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Animal lists · 11 entries

The Strongest Animals on Earth

Relative to body weight, leafcutter ants and dung beetles are among the strongest animals on record — a dung beetle can pull over 1,000 times its own mass — while the saltwater crocodile holds the highest reliably measured bite force among vertebrates at roughly 16,000 newtons.

Updated 25 July 2026

Strength is not one measurement. Bite force, pulling force, lifting capacity and strike power measure different things and produce completely different rankings. A gorilla can deadlift far more than a dung beetle in absolute terms; the beetle wins only when force is expressed relative to body mass.

This list separates the two where possible. Absolute force is given for large vertebrates with instrumented measurements. Relative strength is given for insects and other small animals where the record depends on load pulled divided by body mass. Figures from single unreplicated experiments are flagged.

How this list was compiled

Entries are grouped by type of force — bite, pull, carry — because these are not interchangeable. Absolute measurements are used for vertebrates where bite-force gauges or load cells have been applied. Relative strength (force divided by body mass) is used for insects and other small animals where that is the standard comparison. Single unreplicated studies are noted. Punch or strike force is included only where directly measured, not modelled from muscle cross-section.

The Strongest Animals on Earth

  1. Dung beetle

    Pulls ~1,100× body mass

    Onychoprionidae species tested pulling dung balls. The classic 1,141× figure comes from a 2010 study; species and method matter.

  2. Leafcutter ant

    Carries ~50× body mass

    Workers cut and transport leaf fragments many times their own weight back to the nest.

  3. Saltwater crocodile

    Bite ~16,000 N

    The highest bite forces measured in any living animal, recorded from large wild-caught individuals.

  4. Gorilla

    Estimated bite ~1,300 N; lifts ~800 kg (anecdotal)

    Bite force is measured; lifting claims are largely anecdotal and not from controlled trials.

  5. Elephant

    Can push/pull ~600 kg+

    Strength is inferred from logging and translocation work rather than laboratory measurement.

  6. Rhinoceros beetle

    Lifts ~850× body mass (claimed)

    Widely cited but poorly replicated in peer-reviewed work. Included because the claim is ubiquitous and should be qualified.

  7. Eagle

    Talons ~750 N grip (estimated)

    Large eagles can crush prey with grip force; few direct instrumented measurements exist.

  8. Ox

    Pulls heavy loads in harness

    Domestic cattle in draft work demonstrate sustained pulling strength; figures vary widely by breed and task.

  9. Mantis shrimp

    Strike ~1,500 N; ~10,000× body acceleration

    The club strike is among the fastest accelerations in the animal kingdom, measured by high-speed video.

  10. Hercules beetle

    Lifts ~100× body mass (estimated)

    Males use strength in combat and climbing; controlled lifting trials are limited.

  11. Grizzly bear

    Bite ~800–1,000 N (estimated)

    Strong absolute force from large mass; bite force is lower per newton than crocodiles despite greater body size.

Key facts

  • Relative to body weight, dung beetles and leafcutter ants exceed any vertebrate by orders of magnitude.
  • In absolute bite force, the saltwater crocodile leads with roughly 16,000 newtons from instrumented measurement.
  • Gorilla lifting strength is widely quoted but rarely measured under controlled conditions — treat anecdotal figures with caution.
  • Strength rankings change completely depending on whether absolute force or force relative to body mass is used.
  • The mantis shrimp strike is fast rather than heavy — acceleration, not total newtons, is its record.
  • Single unreplicated studies underpin several famous insect-strength claims; those are flagged rather than presented as settled fact.

The Strongest Animals on Earth: frequently asked questions

What is the strongest animal in the world?
It depends on the measurement. Relative to body weight, dung beetles pulling over 1,000 times their own mass are among the strongest recorded. In absolute bite force, the saltwater crocodile leads at roughly 16,000 newtons.
How strong is a gorilla?
A silverback gorilla has a measured bite force around 1,300 newtons. Claims that gorillas can lift 800 kilograms or more come from anecdote and circus-era accounts, not controlled trials.
What animal has the strongest bite?
The saltwater crocodile, with bite forces around 16,000 newtons recorded from large individuals. Great white sharks and hippos also have formidable bites but fewer direct instrumented measurements.
Are ants stronger than elephants?
Relative to their own body weight, yes — by a huge margin. An ant carrying 50 times its mass is proportionally far stronger than an elephant pushing a log. In absolute force, the elephant wins easily.
Why do insect strength figures vary so much?
Because they depend on the specific species, the apparatus used and whether the load was pulled, lifted or carried. The famous dung beetle figure comes from one 2010 study of one species.
Is a mantis shrimp the strongest puncher?
It has one of the fastest strikes, accelerating its club at around 10,000 times gravity. Total force is high for its size but the record is speed and acceleration rather than raw newtons compared with crocodile bites.

Sources

How we check facts: our sourcing standards →

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