FEROCIOUS ANIMALS

Some of the animals with the most powerful bite

The strength of an animal is not only measured by how mighty it is or by its muscles: another fundamental factor is the power and pressure of its bite.

It is not only the teeth or jaws that determine the power of a bite, but also the closing jerk. To make the bite estimate, scholars used the occluder, and then carried out simulations, certainly safer, on the computer, based on studies and knowledge of the physical structures of the animals taken into consideration.

Here is an estimate of the most powerful bites in nature: the force is calculated in psi, i.e. the pressure that occurs when an area of 1 square inch is subjected to 1 pound of force.

Getty Images, Wikimedia Commons
The bites of these animals are really powerful
The strength of an animal is not only measured by how mighty it is: another key factor is the power and pressure of its bite. It is not only the teeth or jaws that determine power, but also the closing snap. To make the bite estimate, scholars have used the occluder or carried out computer simulations, which are certainly safer, based on studies and knowledge of the physical structures of the animals taken into consideration. Here is an estimate of the most powerful bites in nature: the force is calculated in psi, i.e. the pressure that occurs when an area of 1 square inch is subjected to 1 pound of force.
Getty Images
Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), 1050 psi approx.
The Siberian tiger is among the largest felines in the wild, with an average weight of around 200 kilograms. Its bite is also, by far, among the most powerful in nature.
Norbert Nagel, Mörfelden-Walldorf, Wikimedia Commons
Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), 1100 psi approx.
This is the largest tortoise in North America and can reach up to 100 kg in weight. Its bite is more powerful than that of a lion and white shark and is comparable, on average, to that of the tiger.
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Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), 1100 psi approx.
The spotted hyena is the largest extant hyena and is both a prey hunter and an opportunist, thus also feeding on carrion. The strength of its bite is due to the need to break bones, which are part of its diet: its bite can reach up to 4,900 Newton.
freepik
Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), 1160 psi approx.
In theory, thanks to the power of its bite, a grizzly bear could manage to break a bowling ball.
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Polar bear (Ursus maritimus), 1235 psi approx.
The polar bear is the largest land carnivore in existence, and its dentition includes 42 teeth. With its bite, the polar bear can exert a pressure of about 87 kilograms per square centimeter.
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Gorilla (Gorilla), 1300 psi approx.
Gorillas have 32 teeth, with very large fang-like canines. Despite the power of its bite, among all anthropomorphic apes, gorillas have the most vegetarian diet. In fact, their diet consists mainly of leaves, but depending on the species and season these apes also eat fruit.
Pterantula, Wikimedia Commons
Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas), about 1350 psi
The bull shark is one of the few sharks that can tolerate fresh water and is known for its unpredictable and sometimes aggressive behavior. Because it can swim in shallow water, this shark is considered the potentially most dangerous shark to humans.
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Jaguar (Panthera onca), 1500 psi approx.
The jaguar's powerful bite allows it to pierce the carapace of turtles and tortoises. Its bite also allows it to have an unusual way of killing prey, namely by biting directly through the skull of mammals between the ears, then delivering a fatal blow to the brain.
Freepik
Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius): 1825 psi approx.
The total bite pressure is almost 800 kg force (8000 Newtons). The largest hippos can weigh up to 3500-4500 kilograms.
freepik
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis): 2125 psi approx.
The bite of this alligator is incredible: it can exert jaw pressure for a force of 16,000 Newtons, six times higher than that generated by a white shark. The jaws also snap shut in about 20 hundredths of a second, with a speed of about 380 kilometers per hour.
Molly Ebersold of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Wikimedia Commons
Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus): 3700 psi approx.
This reptile's bite can exceed 16,000 Newtons for a pressure of more than 1,000 kilograms per square centimeter, equal to that at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, while its jaws snap shut in 20 hundredths of a second: of course, with its bite it can break any bone and instantly crack the shells of mollusks and even large turtles.
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Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), 5000 psi approx.
Very similar to the strength of the saltwater crocodile is the strength of the Nile crocodile. Its bite is more than 16,400 Newton and its jaw pressure is equal to that of the Mariana Trench, about 10 times that of a white shark on average. Its teeth are constantly growing and being replaced by new ones: despite this, the crocodile cannot chew.
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