On average, a man’s bite is about 162 pounds per square inch (PSI). This bite is strong enough to break a pistachio shell, but it is absolutely nothing when compared to nature’s choppers.
Some of these animals with strong bites can crush through the bones of a human being, and they include:
1. Great white shark 4,000 PSI (281 kg/cm2)
Great white sharks, also known as white sharks, or white pointer, are one of the animals with strong bites.
They are members of the biggest living species of the mackerel sharks, and one of the greatest and hazardous predatory sharks on earth.
They are usually found in Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, South Australia, and Japan, where their temperate coastal waters are highly conducive for them.
Some of them travel individually far out to tropical waters, but most of them return to these temperate regions each year.
White sharks are gigantic fishes with a body structure shaped like an edgeless torpedo. Their dorsal and pectoral fins are very large, and they have a crescent-shaped tail.
The only whitish thing about a white shark is its belly. Brown, dark blue, and grey colored pattern runs through to their sides and on their back.
White shark prey on animals like turtles, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, and even small whale. They bite these prey deeply and wait for them to die before feeding on them.
Their young ones feed on fishes and other smaller sharks. Sometimes especially in the uncommon area, White sharks are responsible for many unprovoked attacks on humans.
They inflict a single bite on its human victim and withdraw; most times, they do not come back for a second bite.
If the first bite is lenient enough, the victim might find time to escape, but the bites are usually deep, causing severe tissue damage that might lead to instant death.
Human beings aren’t necessarily on a white sharks menu, the bites they suffer is as a result of curiosity, and sometimes they mistake human being to be their prey.
2. Saltwater crocodile 3,700 PSI (260 kg/cm2)
A saltwater crocodile is a carnivorous reptile that weighs about 1000 pounds and is about 17feet in length. A female saltwater crocodile is significantly shorter and weighs less than a male saltwater crocodile.
The largest crocodile ever recorded was found to weigh about 1600kg, although this very large saltwater crocodile must have gone into extinction because of extensive hunting.
It is the largest living crocodile on earth and one of the animals with a strong bite. Their homes are brackish and freshwater regions of northern Australia, eastern India, and Southeast Asia.
They are very good swimmers and have been traced far off these regions, as far as into the sea. While underwater, they can keep their mouth open without drowning because they have a valve at the bottom of their mouth that seals it from their throat.
They are opportunist predators sneaking around and waiting patiently for potential prey to stop for a sip of water. They feed on virtually anything they can get their jaws on, including sharks, monkeys, and water buffalos. They grab their prey, drag it in, and hold them down until they drown.
They prefer to hunt at night because it is much more convenient for them. Human beings are faster than a saltwater crocodile and, therefore, can outrun them. Saltwater crocodiles have a long life span of over 70 years, and some might even survive up to a century.
3. American alligator – 2,125 PSI (149 kg/cm2)
The American alligator informally referred to as a common alligator or a gator, and it is indigenous to the Southeastern United States. It is the largest alligator specie.
An adult male American alligator weighs up to 453kg and measures up to 3.4 to 4.6m in length. Females are much smaller, weighing less and measuring up to 2.6 to 3m in length.
American alligators do not tolerate saltwater and therefore live on freshwater wetlands like marshes and Cypress swamps from Texas to Southeastern and coastal North Carolina.
They normally relax onshore or climb on treetops to relax if no shoreline is available. They quickly jump back into the water at the slightest noise or disturbance, and that is why they are often not seen while basking.
They prey mostly on fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. They depend on their gizzard rather than on their teeth to masticate prey because their teeth are only structured to grip prey and not rip or chew flesh. They are amongst the first animal reported hunting prey using tools.
American alligators can survive in very low temperatures without showing any signs of discomfort. This ability contributes to the reason why they are more widespread than American crocodiles.
They go into a period of brumation when the water starts to freeze, and they stick out their muzzles through the surface, which allows them to breathe above the ice.
4. Hippopotamus – 1,800 PSI (126.5 kg/cm2)
Hippopotamus, also known as “river horse,” because of their love for the water, spend up to 15 hours a day immersed in water to keep their bodies cool under the hot sun of Africa.
They are often regarded as the second-largest animal, next to the elephant, with a weight comparable to white rhinoceros.
A male hippopotamus is usually 3.5 meters long, stands 1.5 meters tall, and weighs up to 3,200 kilograms. The female hippopotamus weighs roughly 30% less.
Hippopotamus are charming in water, wonderful swimmers, and can hold their breath and walk underwater for a few minutes.
However, they are often big enough to stand or walk on the lake floor if they want to. Their eyes and nose are located at the topmost part of their heads, which allows them to see and breathe even while immersed in water.
There is a popular myth about hippopotamus sweating blood because they secret red oily substances while they relax on the shoreline.
This red secretion serves to keep their skin from drying out and protects against germs. When the sun sets, they travel over six miles on land to feed consuming about 80 pounds of grass.
Hippopotamus food consumption is very low, considering its gigantic size. Because they are buoyed in warm water most of the time, their energy requirement is low.
Their digestive process circulates a large amount of nutritious substances onto the rivers and lakes, thereby improving the quality of life of fishes, which serve as a source of protein to local inhabitants.
If threatened on ground, they flee to the water body in search of protection.
Contrary to what most people think, hippos can be very aggressive, especially if they have been upset. Their bite alone is enough to kill a lion or a crocodile. Just the way a person can crush a grape in his mouth with ease, a hippo can crush a massive sized watermelon.
5. Gorilla – 1,300 PSI (91 kg/cm2)
Gorillas share about 98.3% of their DNA with human beings making them our closest relatives close to chimpanzees and bonobos.
They weigh up to 440 pounds and are about six feet tall while standing on both feet. This alluring smart animals often amaze us with their attitudes and emotions so similar to those exhibited by human beings.
They could laugh when they are excited or frown when they are sad. They live together in small groups and feel a sense of responsibility towards their family members. Gorillas are herbivores animals and spend most of their day eating bamboo shoots and a variety of fruits supplemented with tree sheath and invertebrates.
They play an important role in maintaining the biodiversity in their ecosystem by distributing tree fruits across the forest and making way for sunlight to penetrate through trees by opening their branches as they move around.
In central Africa, human beings share the same environment with gorillas. They rely on the same forest for food, medicine, water, and other forest products. Guarding the tropical forest of the Congo Basin where the gorillas inhibit also sustain these forests and their product, which the local people of this region rely on.
Although gorillas are mostly vegetarian, they are one of the animals with a strong bite, and they can bite through almost anything, especially when they are trying to defend their territory.
6. Grizzly bear – 1,160 PSI (81.5 kg/cm2)
Grizzly bears simple called grizzly is a subspecies of the brown bear that lives in North America. Although grizzly bears have a digestive system designed for carnivorous animals, they are typically omnivorous: consuming both plant and animal products.
They feed on big animals such as mile deer, white-tailed deer, Caribou, bighorn sheep, and black bears, most times they feed on young animals or inured ones rather than prey on healthy adults.
Grizzly bears have a concave profile because of their elevated forehead. Adult grizzlies weigh up to 410kg and are about 2.5 Meyers long. Grizzlies are fast and Swift and can run as fast as 48km per hour. At a time, natives feared grizzlies so much, and they hardly hunted them, even when they were alone and posses less threat.
On some Western tribes, hunts for the grizzly bear was prepared for in the same fate a war would be prepared for. They usually go in a group of 4 to 10 men, and anyone who takes the killing shot is highly praised and admonished.
No man is allowed to hunt alone for fear of bear attacks. Bears become destructive when they are provoked, especially when their life or the life of their young ones is threatened.
The grizzly bear is the strongest and most aggressive member of the bear family and is listed amongst one of the animals with strong bites. It is believed that it has the ability to knock down a moose with a single paw strike. Its bite is enough to crush a bowling ball.
7. Lion – 650 PSI (45.7 kg/cm2)
The lion is the second-biggest member of the cat family. For ages, the lion has been one of the most popular wild animals. They survive on various habitats but prefer the savanna’s, sense scrubs, open woodland, and grasslands.
History has it that they were widespread across Europe, Asia, and Africa, but they are now mostly found in Africa. The lion is a cat with a big head, short legs, and a stretched body. It is very muscular in mature, and its appearance and size differ between sexes.
The male’s extraordinary feature is its hair, which varies between different individuals and populations. This hair makes the male lion look larger and serves to scare other predators away or impress prospective mates.
Lions feed on various types of animals ranging in size from rodents and baboons to buffalo and hippos. They hunt animals such as antelopes, zebra, giraffes, and elephants, although they hunt this much larger animal when the animal is sick.
Lions are polygamous in nature and mate within a pride. Lions can single-handedly kill a large animal or a human being with just one bite, and that is why they are regarded as one of the animals with strong bites.
8. Jaguar – 1,500 PSI (105.4 kg/cm2)
The jaguar isn’t like other big cats that avoid getting wet. It is an excellent swimmer and would even do some of its hunting in rivers and lakes. Jaguars are also skilled hunters that use their powerful jaws to tear the flesh of cows, deers and crack armadillo and turtle shells.
9. Hyena – 1,100 PSI (77 kg/cm2)
Hyenas can weigh up to 132 lbs (60 kg). While hyenas are termed as scavengers, it is estimated that this vicious animal about 50% of their kill. Their average running speed is up to 37.2 mph (60 km/h), which is the average speed of a bus. The sharp teeth and powerful jaw of the hyena allow it to prey on almost any animal that includes antelope, small giraffe, buffalo, and even lion.
10. Bengal tiger – 1,050 PSI (47 kg/cm2)
The subcontinent of India is famous for Bengal tigers. Bengal tigers, among all feline predators, have the longest deadly teeth, which measure up to 7.5 – 10 cm.
This animal is capable of traveling for miles to chase deers, pigs, buffalo, and other large animals. It is a formidable beast and a powerful hunter. A hungry Bengal tiger can consume up to 60 lbs (27 kg) in one night.
11. Polar bear – 1,200 PSI (84.3 kg/cm2)
One of the largest land hunters is the polar bear and can measure up to 9.8 ft (3 m) in length with its weight reaching up to 2,000 lbs.
Polar bears are pure meat grinders, and their strong jaws are designed to crush anything that they can in the northern climate.
12. Alligator snapping turtle – 1,004 PSI (66.9 kg/cm2)
Don’t let the absence of teeth in this turtle fool you. Alligator snapping turtle can easily snap off a human finger in a split second and act like everything is normal. Don’t get carried away thinking it’s a slow creature that equally eats slowly.
13. Cougar – 724.6 PSI (50.9 kg/cm2)
A cougar or a puma isn’t only on the list as one of the fastest predators on earth, but it is also known for its very strong bite force.
Cougars prey on a variety of animals, including rabbits, squirrels, wild pigs, and many more. The jaws of a cougar are so strong that it can take down medium to large prey.
14. Mastiff – 550 PSI (38.6 kg/cm2)
Many dog owners know that mastiffs are affectionate and calm pets, but they can be vicious when provoked. This canine monster possesses very strong bite force and grip that can easily pierce through human bone.
15. Black piranha – 464 PSI (32.6 kg/cm2)
Piranhas are famous for their aggressive nature and are tagged as the most hostile fish in the world. Black piranhas have a strong and painful bite force that rivals fishes of the same size.
Biologists claim that the highest bite force ever recorded was almost 320 Newtons. This proves that the strength of an average alligator’s bite with an equal mass would be three times lower.
16. Grey wolf – 398 PSI (28 kg/cm2)
Wolves co-exist and hunt in packs, especially when a big prey is involved. Their large set of teeth are designed for biting and tearing the flesh off their kill. Grey wolf can easily crush bones with its bite force topping other canines.
Conclusion
Over the years, these animals with strong bite have been a cause of worry because of the harm they inflict on humans and other animals.
Some of them become aggressive and destructive once they have been provoked, while some others do not even need to be provoked to see an excuse to cause harm.
Although these animals are dangerous, they do have essential roles to play in nature, the most important one being to act as agents of fruit dispersal and preserve their ecosystem.
Are there animals with strong bites you would like to add to the list? Kindly do so in the comments section below. Also, leave tips or suggestions on how you think Thetarpan can improve its services.
