Top 10 Animals With The Strongest Bite Force

Humans have a bite force of 80 to 110 kg/cm². But that low number of collapsing jaws pales in comparison to these fascinating wildlife creatures.

Well, what are you waiting for? Put your teeth in the top 10 animals with the strongest bite force.

10. Hyena – Bite force: 77.33 kg/cm²

The hyena uses its bite force to break down boats to get to the tasty marrow of its prey.

Hyenas have conically shaped premolars, specialized teeth for breaking and crushing bones. Together with their strong jaws and broad molars, these canine carnivorous mammals ensure that no part of the carcass is lost. Thanks to the highly concentrated hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, they can even digest bones.

9. Grizzly Bear – Bite Force: 81.55 kg/cm²

Grizzly bears use their bite force to tear animal flesh and break bones from large prey.

There’s a reason hikers are told to avoid grizzlies if at all possible. In addition to their massive size and razor-sharp claws, they have a bite strong enough to crush a bowling ball… or a human skull, without flinching.

8. Polar bear – Bite force: 84.36 kg/cm²

The bite force of polar bears is used to bite through the thick fat layer of Arctic animals.

Of the bears (Ursidae), polar bears have the strongest bite. They are also the only bear species that is considered a marine mammal. Their large canine teeth can grow up to 5 cm, which they use for their Arctic prey, mainly ringed and bearded seals. But polar bears are not picky, they also forage for carcasses, or nibble on other mammals, vegetation, birds and eggs.

7. Gorilla – Bite force: 91.39 kg/cm²

Gorillas use their bite force to chew hard branches and tear off tree bark.

Despite their powerful bite, gorillas are largely vegetarian. They use their powerful jaws to strip bark, first from the tree, then for trees like Milicia excelsa, to separate the outer bark (which is discarded) from the sweet inner bark.

6. Bull shark – Bite force: 94.91 kg/cm²

Bull shark from Thailand. The bull shark’s diet is very varied and uses its bite power to eat oysters and turtles to baby hippos and other sharks.

A bull shark has more teeth than other shark species, up to 350 teeth at a time. A shark’s mouth acts like a conveyor belt: when an old tooth falls out close to the edge of the jaw, a tooth from the row behind it slides forward to replace it. This means they can grow up to 50,000 teeth in a lifetime! No wonder shark teeth are so common in the fossil record.

5. Jaguar – Bite force: 105.46 kg/cm²

The jaguar uses its bite force to cut through the armored skin of a crocodile, shells of turtles and tortoises, and shatter bones.

As opportunistic hunters, jaguars will hunt just about anything. With one powerful bite to the back of the skull, they can beat animals up to four times their own weight.

4. Hippopotamus – Bite force: 126.55 kg/cm²

The hippo uses its bite force to defend itself against apex predators or to attack or defend against other hippos.

Hippos have the largest mouth and largest teeth of all land mammals; their canines are usually 71 cm long and are constantly growing. The largest canine tooth ever measured in hippos is a whopping 122 cm!

3. Mississippi Alligator – Bite Force: 149.40 kg/cm²

The mississippial ligator or American alligator uses its bite force to entrap prey, any prey.

As opportunistic predators, alligators lie in wait for the easiest prey. From snakes, fish and turtles to mammals and amphibians, even insects, they are not picky. And as for strength? Researchers found that an alligator’s bite can lift a small truck.

2. Saltwater Crocodile – Bite force: 260.13 kg/cm²

The saltwater crocodile or saltwater crocodile use their bite force to grab prey and perform a “death roll” to tear off manageable chunks of flesh.

The saltwater crocodile is the largest (living) reptile in the world. The males can grow up to 7 m in length and weigh about 1000 kg, while the females are slightly smaller. They lurk along the water’s edge, ambushing their prey with a violent swipe. They are often referred to as “living fossils” and have remained largely unchanged in 100 million years.

1. Nile Crocodile – Bite force: 351.53 kg/cm²

The Nile crocodile uses its bite force to crush prey before swallowing it, often whole.

Although Nile crocodiles are smaller than saltwater crocodiles, they rank first among animals with the strongest bite force. They are very aggressive and extremely territorial, making good use of their powerful bite. Nile crocodiles will defeat any prey that ventures near the water, although their diet consists mainly of fish.