The animal kingdom has its share of powerful creatures. One might assume the strongest animals would be carnivorous predators, but as you will see here, that is not always the case. Some of the strongest animals on earth live in unassuming bodies. The following list of the 10 strongest animals in the world is made up of a variety of animals. Read on to see which are pound for pound the strongest on earth.
The strongest animals on earth are not always the biggest or most intimidating either. Many of the physical features that give these animals their strength also benefit them in their lives and habitat. While some of these animals will be the ones you might have guessed, some you definitely would not have known without reading this article on the 10 strongest animals in the world.
The List of the 10 Strongest Animals in the World
10. Grizzly Bear
Grizzly bears are a subspecies of brown bears that inhabit the Pacific Northwest region of North America. They are seen as aggressive animals but, they are actually omnivorous. Grizzly bears have a bite force of 975 PSI and a swipe force that can lift up to 700 pounds with ease. An adult grizzly bear can weigh anywhere from 200 to 720 pounds, with a paw size around 5 x 7 inches, and teeth that are 3 inches long.
9. Anaconda
Anacondas are apex predators in South America and some of the biggest snakes in the world. The snakes will hunt large prey on both land and water. The powerful structure of their bodies provide them with enough to power to squeeze the life out of steer, big rodents, and even reptiles. The constriction force for anacondas is about 90 PSI, with an estimated bite force of 900 PSI. Adult sized anacondas can grow up to 30 feet in length, weight up to 550 pounds, and travel at speeds of 5 miles per hour.
8. Elephant
Elephants are the largest land mammals on earth and known for their huge bodies, big ears, and heavy trunks. As intimidating as they can be, they are actually herbivores and gentle creatures, rarely displaying violent behavior without provocation. However, elephants are very strong animals. They can lift 770 pounds with just their trunks. They are also able to carry over 2,000 pounds on their backs. Elephants have an impressive bite force of over 2,175 PSI. Adult elephants can weigh up to 16,000 pounds, but despite their size and strength, these herbivores still have many predators.
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7. Musk Ox
Musk ox live in the frozen Arctic and roam the tundra. They are herbivores using their hooves to dig through snow to find plants to consume. Their long shaggy hair keeps them warm and protected from the frigid climate. Musk oxen are herd animals, and use cooperation to deal with predators. When threatened, a musk ox can be a fearsome enemy, using its massive weight of up to 800 pounds to charge and its horns for attack. Musk ox are very strong animals that can pull and carry 2000 pounds.
6. Tiger
Many wild tigers live in tropical regions of Asia such as Thailand, India and Indonesia. Tigers are also found in colder regions as well, such as far east of Russia. They are incredibly strong and fast creatures, reaching 16 feet jumping and running up to 40 miles per hour. They have a bite force of 1,050 PSI and very powerful paws, swiping with 10,000 pounds of force. A tiger’s paw can reach 8 x 8 inches in size and have sharp powerful claws. A lot of the animal’s strength comes from their legs.
5. Eagle
Eagles generally live in all types of habitats all over the world, including North, Central, and South America. Eagles are powerful birds of prey that can fly higher than most other birds, have amazing long distance eyesight, dive to hunt, and are also, quite strong. A bald eagle can exert upwards of 400 pounds per square inch. Their talons have an especially powerful grip that is ten times stronger than a human hand’s grip. Their eyes are up to eight times stronger than the average human’s eyes.
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4. Gorilla
Gorillas are native to Africa and live in family groups of 5 to 10, led by a dominant male. Gorillas are predominantly herbivores eating mostly plants and fruit in large amounts to feed their big bodies. Adult male gorillas can weigh up to 500 pounds and are incredibly strong. They can lift up to 10 times their body weight, with 4,000 pounds being lifted in one recorded instance. Their bite force is also quite strong, measuring at 1300 pounds per square inch.
3. Leafcutter Ant
Leafcutter ants are primarily found in the Caribbean and Latin America. They inhabit the forest floor and construct an underground web of chambers where they “farm” and harvest their staple food, fungus. In order to keep their gardens healthy, workers must forage constantly for fresh leaves. Leafcutter ants are incredibly strong. Their body distribution and joint strength allow them to carry a ton of weight. A leafcutter ant can carry 10-50 times its own body weight. The ants use their strong jaws to cut leaves and bring them back to their underground nests. There, they then chew the leaves up to form a nutritional substrate for fungus to grow.
2. Rhinoceros Beetle
Rhinoceros beetles are insects found on every continent except Antarctica. They are herbivores named for their rhino-like horn on the males’ heads, feeding on nectar and sap. Another name given to some of these insects is the Hercules beetle, because of their massive strength. Some adults of the species can lift objects 850 times their body weight. The beetles use this extreme strength to dig themselves into soil to escape danger. Rhinoceros beetles are some of the largest beetles in the world, growing up to six inches.
1. Dung Beetle
Dung beetles are found on all continents except Antarctica and live in farmland, forest, grassland, prairie, and desert habitats. The dung beetle uses animal feces for food and as a place to lay eggs. Most dung beetles use the droppings of herbivores, which do not digest their food very well. The dung beetle is the world’s strongest animal. It can pull 1,141 times its own body weight. This not only helps the insect roll up it’s dung-balls, but also to protect mates and defend itself from rivals. The dung beetle lays its eggs in manure so their offspring have food to eat when they hatch.
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