If you believe that lions and tigers are the world’s fiercest creatures, you will be shocked after reading this article. Animal toughness is influenced by a number of variables, such as their habitat and means of survival.. From saltwater crocodiles to Honey Badgers, here is the top ten list of the toughest animals around the globe.
TOUGHEST ANIMALS
1. THE HONEY BADGER
According to the Guinness Book, the Honey Badger is “the most fearless animal” in the whole planet! It looks like a weird skunk, these are the largest species of terrestrial mustelids in Africa. They are also found in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. These are the psychopaths of Savannah as they kill anything and everything smaller than their size and if any large animals (horse, cow and so on) steps on their nests or dens, they attack without any second thoughts. These are not invincible nor are they on top of the food chain, but for their small size, they are tougher than you imagine. These species have evolved to digest bones and even feathers of their victims and they do not have many predators because it’s just not worth the risk.
2. TARDIGRADE
Tardigrades are also known as water bears or space bears and they are rarely found to be greater than 1.5mm in size and they are visible only under a microscope. But do not let that size fool you as these are one of the most resilient animals on Earth and they can survive even in outer space. These are carnivores and even cannibalistic. These are considered to be one of the toughest and almost indestructible because they can survive in any habitat even in conditions where a human being would die in a matter of seconds. From brain freezing temperature to extremely humid conditions, they can survive everywhere.
3. AFRICAN ELEPHANT
Of course, size matters when it comes to toughness and that is just why the African Elephant is this high on the list. No living land animal is larger than this beast which stands over 13 feet tall and can weigh up to 15,000 pounds. One of the heaviest animals in the world, they can knock down trees at ease and they chow down more than 500 pounds of leaves and branches… in a day! With only the help of its trunk, it can carry up to 700 pounds! If all the animals were put together in a small, cramped area, this massive giant would probably come out on top. It is one of the longest living animals.
4. CAPE BUFFALO
This is one of the few buffalo species which is not domesticated and there is a good reason behind this. Cape buffalo also famously known as ‘Black death’ is an extremely dangerous and unpredictable animal and it is responsible for the death of almost 200 humans per year in Africa. If hurt or maimed during a battle, a cape buffalo will move towards and confront the enemy rather than be backing off. These are resilient and tough animals and are known to kill lions and even lion cubs mercilessly.
5. SALTWATER CROCODILE
These are aquatic animals but they spend quite a bit of time on land. One of the apex predators in the world, saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile in the world and it’s broadly distributed all over the globe. You cannot question the toughness of this apex predator. Measuring 7-9 feet in length and weighing around 2,500 pounds, its one bite in enough to break and crush a cow’s skull! There have not been many cases of this crocodile attacking humans but if they do, there is definitely zero chance of survival. They are known to have one of the most powerful bites in the whole animal kingdom and can generate a force of up to 7,500 pounds per square inch.
6. HIPPOPOTAMUS
This mighty beast ranks this high because of its robust attributes. It has a tough outer skin with a thickness of around 30mm. These are huge and unpredictable creatures and they account for the most human kills in Africa. They are not always aggressive and angry but if disturbed or provoked, they can be both. One of the fierce animals in the world have 20-inch strong-as-nail teeth which can bury deep into its prey and almost paralyze it. They wreak havoc on their victims and definitely will not spare them. It is listed as one of the most dangerous animals in the world.
7. KOMODO DRAGON
Komodo dragon gets its name because it is the closest reptile you will see resembling a dragon. Being the largest lizard in the world, it is gigantic, measuring 8 to 9 feet and weighing around 250 pounds. Komodo Dragons have a history of killing a number of humans. Its mouth is rife with bacteriaso its bite is septic and this disarms its victim in a way. They eat almost 80 percent of its own body weight in one meal.
8. TASMANIAN DEVIL
This is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world and it is found only in the Australian island of Tasmania. One of the most aggressive animals has the strongest bite on the Earth when adjusted for size, as it weighs only about 220 pounds but can exert pressure up to 100 pounds! This force is enough to even crush a bone with a single bite and according to National Geographic, the Looney Toons character inspired by the Tasmanian Devil is not much of an exaggeration.
9. SNOW LEOPARD
Snow leopards (aka Panthera Uncia) are found in the high, rocky mountains of Central and Southeast Asia. They are very adapted to the rough conditions where they are located. These leopards are primarily known for their gorgeous fur and they have large paws which almost look like snowshoes. They have powerful, mighty legs and can jump as far as 50 feet. It is one of the toughest animals in the world. It is one of the most beautiful Indian animals in the world.
10. DUNG BEETLE
Do not disregard dung beetle because of its size, because the case here is simple: the dung beetle is the mightiest animal in the world compared to its body weight. Dung beetles can be found all over the world (apart from Antarctica) and they push fresh animal poop that weigh over 250 times their own bodyweight. A particular species called Taurus Scarab was documented pushing a ball that was 1,141 times to its own body weight. In simple terms, that is equivalent to an average human of 150 pounds pushing a weight of around 80 tons!
