When it comes to the strongest bite force of big cats, the jaguar and tiger are top contenders. These two apex predators have incredibly powerful jaws and teeth that allow them to take down large prey and defend themselves in the wild. But between the jaguar and tiger, which species has the most bone-crushing bite?
The Bite Force of Jaguars
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the largest cat native to the Americas. Jaguars are muscular, stalk-and-ambush predators that can take down prey significantly larger than themselves, including deer, peccaries, capybara, and cattle. To make killing bites on such large prey, jaguars have incredibly strong jaws.
Scientists have measured the bite force of jaguars in several research studies. Results show that jaguars have a bite force quotient (BFQ) – a measurement of bite force adjusted for the animal’s body size – of 142.
One study that directly measured the bite force of several big cat species found that jaguars have a bite force of 1,350 pounds per square inch (PSI). Another study of cranial dimensions estimated the bite force of jaguars at 1,500 PSI.
These studies indicate that pound-for-pound, jaguars have the strongest bite force of any big cat – and likely the strongest of any mammal.
How Jaguars Generate Such Powerful Bites
There are several key anatomical adaptations that give jaguars such destructive biting abilities:
- Powerful jaw muscles – Jaguars have massive temporalis and masseter muscles that allow them to close their jaws with tremendous force.
- Short, sturdy jaws – Unlike other big cats, jaguars have short, compact jaws with a short mandible. This increases the leverage and pressure their muscular bites can apply.
- Large canines – A jaguar’s four canine teeth are very thick, pointed, and blade-like. Their shape allows them to pierce deeply into prey.
In addition to having the strongest bite relative to their size, jaguars also have one of the strongest bites compared to other predators in absolute terms. Their bite force exceeds that of lions, tigers, and even giant crocodiles.
Tiger Bite Force
While the jaguar takes the prize for strongest bite relative to body size, the tiger (Panthera tigris) has the overall strongest bite force of any big cat. And it’s not even close.
The tiger is significantly larger than the jaguar, weighing up to 660 pounds compared to just 250 pounds for the jaguar. So while the PSI of their bites may be similar, the total force a tiger can produce with its huge jaws is astounding.
In one study, the bite force of tigers was measured directly at over 1,000 PSI. Another study of skull measurements estimated tiger bite force at approximately 1,050 PSI.
Compared to jaguars which are estimated to bite at 1,350-1,500 PSI, the tiger’s bite seems on par. But when you account for the fact that tigers weigh almost 3 times as much as jaguars, the total force they can bite with far exceeds a jaguar’s.
Key Traits Producing the Tiger Bite
Here are some of the key reasons tigers can generate such forceful bites:
- Huge jaw muscles – A tiger’s temporalis and masseter jaw muscles are absolutely massive, enabling incredibly powerful jaw closure.
- Larger jaws – A tiger’s jaws are much longer than a jaguar’s, providing greater leverage for their muscle force.
- Long canines – A tiger’s 2.5-3 inch dagger-like canines are longer than a jaguar’s, concentrating force on a smaller point.
The tiger has evolved to take down prey significantly larger than itself, including buffalo, deer species like sambar, and endangered rhinos. Their bite is strong enough to crush the vertebrae of these large animals.
Bite Force Comparison
While jaguars and tigers have similarly strong bites relative to their body sizes, the tiger has a much stronger total bite force. Here is a direct comparison:
| Cat Species | Average Weight | Bite Force PSI | Total Bite Force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguar | 250 lbs | 1,500 | 3,750 lbs |
| Tiger | 660 lbs | 1,050 | 6,930 lbs |
As this table illustrates, although the PSI bite forces are fairly close, the tiger has a much higher total bite force due to its significantly larger size.
The tiger’s bite force is over 1.5 times greater than the jaguar’s. This allows tigers to take down larger prey and exert more force when biting.
Strongest Mammalian Bites
Here is how the bite forces of jaguars and tigers compare to other powerful mammalian bites:
| Animal | Bite Force PSI |
|---|---|
| Nile Crocodile | 5,000 |
| Hippopotamus | 1,800 |
| Jaguar | 1,500 |
| Tiger | 1,050 |
| Lion | 650 |
| Leopard | 300-310 |
As this table shows, jaguars and tigers have the strongest feline bites, but reptiles like crocodiles and mammals like hippos have even greater bite forces.
Bite Uses and Hunting Styles
While both jaguars and tigers have powerful biting abilities, they use their jaws slightly differently when hunting prey due to differences in their habitat and common prey size.
Jaguar Biting Behavior
Jaguars often bite directly through the skulls of prey to instantly kill them with a crushing brain or spine injury. They will also bite the throat to suffocate prey. Due to their tendency to target smaller prey than tigers, jaguars rely more heavily on their strong bite relative to their size.
Tiger Biting Behavior
Tigers also dispatch prey with a targeted skull or spine bite. But when tackling very large prey like buffalo or rhinos, tigers will often attack from the side or back and bite wherever they can get a hold to bring the animal down. Their huge total bite force allows them to immobilize such large prey.
Different Hunting Styles
Jaguars are ambush hunters that spring from cover to attack their prey by surprise. So their bite is key for immediately killing prey before it can react or fight back. Tigers are stalk-and-attack hunters, so their bite is important for holding onto struggling large prey.
When Do Jaguars and Tigers Use Their Strong Bites?
Jaguars and tigers use their incredibly powerful bites for the following purposes:
Killing prey
- Biting the skull, spine, or throat of prey
- Crushing bones and vertebrae
- Piercing vital blood vessels
Defensive biting
- Biting threats that approach like other big cats, dogs, or humans
- Injuring potential threats to discourage attack
Biting during territorial fights
- Jaguars and tigers bite when defending territory from same-sex rivals
- Bites are meant to injure and intimidate the opponent
Carrying prey
- Jaguars and tigers use their jaws and teeth to grip and carry prey to a safe place for eating
- Powerful bites allow them to hang onto large, heavy carcasses
Comparison of Dentition
The types of teeth and overall dentition of jaguars and tigers also influence their bite force potential:
Jaguar Dentition
- 30 teeth total
- 16 on top, 14 on bottom
- 4 fang-like canines, 2 on top and bottom
- Short, thick canines compared to other big cats
- Carnassials adapted for shearing meat and tendon
Tiger Dentition
- 30 teeth total
- 16 on top, 14 on bottom
- Longest canines of any feline – up to 3 inches
- 4 canines are thin and blade-like
- Carassials like jaguars for slicing meat and sinew
While the overall dental formulas of jaguars and tigers are the same, some differences in canine shape and length impact their killing bites.
Conclusion
Both jaguars and tigers have extremely powerful bite forces compared to other carnivores. The jaguar has the strongest bite relative to its size, able to exert an astounding 1,500 PSI bite force. Tigers have a much larger absolute bite force at over 6,000 pounds due to their larger size. So while the jaguar wins out pound-for-pound, the tiger has the overall stronger bite.
These big cats rely on their incredible jaw strength and dentition to quickly kill prey, defend territories, and protect themselves. Their incredible bite abilities make jaguars and tigers two of the most efficient predators on land.