10 of the World’s Strongest Animals with Free Printables

Published:
August 24, 2020

Contributor:
Jeannette Tuionetoa

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

There is something about animals that is mystifying. Their strength is otherworldly, and we are in awe when we see it. These free printables and resources about the world’s strongest animals will help your kids learn all about these amazing animals and their strength.

Free Printables and Resources About the World\'s Strongest Animals

Animals Have Amazing Strength

What’s impressive is that the strength of an animal has more to do with the strength compared to their body weight than how strong the animal looks.

Everyone knows that a gorilla looks monstrously strong, yet without pointing it out, your kids may not see the strength of an ant. The ant holds a zillion (OK, maybe not a zillion) times its own weight.

It is fun to point this out to kids. Ask them to imagine for a moment if they could hold a zillion times their body weight. It puts the strength of ants into perspective.

The truth is that different animals have different types of strength. Some have brute strength, and others have immense power compared to their body weight. Brute strength is the ability to have great force, lift, drag, carry, or pull huge weights.

Some animals have this immense power compared to their size, and usually, those with tremendous power are really small.

When learning about the world’s strongest animals, don’t forget to ask them questions that make them think.

10 of World’s Strongest Animals

While there are so many creatures in the animal kingdom that are very strong, we found 10 we’d like to highlight here:

1. Dung Beetle

The Dung Beetle is considered the strongest creature on Earth. The males can lift 1,141 times heavier than their body weight. So basically, it’s like us (a human) trying to carrying 80 tons of something. That’s crazy.

A close up image of a dung beetle
Image by Harald Matern from Pixabay

The dung beetles use their horns to fight each other. And yes, there is a reason they are called “dung” beetles. There are three different types of dung beetles.

They are dwellers, rollers, and tunnelers. The rollers shape dung into balls and roll the balls back to where they live. The tunnelers dig a tunnel to store the dung. Finally, the dwellers used to live inside the dung piles.

Which is stronger? A ding beetle or an African Bush Elephant.

See, the African Bush Elephant may be one of the largest animals on Earth, yet a beetle is much stronger. When considering the strength-to-weight ratio, much smaller animals can be much stronger than the larger animals.

How to learn more About Dung Beetles

If you want to learn more about this unique insect then check out the following:

2. Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bears can lift over 1,102lbs/500kgs (0.8 times its body weight). They usually weigh between 400-800lbs, and they can stand up to about 10 feet in height.

A large brown bear walking across a grass covered field
Image by Orna Wachman from Pixabay

What is the scariest part of the Grizzly? OK, its height and height are also quite horrifying. Yet, their 2.4-inch claws are a sight I would rather never see.

How to Learn More About Grizzly Bears

If you want to learn more about these amazing bears then check out the following:

3. Anaconda

The green anaconda is the largest and most massive known snake in the entire world. They can grow over 30 feet in length and can weigh up to 507lbs.

A close up of a reptile
Image by Denis Doukhan from Pixabay

Are they scary? Umm, YES! They aren’t venomous, yet they coil their massive bodies around prey and squeeze it to death. They can squeeze large animals like wild pigs, caiman, even jaguars.

How to Learn More About Anacondas

Do your kids love snakes and want to learn more about these massive creatures? We recommend exploring the following resources to learn more or create your own unit study:

4. Elephant

African Bush Elephants are about 8 – 13 feet in height and can weigh up to 7 tons. They can lift to 9 tons, well over their body weight.

A large elephant walking outside
Image by Thorsten Messing from Pixabay

They are known for their amazingly long tusks, which can grow 2.5 meters and even weigh up to 45 kg. Their tusks are used for fighting other elephants, for digging, and to defend themselves from other animals.

How to Learn More about Elephants

Have your kids do a deeper study about elephants with these resources. We also recommend exploring the difference between the Asian and African elephants when you learn about these majestic beasts:

5. Musk Ox

Ever heard the saying “strong as an ox?” That is precisely what an ox is… like a mac truck. The oxen body weight length is anywhere between 2-2.3meters and can weigh up to 1,410lbs (640kgs). They also can carry up to 1,763lbs (800kgs).

A cow standing on top of a snow covered mountain
Image by Simon Steinberger from Pixabay

Oxen can carry this large amount of weight through extended periods, long distances, and rough terrain.

Musk Ox Resources and Printables

If you want to learn more about musk oxen then here are a few resources for your homeschool lessons:

6. Tiger

Tigers are the strongest and largest of all the cats in the world. Sadly, they are endangered, and even three sub-species are already extinct. The Siberian Tiger is the largest tiger ever and measures 8 feet (2.5 meters) long and around 661lbs (300 kg).

A close up of a tiger
Image by Pexels from Pixabay

How to Learn More About Tigers

Tigers are an animal your kids are sure to love learning more about. We recommend starting with these books and resources:

7. Eagle

Eagles can lift and fly with about four times its body weight. It can do this by the way if it’s size, wingspan, and powerful sharp-talon filled feet.

A close up of a bald eagle
Image by Steppinstars from Pixabay

And of course, the eagle is the national symbol of our great country, the United States of America.

How to Learn More About Eagles

If your homeschool student loves birds then be sure to take the time this school year to plan a unit study of eagles. Here are a few resources to get you started:

8. Gorilla

Gorillas are the most giant apes in the world. These apes can weigh up to 440lbs (200 kg) but can lift almost 4400 lbs (2000kgs), which is their bodyweight ten times.

A gorilla that is standing in front of a large rock
Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay

They can reach over 6 feet in length. Their arms alone can reach up to 8 feet (2.6 meters) Gorillas can carry up to 2 tons or ten times their own body weight. They are said to be 15 times stronger than the average human being.

How to Learn More About Gorillas

If apes ad monkeys are of interest to your children, then here are a few supplement options to add to a science curriculum:

9. Leafcutter Ant

OK, this leafcutter ant is only 2 centimeters long, yet it is the 3rd strongest insect in the world with the ability to lift and carry 50 times its own weight in its jaws for long distances.

a close up image of an ant
Photo by Ajmal K P on Unsplash

It is pretty amazing. Imagine pulling a truck with your teeth for over 9000 feet. I can’t even think about that without feeling tired.

How Can Kids Learn More about Leafcutter Ants?

We recommend starting with the following resources to build your own ant unit study:

10. Rhinoceros Beetle

A rhinoceros beetle can lift about 850 times its body weight. Here is some perspective. If an elephant were as strong as the rhinoceros beetle, it would carry 850 elephants on its back!

an image of a rhinoceros beetle
Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay

Rhinoceros Beetle Resources for Kids

Here are a few facts and resources for kids to start exploring this unique bug:

Animal Videos to Expand your Homeschool Learning

Do you like to add videos to your lessons? We do too! Here’s a couple of options to explore:

Travel the World Through Live Animal Cams text with image collage examples of different animals

Final Thoughts

Some amazingly strong animals lift many times their body weight, and others can haul thousands of pounds without batting an eye.

Take some time with your students this year to explore the most strong creatures on Earth. These free printables and resources about the world’s strongest animals on Earth will help.

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Jeannette Tuionetoa

Jeannette is a wife, mother and homeschooling mom. She has been mightily, saved by grace and is grateful for God’s sovereignty throughout her life’s journey. She has a Bachelor in English Education and her MBA. Jeannette is bi-lingual and currently lives in the Tongan Islands of the South Pacific. She posts daily freebies for homeschoolers!

read Jeannette’s posts on HSG

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