Finding the Strongest Animal in the World, Pound for Pound

From the immense strength of the African bush elephant to the incredible lifting power of the dung beetle, the animal kingdom is home to some of the world's strongest animals. Their differences demonstrate the many ways in which strength manifests across the planet.

But who can claim the title of the absolute strongest animal in the world?

The answer depends on what you're measuring. Here, we've ranked the top five strongest animals in three distinct categories: proportional strength, pure lifting ability and bite force. Which animal's performance is the most impressive? We'll let you decide.

The Strongest Animal Proportional to Its Body Size

It may come as a surprise to you that insects are among the strongest animals in the natural world when it comes to animals that can carry far more than their own body weight.

1. Dung Beetle (1,141x Body Weight)

The dung beetle is the world's strongest insect, capable of pulling a staggering 1,141 times its own body weight. That's similar to an average person pulling about six double-decker buses.

Despite being tiny insects, dung beetles exemplify how smaller animals can exhibit incredible strength, rolling dung far larger than their own bodies.

Although dung beetles aren't the prettiest creatures, they fulfill a very important purpose in ecosystems, breaking down manure into valuable materials for different life forms.

2. Rhinoceros Beetle (850x Body Weight)

Rhinoceros beetles can lift up to 850 times their own weight and use their immense power to fight off rivals and carry objects far heavier than themselves. These strong animals are known for their impressive size, even relative to other large insects; the species can weigh as much as 3.5 ounces (99 grams).

3. Leafcutter Ant (50x Body Weight)

Leafcutter ants carry objects 50 times their own body weight with their powerful jaws, a display of brute strength that's astonishing when you consider their tiny size — about the length of a pencil eraser.

Herbivores, these insects climb trees and navigate rugged terrain, carrying their massive loads back to their nests.

4. Gorilla (4x Body Weight)

With muscular arms and the incredible strength to lift more than four times its own weight, the gorilla is the strongest mammal proportional to its size. An adult gorilla can stand nearly 6 feet tall (1.8 meters) and weigh up to 400 pounds (181 kg).

This remarkable strength is not just in the endangered animal's arms but throughout its entire muscular structure, enabling it to move heavy objects with ease.

5. Eagle (2x Body Weight)

The eagle, the strongest bird in terms of carrying ability, can lift and fly with prey about twice its own body weight. The harpy eagle, which has a wingspan of up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) can lift up to 40 pounds (18 kg).

This remarkable power, combined with their powerful legs and wings, allows eagles to snatch and carry off prey, even in flight.

The Strongest Animal in Terms of Pure Lifting Ability

When it comes to pure lifting ability, the list of top achievers includes some of the world's heftiest animals.

1. African Bush Elephant (13,230 Pounds)

The African bush elephant, the largest land animal, is also the world's strongest animal in terms of brute strength, able to lift an astounding 13,230 pounds (6,000 kg). That's comparable to the weight of about four and a half Honda Civics.

African bush elephants use their massive size and powerful legs to move and carry large objects in their respective habitats. An adult male can weigh as much as 13,000 pounds (6 metric tons), and these strong animals can live up to 70 years.

2. Musk Ox (1,980 Pounds)

Musk oxen are incredibly strong mammals, capable of lifting up to 1,980 pounds (900 kg). They use their immense strength and dense undercoat, called a qiviut, to survive in harsh environments and pull objects across rugged terrain in bad weather.

You can find musk ox in Alaska, Canada, Siberia and other parts of the world. Although they resemble cattle, they actually belong to the same animal family as goats. A mature Alaskan musk ox male can weigh up to 800 pounds (363 kg).

3. Gorilla (1,800 Pounds)

The gorilla can lift an impressive 1,800 pounds (815 kg), making it one of the strongest animals in terms of pure lifting ability as well as in proportion to its body size. Interestingly, humans and gorillas share about 96 percent of our DNA.

So, who can lift more — an adult male gorilla or an adult male human? When it comes to the most impressive feats of human lifting, prepare to be amazed.

In 1993, Canadian Gregg Ernst earned the world record for the greatest weight ever lifted by a human being when he used his back to lift two cars and two drivers for a total of 5,340 pounds (2,422 kg), making a strong case for why humans should perhaps also occupy a space on this list.

4. White Rhino (1,760 Pounds)

White rhinos, which the IUCN Red List designates as "near threatened" animals, can lift up to 1,760 pounds (800 kg), easily securing a spot on this list of strongest animals.

These massive creatures, known for their impressive size (between 4,400 and 5,300 pounds, or 2 to 2.5 metric tons), use their brute force to defend against natural predators and formidable opponents in the wild.

5. Tiger (1,210 Pounds)

Tigers, which are more nimble than lions, can carry about 1,210 pounds (550 kg) and run up to 40 miles per hour (65 kph), easily placing them among the world's strongest animals and most dangerous predators.

Coming in close behind a tiger is a grizzly bear, which can lift about 1,100 pounds (500 kg) and has powerful jaws that can deliver a bite force of 1,160 pounds per square inch (psi).

The Animal With the Strongest Bite

Reptiles dominate the list of strongest bite force in the animal kingdom.

1. Nile Crocodile (5,000 psi)

The Nile crocodile holds the title for the strongest bite, exerting a force of 5,000 PSI. This sheer force allows them to easily crush the bones of their prey, making them one of the most formidable predators on the planet.

Averaging 13 to 15 feet (4 to 5 meters) in length, each one can weigh as much as 1,300 pounds (600 kg).

2. Saltwater Crocodile (3,700 psi)

Following closely, the saltwater crocodile has a bite force of 3,700 psi. These massive reptiles, with their powerful bites, are among the strongest animals in their respective habitats, able to take down large prey with a single snap of their jaws.

They are the world's largest crocodile, able to grow up to 23 feet (7 meters) in length.

3. American Alligator (2,125 psi)

The American alligator, another reptile with incredible strength, has a maximum force of 2,125 psi in its bite. Their powerful jaws make them formidable opponents in the wild, capable of subduing prey with a quick snap.

The average male is about 11 feet (3.4 meters) long and may go through as many as 3,000 teeth in its lifetime, continuously replacing them as they wear down.

4. Hippopotamus (1,800 psi)

The hippopotamus possesses a bite force of 1,800 psi. Despite their seemingly docile appearance, hippos are incredibly strong and can become highly aggressive, using their powerful jaws and all 9,900 pounds (4.5 metric tons) of their own body weight and muscle mass to protect their territory.

5. Jaguar (1,500 psi)

The jaguar is relatively small compared to the others on this list of strongest animals: An adult weighs between 100 and 250 pounds (45 to 113 kg).

But with a bite force of 1,500 psi, it has the strongest bite of any big cat. Their powerful jaws allow them to pierce the skulls of their prey, a testament to their pure strength and role as one of the animal kingdom's most formidable predators.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

Original article: Finding the Strongest Animal in the World, Pound for Pound

Copyright © 2024 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company