What Is the Strongest Animal Bite in the World?

By: Sascha Bos  | 
Jaguar snarling and bearing its teeth
Even though the jaguar doesn't have the overall strongest bite in the big cat family, we still wouldn't want to get caught in those chompers. Sebastien GABORIT / Getty Images
Key Takeaways
  • The great white shark has the strongest bite force in the animal kingdom. A digital reconstruction of its jaws estimated the force to be 18,216 Newtons.
  • Other animals with notable bite forces include the saltwater crocodile (16,414 N) and the mako shark (13,000 N), both measured through direct testing and computer models.
  • Bite force comparisons are complex due to different methodologies and the challenges of testing wild animals.

Sharks, crocodiles, lions, tigers, bears, oh my! With all those pointy teeth, what is the strongest animal bite in the world?

It turns out that comparing bite strength is pretty tricky. Bite force is the pressure an animal exerts when it bites down, and the SI unit for bite force is the Newton, or kilogram-meters per second squared.

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But you can’t simply ask the world’s toughest predators to bite down on the same instrument, so it’s hard to control for outside variables. Some animals are too rare or dangerous for this type of invasive testing, so scientists have come up with another method: computerized models of an animal’s skull and jaw muscles that estimate its bite force.

But is it fair to compare an estimated bite force to a physical demonstration of a bite? The truth is, most bite force data is simply an estimate, whether it comes from a computer model or from wild animals biting down on a device. And there are many animals for which we have no data at all, like killer whales and polar bears.

Based on available data, here are the animals with the 10 strongest bite forces in the animal kingdom.

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10. Gray Wolf: 593 N

Gray wolf mother beside her cub in the woods
Don't let the sweet mother-cub vibes fool you. Those wolves pack a nasty bite if you get on their bad side. Adria Photography / Getty Images

According to a 2005 review of biting mammals, the gray wolf (Canis lupus) has the strongest bite of any canine, at 593 Newtons. For context, a 2014 study found the average human bite force is 149-354 N, depending on age and sex.

Gray wolves live in North America, Eurasia and Africa. A typical adult male is over 6 feet long (1.8 meters) and weighs about 100 pounds (45.4 kg), per Britannica.

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Wolves are apex predators; humans are their biggest threat. In the United States, gray wolves are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

9. Brown Bear: 751 N

Brown bear at the edge of a stream
Preparing for hibernation, this bear works its way upstream in search of salmon and salmon eggs. Laura Hedien / Getty Images

Although brown bears (Ursus arctos) primarily eat salmon and berries, they have some pretty huge jaws — and a bite to match. In a 2005 review of mammal bites, the brown bear — which includes the grizzly bear and the giant Kodiak bear — had the highest bite force of any bear at 751 N.

However, the study did not include polar bears (Ursus maritimus), the largest member of the Ursus genus. It’s possible the polar bear has a bite force even stronger than the brown bear’s, but peer-reviewed data is lacking.

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8. Spotted Hyena: 773 N

Hyenas feeding on a giraffe carcass
Though hyenas are relatively small compared to other animals on this list, their hefty bite allows them to easily chow down on prey such as the giraffe in the background. Gerard Soury / Getty Images

You might find a hyena’s laugh funny, but you should definitely fear its bite. The spotted hyena (​​​​Crocuta crocuta) has a bite force of 773 N — more powerful than a bear, according to this review of mammal bites.

Though hyenas look somewhat like dogs, they’re more closely related to cats. These African mammals compete with lions for their prey, according to the San Diego Zoo.

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7. Tiger: 1,525 N

A young Siberian tiger posing on the top of a big rock
While the jaguar may have the strongest bite for its stature, the tiger proves size does matter (when it comes to bite strength). Picture by Tambako the Jaguar / Getty Images

With 1,525 N of bite force (per a 2005 review), you don’t want to mess with a tiger (Panthera tigris).

A 2012 study published in The Anatomical Record compared nine species of big cats to find that, while the tiger had the strongest bite force, the jaguar (Panthera onca) had the biggest bite for its size. One of the study’s authors, Adam Hartstone-Rose, told BBC Wildlife: “If you had to choose, you’d want to be bitten by a jaguar, not a lion or a tiger. But pound for pound, jaguars pack a stronger punch.”

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Hartstone-Rose explained that “the strength of the jaguar’s bite is due to the arrangement of its jaw muscles, which, relative to weight, are slightly stronger than those of other cats. In addition — also relative to weight — its jaws are slightly shorter, which increases the leverage for biting.”

6. Lion: 1,768 N

A male and female lion stand in early sunlight
A male and female lion share an early morning walk in the savanna of the Masai Mara National Reserve during mating season. Paul A. Souders / Getty Images

Although the lion (Panthera leo) is slightly smaller than the tiger, it has a stronger bite (1768 N), according to a 2005 review. The lion’s powerful jaws help it take down animals as large as buffalos, elephants and hippopotamuses, although the lion’s preferred diet consists of antelopes, wildebeests, and zebras.

To take down its prey, a lion will lunge at the neck and use the force of its bite to strangle the animal, according to Britannica.

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5. Bull Shark: 5,914 N

Scuba diver kneels behind a bull shark
That's one brave diver behind the bull shark. by wildestanimal / Getty Images

The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is one of just two shark species that can survive in both freshwater and saltwater. Bull sharks are known for their aggressive nature and interesting hunting style: They bump their prey with their blunt snouts before subjecting it to its powerful bite — up to 5,914 N of force at the posterior bite point, according to a 2012 study published in Zoology.

But how does its bite compare to that of other sharks? “An 18-foot-long great white will still have a more powerful bite than an 11-foot bull shark, just by virtue of its size,” one of the study’s authors, Dr. Philip J. Motta, told USA Today. “But pound-for-pound, a bull shark of the same size would have a stronger bite.”

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4. American Alligator: 9,452 N

Profile of an alligator with jaws shut
Is it just us, or does this gator look a bit devious? Michael Warren / Getty Images

When it comes to measuring the bite force of large animals, some of the best data we have comes from crocodilians. While a lot of data on sharks and big cats is theoretical, a 2012 study published in the journal PLoS One actually had live reptiles bite down on a special instrument to measure their bite force.

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) had one of the strongest bites at 9,452 N — strong enough to crack a turtle shell. American alligators have the ability to replace their teeth when they get worn down, and a single alligator can go through 3,000 teeth in its lifetime, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.

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3. Mako Shark: 13,000 N

Mako shark underwater
This mako shark was spotted off the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand. Richard Robinson / Getty Images/Image Source

The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is the largest shark to have had its bite physically measured. In a 2020 episode of the show “Mako Nation,” marine biologist Dr. Riley Elliott recorded the mako shark’s bite using a custom device off the coast of New Zealand. The animal’s strongest bite registered 13,000 N.

“[It’s] obviously an incredible number to discover, but I think it really reflects the fact that we know so little about the mako shark,” Dr. Elliott told Newsweek. These members of the mackerel shark family can reach almost 15 feet (4.8 meters) in length and weigh more than 1,100 pounds (499 kg).

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2. Saltwater Crocodile: 16,414 N

A croc beside the water waits with an open mouth
This Australian saltwater crocodile was spotted in Queensland, Australia. John W Banagan / Getty Images

The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) has the strongest physically measured bite force at 16,414 N. This powerful bite came from one 3,689-pound (1,763.3-kg) individual as part of a 2012 study that measured the bite force of 83 adult specimens from all 23 recognized crocodilian species.

The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile species, and, according to the study’s authors, “bite forces strongly correlate with body size,” so its powerful bite force isn’t surprising. This particular species actually tops the list of largest crocodiles in the world.

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Saltwater crocodiles are opportunistic hunters and will eat whatever they can get their jaws on, from small insects to huge water buffalo.

1. Great White Shark: 18,216 N

Great white shark
You don't become the focal point of a movie called "Jaws" because you're known for dainty bites. Stephen Frink / Getty Images

Weighing up to 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg), the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is the world’s largest predatory fish, regularly dining on marine mammals like seals and sea lions. So it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the shark bite is the strongest known animal bite.

But it wasn’t exactly easy to measure the strength of a great white’s bite.

In a 2008 study published in the Journal of Zoology, researchers “digitally reconstructed” the great white’s jaws to estimate how hard the shark could bite. It turns out, pretty hard. The researchers estimated the great white shark’s maximum bite force to be 18,216 N, but that number could be on the lower end.

The study notes that “some observed behaviors, such as lateral shaking, might incorporate significant postcranially generated forces.” If you’ve ever played tug with a dog, you’ve seen firsthand the effects of shaking prey.

Despite the intensity of the great white’s bite, the researchers wrote that 18,216 N “appears unremarkable when the predator’s body mass is considered.” One of the study’s authors, Dr. Stephen Wroe, explained: “Pound for pound the great white’s bite is not particularly impressive, but the sheer size of the animal means that in absolute terms it tops the scales.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the bite force of animals measured?
Bite force measurements are often estimated using computer models or direct testing with devices that animals bite down on. These methods can vary, and the data for some animals, such as killer whales and polar bears, are not available due to the difficulty in testing.
What factors influence the strength of an animal's bite?
The strength of an animal's bite is influenced by factors such as jaw muscle arrangement, jaw shape and the overall size of the animal. For instance, the compact jaw structure and strong jaw muscles of jaguars contribute to their exceptionally powerful bite relative to their size.

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