The world is full of wonders. Among seemingly delicate fish, there are also "aquatic beasts" with extremely strong bites and great killing power. Dunkleosteus, Megalodon, Great White Shark, Bull Shark, Black Piranha, Scaly Gillfish, Wolffish, Lungfish, and others have become the rulers of the waters with their powerful bites.
Today, let's take a look at the top ten fish with the strongest bite force in the world and unveil the mystery of these aquatic overlords!
1. Megalodon (bite force 20,000 kg)
Megalodon was a prehistoric giant shark that lived approximately 28 to 1.5 million years ago. Based on fossilized vertebrae, it is estimated to have been much larger than the modern great white shark, possibly exceeding 20 meters in length and weighing up to 70 tons. Megalodon is considered one of the most powerful known creatures in Earth's history, with scientists estimating its maximum bite force to reach 20 tons—a force even surpassing that of Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Megalodon possessed powerful jaws that could easily crush the ribs of whales, thus earning it the reputation among many paleontologists as the most formidable marine predator in Earth's history.
2. Dunkleosteus (bite force 5000 kg)
Dunkleosteus was a large prehistoric creature that lived during the Devonian period of the Paleozoic Era, approximately 360 to 430 million years ago. It could reach a length of 8 meters and weigh about 2 tons, making it one of the top predators in the ocean at that time. It was even capable of biting a shark in half with a single bite, and almost no Devonian creature could escape its prey.
It's worth noting that Dunkleosteus didn't have teeth in the traditional sense; instead, it had two sharp, irregular bony blades that could easily cut and crush the bones and armor of its prey. Its astonishing bite force is said to far exceed that of Tyrannosaurus Rex, making it arguably the "ultimate predator" of the prehistoric oceans.
3. Lungfish (bite force 4800 kg)
Lungfish were ancient fish that lived in coastal areas during the Devonian period. They could reach 5 meters in length and weigh about 2 tons. They were known for their well-developed fins and powerful muscles, making them one of the "giants" of the ocean at that time. Although their bite force was not as strong as that of Dunkleosteus, which lived at the same time, they were still incredibly powerful and were the "terminator" of many creatures.
A key characteristic of lungfish was their ability to not only survive in water but also to climb onto the shore to prey on terrestrial creatures. This amphibious capability made them one of the most formidable predators of the Devonian period. While the spinosphagnum shark, a contemporary of lungfish, was slightly smaller, it was no match for the lungfish and was easily swallowed whole and crushed by its powerful jaws.
4. Swordfish (bite force 4300 kg)
The swordfish was a large, predatory bony fish that lived in the western inland sea lanes during the Late Cretaceous period, overlapping somewhat with the age of dinosaurs. It was known for its sharp, blade-like teeth and powerful tail; its teeth could reach 30 centimeters in length, comparable to a sharp steel knife, making it an excellent hunter.
With this "weapon combination," the swordfish possessed an astonishing bite force, easily capturing and tearing apart large prey. It could even swallow large fish up to 2 meters long whole, truly deserving its title as a "top hunter" in the ancient oceans.
5. Great White Shark (bite force 1800 kg)
The great white shark is renowned for its enormous, gaping jaws and incredibly sharp teeth. Its upper jaw is lined with 26 sharp, serrated teeth, each with barbs on the back, making it nearly impossible for prey to escape once it has gripped it. If a front tooth falls out, a replacement tooth quickly fills the gap, ensuring the great white shark always maintains a full set of teeth. In fact, at any given time, about one-third of a great white shark's teeth are being replaced.
According to scientists, the great white shark's maximum bite force can reach up to 1800 kilograms. During its hunting process, other marine life, large mammals it unfortunately encounters, and even humans can become its targets.
6. Bull shark (bite force 590 kg)
Although bull sharks are relatively small among sharks, they possess a physique as strong as a bull. According to research by Haberg, a researcher at the University of South Florida, bull sharks, with their powerful jaw and chin muscles, can generate a bite force of up to 1,300 pounds (approximately 590 kilograms) when they bite.
Although bull sharks can sometimes appear docile and harmless, they can also become highly aggressive in an instant, launching fierce attacks on any living creature, making them deadly hunters of the ocean.
7. Prehistoric giant piranha (bite force 484 kg)
The prehistoric giant piranha lived mainly during the Miocene epoch, about 5 million years ago. It could reach 70 centimeters in length and weigh approximately 10 kilograms. According to a study published in the journal *Science*, this prehistoric behemoth possessed an extremely powerful jaw force, equivalent to that of a 400-kilogram great white shark, ranging from 1240 to 4749 Newtons, or about 484 kilograms.
This prehistoric piranha can be considered one of the most powerful piranha species known on Earth, making it a top predator in ancient waters.
8. Bering wolffish (bite force 125 kg)
The Bering wolffish possesses a broad jaw and two rows of sharp teeth, including eight enormous incisors that can reach half an inch in length. While this powerful "weapon" is not intended for attacking humans, it is a formidable predator for catching sea urchins, starfish, shrimp, and giant lobsters. Although the Bering wolffish may appear unaggressive, its bite force should not be underestimated.
Especially when male Bering wolffish compete for mates, they will bite down hard with their teeth and not let go, like a nail firmly driven into a board. It has been observed that each male Bering wolffish usually only experiences such a fierce contest once in its lifetime.
9. Black piranha (bite force 72 kg)
The black piranha, with its blood-red eyes, imposing size, and fearsome reputation, has gradually become one of the essential introductory fish for aquarium enthusiasts. This fish is as robust as an ox, extremely adaptable, and possesses an astonishing ability to recover. Its well-developed jaw muscles allow its bite force to reach more than 30 times its own body weight, a true marvel of nature.
In comparison, even the great white shark, coyote, and alligator, which are known for their powerful bite force, are far inferior to the black piranha in terms of size-to-weight ratio.
10. Anti-Knife Fish (bite force 40 kg)
Due to their fierce nature and strong territorial instincts, the wrasse, though often kept in aquariums, almost never allows other fish to share their habitat.
Some enthusiasts have tried to keep similar-sized fish such as pig-nosed turtles, warship fish, and arowanas together with shad, but the results are often unsatisfactory. Shad use their powerful jaws to bite the tails of pig-nosed turtles, as well as the bodies of warship fish and arowanas. Some fish are even left with only skeletons in the end.
Therefore, the wrasse, with its amazing bite force, is aptly known as the "underwater shearing machine".
The ranking of the world's ten fish with the strongest bite force is primarily based on research into the actual bite strength of various prehistoric and modern fish species. This list is for reference only; please feel free to comment and discuss any questions at the end.
