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Does it Bite? Yes! Animals Ranked by Strength of Their Bite (Part II)

Please see Part I for previous entries: Does it Bite? Yes! Animals Ranked by Strength of Their Bite (Part I)

We've seen how human beings, hyenas, bears, and other animals stacked up when it comes to how strong their bite can be. Now for the top contenders in the list.

4. Hippopotamus – 1,800 psi

This is a hippo.
This is a hippo.
This is a hippo skull
This is a hippo skull
This is said hippo skull with human for size comparison.
This is said hippo skull with human for size comparison.

Hippos (as we endearingly nickname them) have the most powerful mammalian bite force. It’s not even a competition when it comes to other mammals. They have massive skulls, massive teeth, massive jaws, massive muscles, and massive levels of aggression (primarily in the water). Notice a pattern here? They are very deadly, and very dangerous. They are very fast swimmers (as the video below will illustrate). I still love them though! They are herbivores, so normally they’ll just eat grass and aquatic plants. They don’t eat meat.

The lower back side of the jaw is curved and has a deep depression (fossa) to accommodate the sheer size of the masseter muscle. Let me put this into perspective: The masseter muscle in a hippo is larger than a human head, and definitely heavier.


3. American Alligator – 2,125 psi
2. Salt Water Crocodile – 3,700 psi
1. Nile Crocodile – 5,000 psi

American Alligator
American Alligator
Saltwater Crocodile
Saltwater Crocodile

Nile Crocodile
Nile Crocodile

Size and some minor differences differentiate these three animals. Alligators and crocodiles are defined by their jaws more than anything else. Some animals run fast, others have big claws, and others can fly really fast. Crocodiles and alligators are all about biting. A lot of the time, they hunt by sneaking up on unsuspecting prey as it is drinking at the edge of the water. All it takes is one bite, and it’s all over. Their anatomy is very different than any of the above animals mentioned. They’re also among the few animals where the upper jaw is the one that is more mobile, while the lower one is more static.

Alligator jaw anatomy
Alligator jaw anatomy

Crocodiles and gators might have very powerful closing muscles, but the muscles involved in opening the jaws are very weak, and all it takes is to tie a band around the mouth, and they can't open their mouths.

Nile crocodiles are interesting in that they are apex predators (like saltwater crocodiles). No other animal dares try to hunt them for food, especially in the water. The only exception is the hippo. As mentioned earlier, hippos can be very territorial and aggressive. They are also smarter. They can pose a serious risk to crocodiles.

However, we’re not talking about a “which would win a fight” scenario. When it’s a question of which animals have the strongest bite, the American alligator, salt water crocodile, and Nile crocodile are sitting comfortably in the 3 top places.

Well, here you have it folks! I hope you enjoyed reading this take and the first part posted earlier.

If you hadn't done so already, make sure you check the other entries in Part I.

Does it Bite? Yes! Animals Ranked by Strength of Their Bite (Part II)
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