We humans are fascinated by powerful beasts, whether out of admiration, fear, or pure curiosity about the natural world around us. Well, you’re in for a treat. We’ve compiled a list of the 12 strongest animals in the world on how much they can lift, carry, and pull relative to their body size.
Some of these animals may surprise you with their might and muscle. From the horned dung beetle to the great elephant to everyone’s favorite, the gorilla, you’ll get the inside scoop on nature’s strongest creatures and the incredible feats of strength they are capable of. Read on to find out which beasts made the cut in our countdown of the world’s strongest animals.
What Does It Mean to Be the Strongest Animal?
To be the strongest animal means having immense power and physical ability. Some key factors that determine an animal’s strength are:
- Size: Generally, larger animals like elephants, rhinos, and hippos are very strong simply due to their huge size and weight.
- Muscle mass: Animals with a high ratio of muscle to body weight, such as gorillas, anacondas, and bulls tend to be quite powerful.
- Jaw strength: Having a strong bite enables animals like crocodiles, hyenas, and lions to generate tremendous force and subdue large prey.
- Agility: Despite their power, the strongest animals are also quite nimble, enabling feats of speed, balance, and dexterity. Think of chimps swinging through trees or bulls bucking and kicking.
In the end, the mightiest creatures on Earth dominate their domain through a combination of physical attributes and the ability to skillfully apply their strength. While we may never match their power, we sure can stand in awe of these animal athletes.
The 12 Strongest Animals in the World
When it comes to the strongest animals on the planet, size certainly matters but pound for pound some smaller creatures are shockingly powerful.
Here are some of the strongest animals on Earth:
Dung Beetle – Strongest Insect
Dung beetles feed on the feces of large animals like elephants, and they are essential to the environment. By breaking down manure, they recycle nutrients and prevent the buildup of waste. Their immense strength allows the male dung beetles, in particular, to roll dung balls many times their own size and weight to establish breeding chambers for their larvae. The dung balls contain both food for the larvae as well as protection and stability for reproduction.
Some species of dung beetles are known to roll dung balls up to 50 times their own weight, navigating over obstacles and uphill. Their disproportionate power stems from their highly efficient physiology and ability to maximize the power output of their muscles. Pound for pound, dung beetles are one of the strongest animals on the planet. Despite their small size, these unsung heroes of the insect world deserve recognition and respect for their mighty feats of strength and environmental service.
Goliath Grouper – Strongest Fish
The Goliath grouper is a massive fish that can weigh up to 800 pounds, making it the strongest fish in the world. These groupers are found in shallow, tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, especially around Florida and the Caribbean.
Despite their immense size and strength, Goliath groupers are not aggressive fish and tend to avoid confrontation. They prefer to hide in reef caves or shipwrecks during the day and forage at night. Goliath groupers swallow their prey whole after using their powerful jaws to capture and crush their victim. Their diet consists primarily of fish, crustaceans like crabs and shrimp, and sometimes even smaller sharks.
Due to overfishing and habitat destruction, Goliath grouper populations declined significantly in the 20th century. However, conservation efforts have helped numbers rebound in recent decades. Many areas now regulate Goliath grouper fishing to prevent overharvesting these remarkable giants of the deep.
Harpy Eagle – Strongest Bird
The harpy eagle is considered the strongest bird of prey, pound for pound. With massive claws and talons, and legs as thick as a human wrist, this eagle can exert over 110 pounds of pressure per square inch when grasping prey. Their legs and talons are designed for catching and carrying large animals. An adult harpy can snatch up prey weighing up to 15 pounds, including monkeys, sloths and large birds.
The harpy eagle gets its name from a beast in Greek mythology, the harpies, who were winged creatures with sharp claws and a woman’s face. Much like the mythological harpies, the harpy eagle is a formidable predator. With a wingspan up to 6.5 feet, sharp beak and hooked bill, harpy eagles rule the rainforest canopy in Central and South America.
Blue Whale – Strongest Vertebrate
The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet and also the strongest vertebrate. Some facts about this magnificent giant:
- Weighing up to 200 tons, its tongue alone can weigh as much as an elephant.
- Its heart is the size of a small car and weighs about 1,300 pounds.
- A blue whale’s low-frequency pulses, groans, and moans can travel over 500 miles through the ocean.
- Blue whales mostly eat tiny krill, filter-feeding up to 40 million of them per day.
- A blue whale’s major artery is so big, a full-grown human could crawl through it.
- Blue whales were nearly hunted to extinction but have since been protected and their populations have grown to about 10-25% of their historic levels.
These astounding creatures are a wonder of evolution and a reminder of the diversity of life on our planet. Though powerful, the blue whale is a gentle giant that feeds on some of the smallest organisms in the sea. Protecting these mammoth yet graceful animals and their habitat is key to maintaining healthy oceans.
Zebra – Strongest Kick
The zebra has an extremely powerful kick that can be lethal to predators. Their muscular hind legs can deliver kicks so strong they have been known to break a lion’s jaw. An adult zebra’s kick can generate up to 2,000 pounds of force.
When threatened, a zebra will try to run away first. But if cornered, it will attack with a kick. Zebras tend to aim for the head and abdomen. Their hooves are sharp, and their kicks are fast, accurate and pack a punch. Due to their powerful kicks and tendency to attack in a group, zebras are difficult prey for large predators.
African Elephant – The Strongest Mammal
The African elephant is the largest land mammal on Earth, standing up to 13 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing up to 24,000 pounds. These giants are also incredibly strong:
An elephant can lift up to 25% of its own body weight with its trunk alone. Their trunks contain over 40,000 muscles, making them extremely dexterous and powerful. Elephants use their trunks to tear down trees, lift logs, and move heavy obstacles.
Grizzly Bear – Strongest Fighter
The mighty grizzly bear is a formidable fighter in the animal kingdom. Weighing up to 1,500 pounds, its immense size and power make it a dangerous opponent for any animal. With claws up to 6 inches long, one swipe of its paw can kill a full grown moose. When defending itself or its cubs, a grizzly bear will stand up on its hind legs to appear even bigger, swatting at attackers with those lethal claws and delivering bone-crushing blows.
Though normally solitary, grizzly bears are fiercely protective parents. Females, called sows, give birth to 1-3 cubs and care for them devotedly for up to 3 years. Don’t get between a sow and her cubs she will unleash her full fury to defend her babies. Male grizzlies, called boars, also show aggression during mating season to fend off rivals in pursuit of a mate. Whether defending territory, food sources or family, the grizzly bear’s immense strength and aggression make it a truly formidable fighter.
Green Anaconda – Strongest Snake
The green anaconda is considered the strongest snake in the world. This massive serpent, found in South America, can grow up to 30 feet long and weigh up to 550 pounds, making it the heaviest snake on Earth. An anaconda kills its prey, which includes large mammals like deer and caiman, by constricting them, wrapping its muscular body around the animal and suffocating it. The snake then swallows its prey whole with its expandable jaws and takes days or even weeks to fully digest it.
With immense strength and size, the anaconda reigns supreme in the snake kingdom and throughout the animal world. Its raw power and predatory prowess have secured its place as one of the strongest creatures on the planet.
Saltwater Crocodile – Strongest Bite
The saltwater crocodile has the strongest bite of any animal on the planet. With a bite force of up to 5,000 pounds per square inch (psi), this apex predator crushes its prey with ease. Salties, as they are also known, can grow up to 23 feet long and weigh up to 2,200 pounds. They are excellent swimmers that can stay underwater for up to 2 hours without surfacing.
Saltwater crocodiles are opportunistic predators that feed on anything they can overpower, from water buffalo to fish. They are known to ambush their prey and drown the victim before tearing off chunks of flesh with their powerful jaws. Large salties have even been observed attacking and killing sharks. Their diet consists mainly of fish, crustaceans, and large mammals that wander too close to the water’s edge.
With armored skin, lethal jaws, and stealth hunting tactics, the saltwater crocodile reigns supreme in its aquatic domain. Its immense size and predatory prowess easily make it one of the strongest and most formidable animals on the planet.
Gorillas – Strongest Primate
Gorillas are considered the strongest primates in the animal kingdom. These powerful apes can lift up to 4,000 pounds, which is more than 30 times their body weight! Their immense strength comes from their heavily muscled arms, shoulders and chest.
A silverback gorilla, the dominant male of the group, uses intimidating displays of power like chest-beating, roaring and stomping to establish his status. He leads a group of females called a harem, who depend on him for protection and the ability to raise their offspring.
The western lowland gorilla is the smallest and most numerous of the gorilla species, with around 100,000 left in the wild. Sadly, their populations have declined by over 60% due to poaching, disease and habitat loss. Conservation efforts aim to protect these gentle giants and the forests they inhabit.
Though gorillas seem ferocious, they are generally peaceful herbivores that eat plants, shoots and fruits. They spend most of their day foraging, resting and grooming each other. Gorillas use over 30 distinct vocalizations and gestures to communicate with each other in tight-knit family groups.
Truly a wonder of nature, gorillas showcase a combination of immense physical power and social intelligence. Their human-like behavior and expressions have captivated people for generations. With continued conservation, these fascinating great apes will hopefully thrive for generations to come.
Tigers – Forceful Hunter, Powerful Jaws and Lightning Speed
Tigers have some of the strongest jaws and forelimbs of any feline. Their large canine teeth can puncture through bone, and they have muscular forelimbs that allow them to overpower large prey.
Tigers are able to reach speeds up to 35 miles per hour in short bursts, allowing them to chase and pounce on prey before it can react. Their large paws also give them a powerful swipe that can knock prey off its feet with one strike.
Hippopotamus – Strongest herbivore
The hippo is considered one of the strongest herbivores on the planet. Weighing up to 5,000 pounds, the hippo is mostly muscle and has extremely powerful jaws that can crush watermelons and break crocodiles in half. Their daily diet consists of around 80 pounds of grass and other plants.
Hippotamus are mostly aquatic animals and spend up to 16 hours a day in rivers and lakes. Don’t let their chubby, gentle appearance fool you though. Hippos can run up to 30 miles per hour on land and are very aggressive, especially when defending their territory. Their massive size and strength make them a formidable opponent to nearly any animal that threatens them.
BONUS
Rhinoceros Beetles
Rhino beetles are not only one of the strongest insects but also one of the strongest animals for their size. They can lift up to 850 times their own weight, the equivalent of a human lifting 80 tons. Their immense strength comes from their large size and sturdy exoskeleton.
Why Do These Animals Need So Much Strength?
Powerful animals require immense strength for survival and reproduction. Elephants use their strength to knock down trees and lift logs. Gorillas intimidate rivals and predators with shows of force. Bears rely on their might to capture large prey and defend kills from other bears. For these animals, strength is necessary to navigate their world.
Conclusion
So there you have it, some of the strongest animals in the world according to science. While some of these creatures may be familiar to you, others are quite surprising. Next time you see an ant carrying something huge or watch an eagle soaring high up in the sky, you’ll have a newfound respect for their sheer power and strength. These creatures are a reminder of the incredible diversity of life on Earth and the wonders of evolution.