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Lurking in waters around the world, the crocodile is a semi-aquatic reptile, with a fearsome reputation as an apex predator. Crocodiles are the largest reptiles in the world and have the largest bite force of any living animal. But how strong is a crocodile’s bite force? Let’s dive in!
The background about crocodile species
Prehistoric-esque, they are one of the closest animals to modern times dinosaurs and have roamed the earth for more than 240 million years. They inhabit lakes, rivers, wetlands and other bodies found in water and are found around the world in Africa, Asia, Australia and America.
Crocodiles today have the strongest bite force of all animals. They are large and powerful, high at the top of the food chain. They have evolved into one of the best apex predators in the wild with keen hearing, smell, and sight. Their mouths are large with 4 inches of sharp teeth capable of grabbing some of the smoothest of prey.
There are about 24 species of Crocodilia in the world, divided into 3 different families, Alligatoridae, Crocodylidae and Gavialidae. All crocodiles are capable of producing enormous amounts of force with their bite, but some are better at it than others.
Many species of crocodile rank highly in how hard they can bite, and the saltwater crocodile has the largest of them all. In addition to their strong bites, there are many interesting things to learn about this species.
Which crocodile has the greatest bite force?
The saltwater crocodile has the greatest bite force of any animal with a reading of 3,700 psi. The bite was measured by dr. Gregory Erickson, a professor at Florida State University who studied the bite forces of all species of crocodiles. The bite was taken from a 17ft saltwater crocodile using a device placed on the end of a stick to measure force.
dr. Erickson studied multiple species of crocodiles and found that saltwater crocodiles have the greatest bite force, but he also analyzed other species and the similarities between them. Larger saltwater crocodiles may be able to produce a stronger bite as some can reach 7 feet in height and weigh over 2,000 lbs.
The species size of a crocodile is correlated with the amount of bite force they can produce. All types of crocodiles are designed to have a lethal bite, but smaller crocodiles will produce a smaller bite force. When measured pound for pound, they are found to have a similar bite force. The size of the crocodile is directly correlated with the force produced.
Rank crocodile bite force from highest to lowest
Bites of different species range from 500 to 4000 psi. Here are all the crocodile species listed by the bite force they produced, with the largest at the top:
- saltwater crocodile
- robber
- Orinoco Crocodile
- Crocodile of New Guinea
- American Alligator
- Morelet’s Crocodile
- american crocodile
- Siamese Crocodile
- malay gharial
- Philippine Freshwater Crocodile
- nile crocodile
- Black Caiman
- African crocodile with slender snout
- cuban crocodile
- Indian gharial
- dwarf crocodile
- spectacled caiman
- Australian freshwater crocodile
- broad-nosed caiman
- Smooth-fronted Caiman
- chinese alligator
- Yacare Cayman
- Cuvier’s Pygmy Caiman
The size of the muzzle and physique have less influence on the bite force than the weight and size of the crocodile. A measuring instrument was used to collect the bite force of each crocodile. Some studies have found the nile crocodile because they have the strongest bite force in the world, but saltwater crocodiles can grow bigger and heavier and have more muscle.
With the research and data from this study, researchers have been able to find accurate and informative data on the bite force of each crocodile, now and in the past. With the varying size of each crocodile, the bite force produced will vary depending on the animal.
Why do crocodiles have such a powerful bite force?
Crocodiles have always fascinated scientists, because of their amazing bite that scales with size. The secret behind their powerful bite is a second temporomandibular joint that helps amplify the strength of their bite. The second joint in their jaw helps distribute the force and hold the prey. This joint occurs in all species and is the result of years of evolution.
Studying their jaws can help people understand their own jaws because we have a similar function and design of their second joint. Common problems such as arthritis and jaw lock can be better understood as we learn more about a crocodile bite.
The jaws of crocodiles are meant to close, so it is possible to keep their mouth shut with your bare head. Like all jaws, the muscles for opening are relatively weak compared to their ability to bite.
How do crocodiles use their strong bite?
The main use of a crocodile’s bite is for hunting and consuming prey. As aquatic animals, crocodiles survive from marine life, but larger species can hunt land animals successfully. As carnivores, they only eat meat that occurs in their local habitat. Fish, large mammals and dead animals are common foods that most species of crocodiles enjoy.
Crocodiles are apex predators and elite hunters. They drag prey into the water to drown them and some species can swim u
p to 20 mph. When crocodiles get hold of prey, they will perform a spinning maneuver to chop up the prey, known as the “death roll.” By producing a large amount of force with their bite, it is difficult to release them once a crocodile has a hold on prey.
How can learning about crocodile bites help us?
As scientists study the bite power of crocodiles, they can learn more about our own jaws and species that are now extinct. Crocodiles are one of the oldest species in the world and have roamed the earth for millions of years.
Two species of crocodiles, the Deinosuchus and Purussaurus were some of the largest crocodile species in the world, reaching up to 33 feet. Other varieties can grow even longer. We have been able to study them with fossils, but the greatest source of information is today’s crocodiles.
The Deinosuchos had an estimated bite force of about 100,000 Newtons and the Purussaurus had a bite force of 69,000 Newtons! By studying a crocodile’s bite force, we’ve been able to scale and discover just how powerful these exciting species were. Crocodiles are feared today and have the strongest bite force found, but they have been a dominant animal-hunting species for longer than humans have existed.
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