Bite force is the amount of pressure and force in an animal’s bite. It’s measured in psi (pounds per square inch). But no matter the unit of measurement when these mega-predators chomp down, you’d better hope you’re not on the receiving end of it. Just to give you some perspective, the bite force of a measly human is just 162 psi. Here are some animals with the strongest bite force.
1. Nile Crocodiles — 5000 PSI
Nile crocodiles are the second largest reptiles found on Earth, averaging around 14 feet in length. (Saltwater crocodiles are slightly larger.) They’re also known for being aggressive and vicious, attacking humans found along the water’s edge in eastern Africa, where they call home. In all, hundreds of attacks on humans are reported each year, often when people are washing clothes or boarding fishing vessels.
The apex predator goes after fish, as well as medium-sized mammals like wildebeests, young elephants, and antelopes. Nile crocodiles have the strongest bite force of any living creature, at a whopping 5,000 psi, which they use to crush their meal and take down large prey in one bite. Other gators and crocs, like saltwater crocodiles and American alligators also have really strong bite forces, though not like that of their Nile cousin.
Read More: 5 Of The Deadliest Animals Around The World
2. Hippopotamus — 1800 PSI
Hippopotamus is the Greek word for “river horse,” which is where these guys feel most at home. Their skin becomes dehydrated when they’re on land for too long.
Hippos are completely adorable. They look almost like an unassuming cartoon character with rounded features and leisurely soaks in African rivers. But they can also be vicious and, in fact, are one of the most dangerous animals to humans in Africa, in addition to Nile crocodiles and black mamba snakes. And you best not get in their way because these guys have a huge bite force of 1,800 psi as well as sizable canine teeth to boot.
Read More: Large and In Charge, Hippos Are Stirring Up Trouble In Colombia
3. T-Rex — 8,000 to 12,000 PSI
Just as a point of comparison, it’s important to note that many of the animals with the strongest bite force are no longer on the scene. “Tyrannosaurus Rex had a bite force that’s estimated to be between 8,000 to 12,000 psi,” says Scott Persons, an assistant professor of paleontology at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.
That’s nearly double that of the Nile crocodile. And it came in handy when T. rex was hunting for small dinosaurs or savaging the kills of other predators. It was even known to bite through bone when need be.
Read More: What Was the Most Dangerous Carnivorous Dinosaur?
4. Jaguars — 1500 PSI
Jaguars are the third largest cat in the world, with a stunning pattern and a seductive way about them. They can weigh up to 350 pounds, but their size varies based on their habitat and food availability. While their coloring is usually spotted, similar to that of a leopard, around 11 percent of jaguars are the rarer variety, known as the black panther.
Both varieties have a killer bite force. This sleek kitty has the strongest bite force of any cat in the world, at 1,500 psi.
Read More: 5 Dangerous Animals That Call The Amazon Rainforest Home
5. Bull Sharks — 1350 PSI
Bull sharks are found in most of the world’s oceans. In the U.S., they’re often found off the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. They have even been found in rivers like the Amazon. Like Nile crocodiles, they’re an aggressive species that’s more likely to bite a human than any other type of shark.
These guys also have a strong bite force of 1350 psi, which they use to nosh on a variety of items found in coastal waters, such as other sharks and even baby hippos. (I hope that the hippos’ mom doesn’t catch on; talk about a battle of the bite force.)
And while we’re on the subject of bite force, it’s worth noting that Megalodon, an extinct shark that was about three times the size of a Great White, has a bite force that’s estimated to be an astonishing 30,000 psi, says Persons, which is the strongest bite force of any creature to ever roam the Earth. Yikes!
Read More: These 10 Animals are the Deadliest to Humans, and Most Aren't Fearsome Beasts
Article Sources
Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:
Cleveland Clinic. Human Bites
Britannica. Nile crocodile
BBC Science Focus. Top 10: Which animals have the strongest bite?
Britannica. Hippopotamus
Assistant professor of paleontology at the College of Charleston. Scott Persons
National Wildlife Federation. Bull Shark
Sara Novak is a science journalist based in South Carolina. In addition to writing for Discover, her work appears in Scientific American, Popular Science, New Scientist, Sierra Magazine, Astronomy Magazine, and many more. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia. She's also a candidate for a master’s degree in science writing from Johns Hopkins University, (expected graduation 2023).
