Every year since 1977, the planet’s largest strength athletics competition, The World’s Strongest Man, has taken place. Incredible records have appeared, like deadlifting 501 kilos or squatting 440 kilos. Yet these feats pale beside what certain animals accomplish. Which creatures rank as the strongest in the natural world?
Answering that question is tricky. Forces vary, and many kinds of power exist. What is clear is that some species possess what could be described as true “superpowers.” The list below highlights notable examples in alphabetical order.
harpy eagle
It is regarded as the strongest bird in the world. About one meter long, with a wingspan up to two meters and a weight ranging from 4 to 9 kilos (females are larger), it can lift, fly, and maneuver prey weighing up to 15 kilos. Its talons are extraordinarily powerful, outrunning a Rottweiler’s bite in terms of grip strength.
green anaconda
Known as the heaviest and most powerful snake, its body is composed almost entirely of muscle. Females are larger than males, standing five to eight meters long and weighing up to 85 kilos. When hunting, they coil around prey, constrict until it suffocates, and swallow it whole. Enormous meals are common for this species.
Shot
Cargo breeds such as the Shire, Belgian Draft, or Clydesdale can haul and drag extremely heavy loads. They stand tall, over 1.8 meters in many cases, with substantial muscle mass, and some individuals exceed a ton in weight. The strongest horses can drag more than 2000 kilos.
Nile crocodile
Regarded as the strongest reptile and the largest crocodile species, its jaw power is formidable. Studies suggest it can exert a bite force of about 270 pounds per square centimeter, far surpassing human bite strength. While Tyrannosaurus rex could crush cars, it is a distant relative of today’s croc.
Elephant
The skeletal system accounts for nearly 20 percent of body weight, a feature that underpins its remarkable strength. The elephant is the largest land mammal, standing around 4 meters tall and weighing upward of 6,000 kilos. With roughly 40,000 muscles, it can uproot trees or lift hefty loads, and it can drag tens of thousands of kilos when needed.
scarab
More than a hundred scarab species exist, and many are notably strong for their size. Average length spans 1.8 to 2 centimeters with weights around 10 grams. A 2010 study showed some can lift up to 1,141 times their own weight. To put that in human terms, a person would need to carry about 80,000 kilos, the weight of six buses.
Gorilla
Average height about 1.7 meters and weight near 170 kilos, with some individuals surpassing 2 meters and 200 kilos. These primates possess extraordinary strength: they can lift around 1,000 kilos and deliver jaw power exceeding 450 kilos of force, which is several times stronger than a human.
leaf cutter ant
Forty-seven known species inhabit the world. They stand around 2 centimeters in length and weigh roughly 6 milligrams. Yet they juggle burdens up to 50 times their own weight and traverse long distances thanks to their strong mandibles. In human terms, that would be like carrying more than 350 pounds on the back.
giant grouper
Also called grouper guasa, this ocean giant can confront—and even prey on—sharks. It grows up to about 2.5 meters long and individuals have weighed as much as 455 kilos. Its diet is diverse, ranging from crustaceans and lobsters to turtles, octopuses, and rays, and it can take on large fish as well.
grizzly bear
Also known as the gray bear, it is large, strong, and fast. Heights can reach 2.5 meters and weights exceed 600 kilos. This apex mammal has formidable muscle and jaw strength, capable of lifting heavy loads and delivering powerful bites when needed.
white rhino
The second-largest land mammal, it can reach about 4.2 meters in length and 1.85 meters in height, with some individuals weighing up to 4.5 tons. It can throw heavy objects, topple trees, and even move vehicles with apparent ease.
Tiger
All tiger subspecies are formidable, but the Siberian tiger stands out for its size and strength. Weights can exceed 200 kilos, with some individuals surpassing 300 kilos, and lengths around two meters. These cats can climb trees and deliver jaw forces up to 550 kilos, more than twice their body weight.
white shark
Although not the largest shark, it is among the most powerful due to its bite and aggression. It can reach up to five meters in length and exceed 1,100 kilos. With about 300 serrated teeth, each tooth can be around 6 centimeters long, enabling bite forces near 1,800 pounds, roughly three times a lion’s bite. It is widely considered the world’s top ocean predator.
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