Our second molars can exert a bite force between 1,100 and 1,300 Newtons, beating the orang-utan, gibbon and Australopithecus but lagging behind the gorilla, chimp and Paranthropus. These forces are roughly what you'd expect for a primate of our size.
That means the Nile crocodile, at the top of our list, has a bite force of over 30 times more powerful than a human! The world record for the strongest human bite was set by Richard Hoffman, with a bite force more than six times more powerful than the average human.
Human bites are ranked as the third leading cause of all bites seen in hospital emergency departments (after dog and cat bites), accounting for 3.6-23% of bite wounds; however, the true frequency is difficult to estimate because most human bites are probably unreported or patients fail to seek medical attention.
In August 1986, Richard Hofmann (b. 1949) of Lake City, Florida, USA, achieved a bite strength of 442 kg (975 lb) for approximately 2 sec in a research test using a gnathodynamometer at the College of Dentistry, University of Florida, USA.
Complications from a human bite can be very serious, including severe infection and permanently damaged bones, joints and/or tendons.
German Shepherd (238 PSI)
The German Shepherd's strong bite is vital because of its powerful jaw and muscular build. German Shepherds are also known for their loyalty, intelligence, and trainability. This particular breed is not recommended for first-time dog owners, as they require a lot of exercise and training.
Human bites are painful and usually produce a mark on the skin with the pattern of the teeth. Fight bites typically leave only a small, straight cut over a knuckle. A lacerated finger tendon often results in difficulty moving the finger in one direction. Infected bites become very painful, red, and swollen.
The winner of the most powerful bite award goes to the saltwater crocodile, according to a study conducted by scientists at Florida State University.
The anteater, on the other hand, is one mammal with virtually no bite force. In fact, it can barely move its jaws at all! Anteaters collect ants and other foods by extending a long tongue and drawing it back into their mouths.
The average human bite force is between 120-160 PSI (pounds per square inch). However, this pales in comparison to many wild animals, many of which use their teeth not only to chew, but also to grip and tear.
Compare that to the bite force of an adult T. rex—about 35,000 newtons— or to the puny biting power of humans: 300 newtons. Previous bite force estimates for juvenile T. rexes—based on reconstruction of the jaw muscles or from mathematically scaling down the bite force of adult T.
Of all the creatures alive today, the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) has the strongest known bite force, at 16,460 newtons (newtons measure force magnitude), a 2012 study in the journal PLOS One found. For comparison, 1 newton equals about a quarter pound of force.
Strength changes
Compared to our closest living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, Homo sapiens' skeletal muscle is on average about 1.35 to 1.5 times weaker when normalized for size.
Among living apes, for example, we have the thickest amount of enamel, one of several features we posses which are consistent with the ability of teeth to withstand strong bites.
Human bites can be as dangerous as or even more dangerous than animal bites because of the types of bacteria and viruses contained in the human mouth.
No, the fastest-acting venom on Earth belongs to the Australian Box Jellyfish or sea wasp. It's not the most potent venom out there. But encounter one of these guys and you'll be dead in 15 minutes. That's all because of these things They're COVERED with tiny, venom-loaded darts, called nematocysts.
A human bite can break, puncture, or tear the skin. Bites that break the skin can be very serious because of the risk for infection.
Human bite wounds may not seem dangerous, but the risk of infection is high. These wounds contain very high levels of bacteria. Even though the wound may appear minor, an infection can lead to a severe joint infection. About one third of all hand infections are caused by human bite wounds.
Adult gray wolves have an impressive set of teeth, and their jaws are incred- ibly strong. A human's bite force is only about 120 pounds per square inch, and a large domestic dog's is about 320 pounds per square inch—but the bite force of a wolf is almost 400 pounds of pressure per square inch!
The Siberian husky is a wolf-like dog bred in Russia to pull sleds. Its bite force is a remarkable 320 PSI even though it is not the biggest or heaviest of working dogs. A husky stands 20 to 23.5 inches high at the shoulder and weighs only between 35 and 60 pounds, but its use as a sled dog is a testament to its power.
Huskies have a reputation for being gentle and friendly dogs, but their bite can be quite dangerous. In fact, they have one of the strongest dog bite forces among dog breeds. According to research, the average bite force of a Husky is around 320 pounds per square inch (PSI).
Did you know that the human jaw is capable of exerting up to 125 kg of force in a single bite? On average, the female bite registers at 50 kg, while the male bite registers at 70 kg. There is a wide variance in pressure between the front and the back teeth, with the back teeth (molars) bearing most of the stress.