The strongest animals in the world include the African bush elephant, gorilla, musk ox, tiger, hippo, eagle, dung beetle, leafcutter ant, and more.
Are you one of those people who are fascinated by the animal kingdom and all its creatures?
In this article, we’ll take a look at the strongest animals in the world. Some have raw strength, while others are incredibly strong compared to their body weight.
List of the 12 Strongest Animals
There are many lists of the strongest animals in the world, but there is no definitive answer. It depends on what criteria you use to measure strength. The dung beetle is the strongest relative, to strength, while the bush elephant is much stronger in terms of raw power.
Here are some of the strongest animals on the planet:
- African Bush Elephant
- Gorilla
- Musk Ox
- Tiger
- Hippopotamus
- Eagle
- Dung Beetle
- Leafcutter Ant
- Rhinoceros Beetle
- Grizzly Bear
- Anaconda
- Saltwater Crocodile
1. African Bush Elephant
| Scientific Name | Loxodonta africana |
| Common Name | African Bush Elephant |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Grass, leaves, fruits, barks |
| Habitat | Open and wooded savannas, forests, deserts |
The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest terrestrial animal alive today. It is also the largest living member of the order Proboscidea, family Elephantidae, and genus Loxodonta.
It is the strongest animal in terms of raw strength (lifting strength).
The African bush elephant is typically between 6.6 and 11.5 feet tall at the shoulder and weighs between two and seven metric tons[2]. One exceptional bull elephant was recorded at 24 feet tall and weighed 10 metric tons.
The African bush elephant is gray to reddish brown in color, with large ears that are sensitive to sound. Its trunk is its most distinctive feature, used for communication, feeding, and bathing.
2. Gorilla
| Scientific Name | Gorilla |
| Common Name | Gorilla |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Stems, bamboo shoots, termites, ants |
| Habitat | Tropical rainforests of Central Africa |
The gorilla is a large, powerful ape that is native to the forests of Africa. gorillas are the largest living primate, and they are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet.
They are also one of the strongest animals in the world, pound for pound.
Gorillas are vegetarians, and they eat mostly leaves, fruits, and nuts. They are very good at using their hands to gather food and build nests.
They live in family groups of up to 30 individuals. The family is led by a silverback male, who is the biggest and strongest member of the group.
3. Musk Ox
| Scientific Name | Ovibos moschatus |
| Common Name | Musk Ox |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Variety of plants including grasses and sedges |
| Habitat | Frozen Arctic |
The Musk Ox is considered one of the strongest animals in the world. It is native to the Arctic tundra and mountainous areas of North America, Europe, and Asia. The Musk Ox can reach up to 2,000 pounds and is six feet in length.
Its thick fur helps protect it from cold weather conditions. Musk Ox is an herbivore and its diet consists of grasses, sedges, and other plants.
Musk Ox is known to have great strength and power. They can defend themselves against predators such as wolves and bears. They have also been known to charge at humans who come too close to them.
4. Tiger
| Scientific Name | Panthera tigris |
| Common Name | Tiger |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Prey that are rich in protein |
| Habitat | Rainforsts, grasslands, savannas, mangrove swamps |
The tiger is the largest member of the cat family and the strongest feline on the planet. It is also one of the most ferocious and feared animals in the world.
Tigers are native to Asia and found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and Siberia.
The tiger is an apex predator and is at the top of the food chain. It has no natural predators and is not afraid of any animal. The tiger is a carnivore and feeds on deer, wild pigs, buffalo, and sometimes even elephants and rhinos.
It is an endangered species with its numbers declining due to hunting and habitat loss. There are estimated to be only 3,200 tigers left in the wild.
5. Hippopotamus
| Scientific Name | Hippopootamus amphibius |
| Common Name | Hippopotamus |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Grass |
| Habitat | Sub-saharan Africa |
Hippopotamus are large, semi-aquatic mammals that are native to sub-Saharan Africa[3]. They are some of the largest living land mammals, weighing up to 3,500 kg (7,700 lb).
As herbivores, they solely eat plants and spend most of their time in rivers and lakes. Despite their bulky size, they are good swimmers and can hold their breath for up to five minutes underwater.
Although they mostly stay in the water, they can move on land at a fast speed when necessary.
The hippopotamus is considered to be one of the most dangerous animals in Africa due to its large size and sharp teeth. They have been known to attack and kill humans that come too close to them.
6. Eagle
| Scientific Name | Accipitridae |
| Common Name | Eagle |
| Animal Class | Aves |
| Diet | Mammals, birds, carrion |
| Habitat | Lakes and reservoirs |
The eagle is the strongest bird of prey. There are many different types of eagles, all of which are characterized by their large size, powerful beaks, sharp claws, strong flying ability, and keen eyesight.
Eagles are found on every continent except Antarctica, and they typically live in areas with open space and plenty of trees or cliffs on which to build their nests.
As eagles are birds of prey, their diet mainly consists of small mammals such as rodents or hares, although they will also eat reptiles, fish, and other birds.
They typically hunt by flying high above their prey and then swooping down to grab it with their powerful talons.
7. Dung Beetle
| Scientific Name | Scarabaeidae |
| Common Name | Dung Beetle |
| Animal Class | Insecta |
| Diet | Liquid from animal dung |
| Habitat | Farmlands, prairies, forests, grasslands, desert habitats |
The dung beetle is the common name given to any one of several species of beetles that feed on dung. They are incredibly strong for their size, as they have to roll dung balls many times larger than themselves.
There are many different types of dung beetle, each with its specific method of consuming dung. Some roll it into a ball and roll it away, while others tunnel through it.
Dung beetles play an important role in the environment by helping to recycle dung. Without them, dung would build up and create a perfect environment for disease-causing bacteria and other pests.
8. Leafcutter Ant
| Scientific Name | Atta |
| Common Name | Leafcutter Ant |
| Animal Class | Insecta |
| Diet | Fungus |
| Habitat | New World tropical rainforests |
The leafcutter ant is a species of ant that is particularly known for its ability to cut through leaves. These ants are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
They are considered to be one of the strongest animals on the planet relative to their size.[1] Leafcutter ants can lift objects that are up to 50 times their body weight.
This allows them to carry leaves that are much larger than they are. In addition, these ants have been known to cut through leaves that are as thick as 1 cm.
9. Rhinoceros Beetle
| Scientific Name | Dynastinae |
| Common Name | Rhinoceros Beetle |
| Animal Class | Insecta |
| Diet | Fruits, sap, nectar |
| Habitat | Leaf litter, plants, fallen logs |
The rhinoceros beetles are found primarily in tropical forests. The male beetle can reach up to 6 cm (2.4 in) while the female beetle can reach up to 5 cm (2.0 in).
Both sexes have a black exoskeleton with prominent horns on their head which they use to butt heads with other beetles to assert dominance. The horn on the male beetle is longer than the horn on the female beetle.
The rhinoceros beetle is one of the strongest animals in the world. Some sources claim they can lift 850 times their own weight. This is equivalent to a human lifting six double-decker buses.
The beetle uses its strength to push tree trunks and logs out of the way to find food.
10. Grizzly Bear
| Scientific Name | Ursus arctos horribilis |
| Common Name | Grizzly Bear |
| Animal Class | Mammalia |
| Diet | Elk, bison, salmon |
| Habitat | Woodlands, forests, praires, alpine meadows |
The grizzly bear is the strongest bear species. With its massive size and strength, the grizzly bear is capable of taking down all prey animals in its natural habitat.
While the grizzly bear is an apex predator, it is not without its predators. Wolves and other bears will sometimes prey on young grizzly bears. Grizzlies also face threats from humans, who often kill them for their fur or meat.
Despite the dangers that the grizzly bear faces, it is still one of the most impressive animals on the planet.
11. Anaconda
| Scientific Name | Eunectes murinus |
| Common Name | Anaconda |
| Animal Class | Reptilia |
| Diet | Fishes, birds, small mammals |
| Habitat | Swamps, marshes, slow-moving streams |
The anaconda is the common name for a large, non-venomous snake found in tropical America. It is also one of the heaviest and longest snakes in the world.
Anacondas are dark green with black spots and have yellow bellies. They can grow to be more than 29 feet long and weigh more than 550 pounds.
They are excellent swimmers and spend a great deal of their time in the water, lying in wait for their prey and then strangling it. Anacondas eat a variety of animals including rodents, birds, reptiles, and even other snakes.
12. Saltwater Crocodile
| Scientific Name | Crocodylus porosus |
| Common Name | Saltwater Crocodile |
| Animal Class | Reptilia |
| Diet | Prey that they can overpower such as birds, snakes, and animal livestocks |
| Habitat | Coastal brackish mangrove swamps and river deltas |
The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile in the world, with an average length of 20 feet and a weight of 2,000 pounds.
These massive predators are found in tropical regions throughout Asia and Africa and prefer to live near coasts and rivers.
Despite their size and power, saltwater crocodiles are reclusive animals. They are mostly active at night and spend most of their time basking in the sun or resting in the water.
These crocodiles are ambush predators, lying in wait for their prey to come close before attacking with lightning speed.
FAQs
What’s the Strongest Animal in the World?
The African Bush Elephant is the strongest land animal in the world. With a body mass of around two hundred sixty-eight to two thousand five hundred ninety kilograms. They are also the largest land animals on Earth.
What’s the Strongest Animal in the Jungle?
The African Forest Elephant is the strongest animal in the jungle. With a body mass of around two hundred sixty-eight to two thousand five hundred ninety kilograms, they are also the largest land animals on Earth.
