When contemplating the strongest creatures on Earth, our minds often picture massive mammals, yet the reality of biological strength is far more surprising. The true powerhouses of the animal kingdom are often the smallest organisms, whose size grants them a mechanical advantage. To accurately determine the strongest animal, a different kind of measurement is needed: relative strength. This metric accounts for the relationship between power and body mass, revealing that the undisputed champions are not giants, but tiny arthropods.
Defining Relative Strength
Relative strength is the metric used to compare the strength of animals across different sizes. It is calculated by determining the amount of force an animal can generate—such as the weight it can lift, push, or pull—relative to its own body weight. This calculation allows for a standardized comparison between a microscopic insect and a massive elephant.
When an animal’s weight is factored in, the comparison shifts dramatically from brute force to mechanical efficiency and muscle-to-mass ratio. For example, a human may lift a barbell slightly more than their own body weight (a ratio just over 1:1). In contrast, a small beetle might lift an object 50 times its weight, demonstrating superior relative strength. This metric defines the “pound-for-pound” champion, highlighting how smaller size is a physical asset.
The Top Contenders
The title of the strongest animal is contested among arthropods, with the current record holders being incredibly small. The male dung beetle, Onthophagus taurus, is recognized for its phenomenal pulling power. Studies have documented this insect moving objects equivalent to 1,141 times its own body mass, a feat it uses primarily for competitive battles over mating tunnels. This force is comparable to an average person pulling six fully loaded double-decker buses.
Another contender is the oribatid mite, Archegozetes longisetosus. This tiny arachnid, less than a millimeter long, has been recorded generating a holding force up to 1,180 times its body weight when adhering to a rough surface. While the beetle’s strength is active pulling power and the mite’s is static holding force, both demonstrate unparalleled relative muscular performance. Other champions include the rhinoceros beetle, which can lift approximately 850 times its weight, and the leafcutter ant, which manages around 50 times its body mass.
The Role of Scaling in Animal Strength
The reason smaller animals dominate relative strength charts is explained by the square-cube law. This principle dictates that as an object increases in size, its volume (mass) grows much faster than its surface area. In biology, muscle strength is proportional to the cross-sectional area of the muscle fibers, which scales as the square of the animal’s length. Conversely, the animal’s mass scales as the cube of its length.
As an animal shrinks, its strength-to-weight ratio improves dramatically because its mass decreases far more quickly than the power of its muscles. This geometric reality means a small insect has a large amount of muscle area relative to its body weight. Furthermore, the insect’s exoskeleton provides a structural benefit by offering a wide surface area for muscle attachment. This external skeleton creates a superior leverage system, maximizing the force output of its small muscle groups, an advantage larger animals with internal skeletons do not share.
Relative Versus Absolute Strength
When discussing animal power, it is important to distinguish relative strength from absolute strength. Absolute strength refers to the total amount of force an animal can generate, regardless of its body weight. This is the metric where the giants of the animal kingdom excel, using sheer size and muscle mass to move immense loads.
The African bush elephant, for instance, is considered the strongest animal in absolute terms, capable of lifting objects weighing up to 6,000 kilograms. However, the elephant’s massive weight works against its relative strength, limiting its power-to-mass ratio. In contrast, the dung beetle’s ability to pull 1,141 times its weight demonstrates why relative strength is the metric that crowns the pound-for-pound champion. The elephant is the strongest in total force, but the insect is the most efficient for its size.