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The Top 20 World’s Strongest Animal Bite Forces
Hey guys. Another one of my threads. As always, please feel free to make your own with your own research. As I always state, this list isn’t going to be perfect. There’s different numbers for each animal and nothing is ever going to be perfect. But I can tell you guys, the list isn’t going to be far off from the truth because of my continuous research. For example, some claims state the Jaguar to have at least 2000 PSI, but this hasn’t been backed up with any significant evidence, unless of course I am proven wrong. This is the best I came up with, with my own research and as you know, I am very involved with animals. Please do not take these lists so seriously and just enjoy them for what they are, considering they are just meant to be a bit of fun. With what I’ve studied over the years, I always want to show everyone my own research. I’ve used National Geographic, Animal Planet and other sources to back these up but there’s different numbers on different sources, so if you have any others, please share.
This list is measured in lbs PSI (Pound per Square Inch). Which is the pressure resulting from a force of one pound-force applied to an area of one square inch. You can also research the bite forces in BFQ (Bite Force Quotient). The big difference between PSI and BFQ is that BFQ takes in account to the animal’s body size. For example, a spotted hyena would have a much lower BFQ than their PSI. Due to the fact, the actual force of their jaw structure and musculature would generate is not all that high. This is because hyenas have extremely strong teeth designed perfectly for bone crushing that is integral in their biting power. They also have a mechanism in their skulls that keeps the skull strong and secure under pressure.
Just for comparison, a human (adult male) has a measured PSI of 150.
I hope that made sense, now on to the good stuff.
20. Cougar
Their muscular jaws and long canine teeth are adapted for cutting meat, tendon and sinews. They can crush the skulls and spines of large prey such as wolf and horse skulls. PSI: 350
19. Gray Wolf
Their teeth are heavy and large, better suited to bone crushing than those of other canids. Though not as specialized as hyenas. This force is sufficient to break open and crush bones with only a few bites. PSI: 406
18. Mastiff (Domestic Dog)
It has the highest bite force in domestic dogs, PSI: 556, surprising? the Rottweiler comes in at second with PSI: 328, third goes to the German Shepherd, with PSI: 238 and then fourth is the American Pitbull with PSI: 235
17. Great White Shark
Sharks have the strongest bite among animals in class fish. The great whites PSI isn’t that big but it doesn’t necessarily need a strong bite force, because much of the damage inflicted by sharks is due to their teeth. Their teeth cut through the flesh of their prey like knife threw butter. PSI: 669
16. African Lion
Lion has the weakest bite among big cats so far (leopards bite force is not yet measured, possibly weaker). They have sharp teeth, prey is usually killed by strangulation, which can cause hypoxia. PSI: 691
15. Jaguar
Their teeth can pierce through the skull piercing the brain, also adapted to pierce turtle shells. Jaguars have the strongest bite compared to size among cat family. PSI: 700
Hey guys. Another one of my threads. As always, please feel free to make your own with your own research. As I always state, this list isn’t going to be perfect. There’s different numbers for each animal and nothing is ever going to be perfect. But I can tell you guys, the list isn’t going to be far off from the truth because of my continuous research. For example, some claims state the Jaguar to have at least 2000 PSI, but this hasn’t been backed up with any significant evidence, unless of course I am proven wrong. This is the best I came up with, with my own research and as you know, I am very involved with animals. Please do not take these lists so seriously and just enjoy them for what they are, considering they are just meant to be a bit of fun. With what I’ve studied over the years, I always want to show everyone my own research. I’ve used National Geographic, Animal Planet and other sources to back these up but there’s different numbers on different sources, so if you have any others, please share.
This list is measured in lbs PSI (Pound per Square Inch). Which is the pressure resulting from a force of one pound-force applied to an area of one square inch. You can also research the bite forces in BFQ (Bite Force Quotient). The big difference between PSI and BFQ is that BFQ takes in account to the animal’s body size. For example, a spotted hyena would have a much lower BFQ than their PSI. Due to the fact, the actual force of their jaw structure and musculature would generate is not all that high. This is because hyenas have extremely strong teeth designed perfectly for bone crushing that is integral in their biting power. They also have a mechanism in their skulls that keeps the skull strong and secure under pressure.
Just for comparison, a human (adult male) has a measured PSI of 150.
I hope that made sense, now on to the good stuff.
20. Cougar
Their muscular jaws and long canine teeth are adapted for cutting meat, tendon and sinews. They can crush the skulls and spines of large prey such as wolf and horse skulls. PSI: 350
19. Gray Wolf
Their teeth are heavy and large, better suited to bone crushing than those of other canids. Though not as specialized as hyenas. This force is sufficient to break open and crush bones with only a few bites. PSI: 406
18. Mastiff (Domestic Dog)
It has the highest bite force in domestic dogs, PSI: 556, surprising? the Rottweiler comes in at second with PSI: 328, third goes to the German Shepherd, with PSI: 238 and then fourth is the American Pitbull with PSI: 235
17. Great White Shark
Sharks have the strongest bite among animals in class fish. The great whites PSI isn’t that big but it doesn’t necessarily need a strong bite force, because much of the damage inflicted by sharks is due to their teeth. Their teeth cut through the flesh of their prey like knife threw butter. PSI: 669
16. African Lion
Lion has the weakest bite among big cats so far (leopards bite force is not yet measured, possibly weaker). They have sharp teeth, prey is usually killed by strangulation, which can cause hypoxia. PSI: 691
15. Jaguar
Their teeth can pierce through the skull piercing the brain, also adapted to pierce turtle shells. Jaguars have the strongest bite compared to size among cat family. PSI: 700
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