtle shell. Although the jaguar is smaller in size than its cousins ​​living in Asia and Africa, in America they are the largest cats. The most numerous populations of jaguars, according to recent data, live in Belize.

3. American alligator

Jaw strength – 145 atmospheres

American alligators belong to one of two surviving species of alligators (the other being the Chinese alligator). The American alligator population numbers approximately 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 takes an honorable third place, and its bite force is 145 atmospheres. However, it is worth considering the fact that these data were obtained from a study of rather small alligators, so in the case of more powerful individuals, the bite force may be noticeably higher.

2. Saltwater crocodile

Jaw strength – 251 atmospheres.

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

Almost anything that it encounters will suit the saltwater crocodile as food. Residents of Australia affectionately call these reptiles “pickles”, but if they meet them, they, of course, would prefer not to meet such a pickle. Saltwater crocodiles are responsible for the majority of recorded attacks on humans, at least by far. the lion is more dangerous. True, it is worth noting that, like other animals, they do not consider humans as prey and will not hunt him. And since the habitats of these reptiles are designated as dangerous or completely prohibited for walking and swimming, a cautious and law-abiding person will not be in danger of meeting this giant.

1. Nile crocodile

Jaw strength – 340 atmospheres.

In the same experiment that measured the bite force of a saltwater crocodile and an American alligator, the Nile crocodile was ranked second to the saltwater crocodile. However, most sources claim that the force of its bite is three hundred and forty atmospheres! In size, the Nile crocodile is practically no different from the saltwater crocodile.

Accordingly, it can be assumed that the force of its bite is approximately within the same limits as that of its marine counterpart. It should be noted that Nile and saltwater crocodiles are interchangeable champions in terms of bite force, and their indicators will vary quite noticeably depending on how exactly the measurements were taken in the case of a particular crocodile. Nile crocodiles feed mostly on fish, but like their brothers, they tend to attack all animals that are careless enough to cross their path. These are mainly zebras, and even birds and small hippos.

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Recall that 1 atmosphere = 101,325 Pa.

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

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

Spotted hyena - 74 atmospheres. Hyenas have some of the most powerful jaws of any mammal, specifically designed for crushing bones. Hyenas easily eat the completely gnawed remains of the prey of other predators, if necessary, even chewing the bones of a giraffe.

Grizzly bear - 81 atmospheres. The largest subspecies of American brown bears live in Alaska. Their mass can exceed 450 kg, and their jaw strength exceeds that of many big cats. Brown bears, as a rule, do not hunt people, but often show aggression when defending 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 their powerful jaws, capable of biting through almost anything.

Hippopotamus - 124 atmospheres. Surprisingly, many people still consider hippos to be the good-natured hulks from children's books. In fact, they are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, incredibly aggressive and territorial. With one bite they can kill a lion or a crocodile, let alone a person caught in the tooth?

Jaguar - 136 atmospheres. The winner in bite force not only among all big cats, but also among all mammals on the planet. Jaguars are the only predators that kill prey by breaking its skull with their jaws. Moreover, they often hunt cows.

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

Saltwater crocodile - 251 atmospheres. Heavy artillery was used. The largest reptiles on the planet grow up to 7 meters in length and weigh 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 smaller in size than saltwater crocodiles, but they more than make up for this with truly monstrous jaw strength. Seasoned crocodiles can kill and eat even adult male lions, not to mention other predators of the savannah.

Bite force is an important characteristic for any animal, because it is thanks to it that the animal not only finds food, but also defends itself from enemies. We invite you to get acquainted with the list of the most powerful bites in the animal kingdom.

25th place - Orca, PSI: unknown
Scientists have still not been able to find out the exact force of a killer whale’s bite. There are only assumptions that the bite force of a killer whale can exceed 19,000 PSI.

24th place – Piranha, PSI: unknown
The bite force of this small fish is 30 times its body weight. Although the exact strength of its bite is also still unknown.

23rd place – Leopard, PSI: 300-310
One of the five "big cats" of the panther genus, it is known for its athleticism and speed. You should avoid meeting a leopard, as it is almost impossible to escape from it.

22nd place – Tiger shark, PSI: 325
This sea ​​creature considered one of the most dangerous predators ocean. In fact, the bite force of a tiger shark is only 325.

21st place – Wild Dog, PSI: 340
Although the appearance of this animal is a little unsightly, in terms of bite it is not much inferior to pumas.

20th place – Puma, PSI: 350
The puma is not only one of the fastest animals, but also has a strong bite. Thanks to their muscular jaws and long fangs, cougars can easily bite into meat, tendons and muscles.

19th place – Wolf, PSI: 406
Wolves are excellent hunters, and their bite force is 406 PSI.

18th place – Mastiff, PSI: 556
It is mastiffs, not pit bulls or Rottweilers, that have the strongest bite among domesticated dogs.

17th place – White shark, PSI: 669
The bite of sharks is not very strong, but they don’t really need it, because they inflict the main damage with their teeth.

16th place – Leo, PSI: 691
Leo is not the strongest and therefore he is only in 16th place on our list.

15th place – Jaguar, PSI: 700
Jaguars have the strongest bite relative to body weight of any cat family.

14th place – Brown bear, PSI: 850
The brown bear has a bite force reaching 850 PSI.

13th place – Kodiak, PSI: 930
Kodiak is the largest subspecies of brown bear and one of the largest representatives of the bear genus.

12th place – Amur tiger.PSI: 950
Amur tigers boast powerful jaws and very sharp teeth.

11th place – Cayman turtle, PSI: 1000
The bite force of a snapping turtle reaches 1000 PSI.

10th place – Bengal tiger, PSI: 1050
The most major representatives The cat family is famous for its strength and power.

9th place – Hyena, PSI: 1100
This unattractive animal has teeth specially adapted for eating rough food and crushing large bones.

8th place – Polar bear,PSI: 1235
These are one of the strongest and toughest mammals on the planet and have a very powerful bite.

7th place – Grizzly Bear, PSI: 1250
These majestic animals have very strong teeth.

6th place – Snout shark, PSI: 1250
This type of fish has the strongest bite among all fish.

5th place – Gorilla, PSI: 1300
Gorillas' powerful bites come not from their teeth, but from their strong neck and jaw muscles.

4th place – Hippopotamus, PSI: 1821
These huge animals have very strong jaw muscles, and their bite is considered the strongest of all mammals.

3rd place – Mississippi alligator, PSI: 2125
This predator is considered one of the most vicious and deadly in the world, and its bite is in third place on our list.

2nd place – Nile crocodile, PSI: 5000
In second place on the list is one of the most evil cannibals in all of Africa.

1st place – Saltwater crocodile, PSI: 7700
The saltwater crocodile is considered the most large reptile, living on the planet on this moment. In addition, he has the strongest bite of any animal in the world.

Good afternoon friends!

10. Leo
Bite force – 41 atmospheres

The King of Beasts opens our rating! Lions are the only social cats in the world. They love to cooperate so much when hunting that this may be one of the reasons why they have 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, there is no need for a strong bite. 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 can live for about five days without it.

9. Tiger
Bite force – 71 atmospheres

Most great view The cat family, the tiger is a solitary hunter. Its body length can reach 3.5 meters, and it can weigh up to 140 kg. It hunts and stalks its prey at night. Like lions, they tend to bite their victims' throats to reduce the flow of air and blood to the animal's head. Their bite is very powerful, almost twice as strong as a lion's bite. There are fewer tigers in the wild than in captivity. They generally avoid people, however, attacks on people and livestock have been recorded throughout 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 about 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 its attack, even the bones of a giraffe are crushed. The reason the bite is so strong is that it needs to get at least some food after lions and others large predators leaving 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 brown bear is known for its incredible size and aggression. Despite its large size, a grizzly bear 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 spotted and filmed while hunting game. Grizzlies are considered more aggressive than other bears. It is believed that due to their size, these bears cannot climb trees, which is why they developed this protective mechanism to get food for themselves. This is likely the same evolutionary path that gave the bear its powerful jaws, which help it defend against wolves and other attackers. They can weigh from 270 to 450 kg. They can pose a danger to humans if frightened or if they are with cubs, but in general they rarely, if ever, hunt 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 the formidable "residents" of this list. Their jaws are primarily adapted to chewing tough plants such as bamboo, which gives them incredible strong jaw and neck muscles. The gorilla has traditionally been seen as 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 remaining. Gorillas can climb trees, but usually live on the ground in communities of up to 30 individuals led by a dominant male. Gorillas are generally gentle creatures and pose no danger to humans.

5. Hippopotamus
Bite force – 124 atmospheres

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

4. Jaguar
Bite force – 136 atmospheres

The jaguar has the strongest bite of any cat and has the strongest bite of any mammal. Being the true king of the jungle, the jaguar lives in 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 solitary killer. Among the victims of this animal are anacondas and caimans. Its bite is so strong that it can easily bite through even a turtle's shell. The animal got its name from an Indian word, which translated means “one who kills with one jump.” Although smaller than its African and Asian cousins, the jaguar is the largest cat in the Americas. The largest populations of jaguars, according to recent data, live in Belize.

3. American alligator
Bite force – 145 atmospheres

The American alligator is one of only two remaining species of alligator in the world, the other being the Chinese alligator. Its population is about 5 million, with more than 1.2 million living in Florida, with the rest settled in Texas, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. They share this territory with crocodiles. Their diet includes mainly fish, turtles and small mammals. In a recent National Geographic study, scientists measured the bite force of an American alligator to be 145 atmospheres, however, it is worth considering that the study involved fairly 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 were rated highest by the National Geographic team in bite force measurements. However, they again measured the strength of several small crocodiles. Experts say that if the strength of a small crocodile is translated into the strength of a 6-meter monster, then it can reach an incredible 480 atmospheres. These monsters live in Eastern India, Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. Saltwater crocodiles eat everything that comes their way. Australians affectionately call them “pickles”, however, they are not at all affectionate when it comes to this giant. They are responsible for most known attacks on people, but they are responsible for just as many human lives than on the Nile crocodile.

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

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

A 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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