The Strongest Animals In The Animal Kingdom

Dung beetle.
Dung beetle.
  • The strength to weight ratio is extremely important and makes some smaller animals seem quite impressive when it comes to strength. When all of this is taken into account, the dung beetle turns out to be the strongest animal, since it can lift objects that are more than 1,000 times heavier than its body weight.
  • The second place belongs to the rhinoceros beetle, a well-known insect capable of carrying objects that are 850 times heavier than its body.
  • Strength of the gorillas is well known, but you might not be aware that they can carry up to two tons of weight. This is thanks to their large and strong arms that are much more powerful than those of humans.
  • Grizzly bears are considered some of the strongest animals in the world that are especially known for their strong teeth and powerful bite.

Ranking animals by their strength has always been a popular pastime among younger children, as well as among older folks. If you’ve never discussed who is stronger, a wild boar, or a grizzly bear, what have you been doing with your life?

We are here to settle the score by giving you an insight into what the strongest animals in the animal kingdom are. There are many ways we can approach this since some animals have immense brute strength that would give even the strongest humans a run for their money. Still, there are other smaller animals capable of lifting objects far larger than themselves. 

The strength to weight ratio is extremely important and makes some smaller animals seem quite impressive when it comes to strength. When all of this is taken into account, the dung beetle turns out to be the strongest animal, since it can lift objects that are more than 1,000 times heavier than its body weight. Of course, there are many more examples of animals with extraordinary strength, and we will mention the most interesting ones in this article.

Size Does Not Matter

There are two creatures that are considered the strongest on the planet when we take the strength to weight ratio, and both are insects. The second place belongs to the rhinoceros beetle, a well-known insect capable of carrying objects that are 850 times heavier than its body. If we compared that to humans, it would be like if an average-sized human could carry something that weighs 65 tons. 

 insect that is capable of carrying objects that are 850 times heavier than its body.
Rhinoceros Beetle: an insect capable of carrying objects that are 850 times heavier than its body.

However, they do not come close to the strongest animal in the world, which is the dung beetle. As already mentioned, these insects can lift objects that are 1,141 times heavier than their bodies. They are extremely competitive and often use their horns to fight other dung beetles, which is possibly where they develop their strength. You can find dung beetles all over the world, and another fun fact about them is that their name is derived from the fact that they eat the excrement of other animals.

The largest primates in the world also deserve to be mentioned, and you’ve already probably guessed that that title belongs to the gorillas. Their strength is well known, but you might not be aware that they can carry up to two tons of weight. This is thanks to their large and strong arms that are much more powerful than those of humans. They also use these strong arms to walk by balancing their weight on their knuckles.

 Their strength is well known, but you might not be aware that they can carry up to two tons of weight. Their strength is well known, but you might not be aware that they can carry up to two tons of weight.

African elephants are another species that are known for their incredible strength. They are the largest living land animals on the planet and can grow up to 13 feet in height. Not only that, but their weight can also go up to 7 tons. Their trunk is extremely strong because it contains over 40,000 muscles.

The Strongest Birds, Bears, And Cats

Let’s start things off with the strongest birds on the planet, which are eagles. Eagles have extremely powerful feet and large beaks that allow them to pick up prey that is four times heavier than they are. There are many different species of eagle, but all are tremendously strong and can fly for hours without taking a break.

 Eagles have extremely powerful feet and large beaks that allow them to pick up prey that is four times heavier than they are.
Eagles have extremely powerful feet and large beaks that allow them to pick up prey that is four times heavier than they are.

This article would not be complete if we did not mention the grizzly bear. With a maximum height of over 8 feet, their size alone makes them seem incredibly strong. And the size is not just for show either; grizzly bears are considered some of the strongest animals in the world that are especially known for their strong teeth and powerful bite.

Another animal worth mentioning is the anaconda, the heaviest and largest snake on the planet. They are non-venomous, but do not let that make you feel as if they are harmless because these snakes have a different way of handling their victims. They wrap their heavy bodies around their prey, squeeze it to death and then swallow it whole.

Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) - Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve - Amazonia, Ecuador
Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) - Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve - Amazonia, Ecuador.

If we take a look at the cat family of animals, the strongest members are definitely the tigers. Found all over Southeast Asia, these feline beasts can grow up to 8 feet in length and can carry prey that is twice as heavy as themselves. If needed, a tiger could defeat a lion in combat.

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