What is a Lion's Bite Force?

The bite force of an adult African Lion is approximately 650 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch).

• While a 650 PSI bite is violently strong enough to easily crush a human skull, it is relatively weak for a massive apex predator.

If we look at the heavyweights of the wild, the lion is not the champion of biting:

• Jaguar: ~1,500 PSI (The absolute strongest bite among cats. They hunt by biting straight through turtle shells and crocodile skulls).
• Tiger: ~1,050 PSI (Significantly stronger than a lion).
• Hyena: ~1,100 PSI (Hyenas need massive jaw pressure to crush heavy elephant bones to eat the marrow).

Lions do not need a 1,500 PSI bite because of their unique hunting style.

• Jaguars and tigers are solitary hunters that need maximum power to kill instantly.
• Lions hunt as a massive Pride (team work). They use their combined body weight to drag a heavy buffalo to the ground. Then, the lion simply clamps its jaws securely over the victim's throat (windpipe) to suffocate it. Suffocation requires endurance and a secure grip, not bone-crushing pressure.