Did you know? Megalodon had the most powerful bite of any creature that ever lived.
In 2008, the University of New South Wales in Australia conducted a research experiment, utilizing computerized simulations and models to scientifically determine Megalodon’s biting power. The results were…shall we say – terrifying!
The team discovered that Megalodon could crush its prey with a bite force of an estimated 20,000 – 40,000 pounds (10.8 to 18.2 tons)! Compare that to the chomps of a Great White shark, which can bite with a force of up to 1.8 tons – basically 4,000 pounds. Or a lion, which has a bite force of only 600 pounds or so.
Megalodon’s jaw force is enough to crush the skull of a prehistoric whale as easily as you or I could eat a grape!
In fact, Megalodon has the strongest bite force of any animal including the T-Rex and other dinosaurs. The estimated bite force of the Tyrannosaurus rex is just shy of 7,000 pounds. Yikes!