What Is the Bite Pressure of an Alligator?
The bite pressure of alligators is slightly different depending on the specific species, but saltwater crocodiles have the strongest bites. Their jaws generate up to 3,700 pounds per square inch, or 16,460 newtons, of bite pressure at a time. The bite force generated by crocodiles is quite significant, and is comparable to the bite force produced by historic predators, such as the T. rex.
In the United States, the American alligator has one of the most powerful bites among all crocodile species in the country. These creatures exude a tremendous amount of power with each snap of their jaws, which is enough to instantly kill their prey. The bite strength of alligators exceeds the power of bites produced by humans and many other animals. Humans, in comparison to alligators, produce approximately 890 newtons of bite force, or 150 to 200 psi, when biting into meat, such as chicken, steak or pork. Carnivorous land mammals, such as lions, tigers and hyenas, produce approximately 1,000 psi when they close their jaws on prey, which translates to around 4,450 newtons. The bite pressure generated by alligators varies slightly depending on the species as well as gender (males have stronger bites) and size of the animal (the largest animals have more powerful bites).
