Number 8 Great White Shark vs Orca For a long time, great white sharks were believed
to be the most dominant predators in the ocean. However, recent evidence has revealed that
orcas are particularly skilled at hunting great whites. These highly intelligent creatures
will generally target the fish’s liver, which they’ll remove and consume with surgical
accuracy. Aside from bashing and biting the great white, another orca killing technique
involves holding the predatory fish upside down until it suffocates. While it doesn’t
possess the great white’s serrated teeth and overall ferocity, the orca owns an extremely
powerful bite to match its physical strength. It’s also considerably larger than the great
white and known for cooperative hunting. A pod of orcas may even take on a blue whale,
the largest animal in existence, and they’re the only creatures known to do so. When a
pod of orcas starts hunting in an overlapping region, the solitary great whites will usually
seek out other feeding areas. Number 7 Jaguar vs Black Caiman
Large crocodilians tend to dominate the food chain wherever they’re found, with virtually
no challengers. The black caiman is the largest apex predator in the freshwater environments
of South America and it can claim most animals in its range. The robustly-built crocodilian
lies in wait at the edge of water and swiftly delivers a devastating bite to its victim,
which is then dragged below the surface. Still, even such an imposing force of nature can
become prey under the right circumstances. The jaguar, while generally smaller than the
black caiman which can reach over 1,000 pounds, is an apex predator in its own right. This
feline is extremely athletic and, pound per pound, owns the strongest bite of all big
cats. While the black caiman is hard to overcome in water, the jaguar has the advantage of
attacking from above. An exceptional climber, the big cat can ambush the caiman by jumping
from trees with its paws outstretched. It will use its strong forelimbs to grapple the
caiman while sinking its teeth into the crocodilian’s vital regions. There’s even been a report
of a large male jaguar prevailing against a 12-foot-long black caiman. Still, creatures
larger than that will generally overcome a jaguar.
Number 6 African Lion vs Spotted Hyena While the lion does compete with leopards,
cheetahs or African dogs, the spotted hyena is arguably its greatest natural foe. The
two beasts will roam the same territories, go after similar prey, steal each other’s
kills and kill each other’s young. They’re known to act aggressively towards each other
even when there’s no food at stake. In single combat, the lion’s superior strength, size
and athleticism mean it will emerge victorious. Still, it’s worth mentioning that the spotted
hyena has one of the most powerfully-built skulls in the animal kingdom and delivers
a more forceful bite. Some studies on its intelligence have concluded that, when it
comes to problem-solving, it outperforms chimpanzees. That being said, if a lion clamps down on
the hyena’s neck once, the fight is over. A single male can scare off an entire hyena
clan. Both the spotted hyena and Africa’s largest feline are pack hunters and tend to
fight each other as such. Baring the intervention of a male lion, a spotted hyena clan will
generally prevail against the lionesses if they outnumber them 4 to 1.
Number 5 American Bison vs Grizzly Bear The grizzly bear is the king of its North
American range, with few natural adversaries with the exception of the grey wolf. However,
that’s exclusively due to the latter’s pack behavior as, individually, a wolf is
no match for a grizzly. With all physical attributes maxed out, one creature, however,
is capable of crushing the bear. The American bison is basically a living snow plow. Its
gigantic horned head is anchored by an enormous muscular hump. While bears might target bison
herds to isolate calves or the old and sick, they’ll almost never go up against a full
grown bull. Unusually heavy grizzlies might reach 1,500 pounds but an exceptional bison
bull is nearly twice as heavy as that. It will also know from an early age how to use
its curved horns in a fight. The creature is also surprisingly nimble for its massive
built. The bison can pivot quickly and sustain a run at 40 miles per hour. To make a successful
kill, it will charge the grizzly with its skull, gore the beast with its horns and likely
trample what’s left of the body. As with all fights, there are plenty of variables
and the grizzly may still flank the bison and deliver a fatal neck bite. Still, as the
largest land animal in North America, the bison is likely to be given a wide berth.
Number 4 Amur Tiger vs Brown Bear Brown bears are built for power, own massive
claws, a bone breaking bite and a highly-developed sense of smell. They rarely back down from
a confrontation, not that they have many natural predators. That being said, in the Siberian
wilderness, the Amur tiger is known to actively pursue brown bears. It’s a clash of two
apex predators that historically has favored the tiger. A natural reserve in Russia’s
Far East has observed 44 direct confrontations, 22 in which the tiger prevailed and 12 in
which brown bears emerged victorious. While the brown bear is larger and arguably stronger,
the Amur tiger has an edge because it can ambush from an overhead position. The attack
unfolds with the feline grabbing the bear’s throat with one forepaw and its chin with
the other. The Amur tiger then makes the kill by forcefully biting through the bear’s
spinal column. Number 3 Hippo vs Nile Crocodile
In terms of apex status, the Nile crocodile has no challengers on the African continent.
These patient killers will stalk for hours, days or even weeks at the right spot, waiting
for the perfect moments to strike. The grip of a Nile croc’s jaws is nearly impossible
to loosen as the beast can apply elevated levels of force for extended periods of time.
They’re even known to prey on the continent’s large felines, although they generally have
a relationship of mutual avoidance with the big cats, since they prefer less agile victims.
Exceptional croc specimens will attacks giraffes, black rhinos or even young elephants. A solitary
hunter, the Nile crocodile is the only creature known to take on adult Cape buffaloes on its
own. In spite of its predatory prowess, there is one animal that the Nile crocodiles will
usually stay away from, even though they swim the same waters. The hippopotamus is one of
the most aggressive and powerful creatures in the animal kingdom. Despite being a herbivore,
it owns massive canines and incisors used exclusively for combat. The hippo can open
its mouth at almost 180 degrees and clamp down with a crushing 1,850 PSI. There have
been reports of very large hippo bulls biting crocodiles in half. With superior size, strength
and the added support of its group, the hippo is among the very few creatures that the Nile
crocodile will avoid. Todays topic was inspired by Kristopher Niles.
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Number 2 Walrus vs Polar Bear As both the largest bear species and the largest
land carnivore, Ursus maritimus is one of nature’s best-designed killing machines.
The polar bear is characterized by the same deadly attributes as other bears on our list,
with some terrifying additions. It’s a prolific swimmer as one bear was recorded swimming
continuously for 9 days in the frigid Bering Sea. Its killer instincts are refined, since
it feeds exclusively on meat, unlike the omnivorous diet of other bear species. The polar bear’s
canines are longer and sharper than a brown bear’s while its stocky claws provide excellent
grip on the ice. Even though this animal is a superb apex predator, one creature will
more than hold its own when confronted by a polar bear. The walrus’s body is defined
by rippling muscles while its saber like ivory tusks can grow to be over 3ft long, which
is considerably longer than a samurai’s katana. The walrus is at least twice as heavy
as the average polar bear and also possesses extremely thick skin. Large males are basically
invulnerable to polar bear attacks and the tusks are used as formidable weapons. An adult
walrus will even successfully defend itself against an orca, which is why the killer whales
will usually only go after walrus calves. Most often, the bear will charge a group of
walruses in hopes of separating a young one from the pod since battles with adults are
exhausting and rarely end in the bear’s favor.
Number 1 Lion vs Tiger The question of who would win in a fight between
a lion and a tiger has been haunting humanity ever since we became aware of both species’
existence. In the colosseums of Ancient Rome, battles between these beasts were common and
the tiger usually prevailed. If individual creatures were to be confronted in single
combat, at their absolute maximum recorded weights, the Amur tiger still has about 200
pounds over the Barbary lion, believed to be the largest of its kind. These are pounds
of explosive muscle which the tiger will use to its advantage, since it tends to be more
flexible, as evident from its superior swimming skills. In males of similar size, science
gives the edge in bite force to the tiger. This feline has longer canines and bites with
slightly over 1,000 PSI while the lion bites at about 600 PSI. Still, the lion’s mane
offers redoubtable protection so the attacks have a harder time getting through. An Amur
tiger’s coat is also considerably thick and its body is insulated with fat, since
it needs to survive a harsh and cold climate. The tiger’s paw swipes are more dexterous
since they can strike with both forepaws up, while the lion would usually keep three limbs
down when swiping. Perhaps the real distancing factor is killer instinct. As a solitary hunter,
the tiger is simply more vicious, doesn’t play fight and goes directly for the kill.
Yet, even with all these aspects taken into consideration, there are extensive variables
that make a clear cut victor difficult to determine.
Thanks for watching! Who do you think would win in a fight between a polar bear and a
silverback gorilla? Let us know in the comments section below!