15 Most Powerful African Animals in the World

we know that some animals are naturally strong born to hunt chase and [Music] if necessary kill these characters show phenomenal strength in a fist fight most could easily overpower a human others could cause significant harm these guys are not only feared they are admired from the largest primate on the planet to an animal considered to be part of the big five here are 15 most powerful african animals in the world number 15 silverback gorillas if the guinness book of world records is to be believed a silverback gorilla can not only lift up to 815 kilograms of dead weight it can also tear down large banana trees just to get the fruit sounds a little extreme doesn't it imagine being that hungry or still you would think an animal this large would be a huge meat eater but you'd be wrong although they're nine times stronger than your average male human the silverback predominantly eats plants can you imagine the largest primate on earth sitting down to a generous helping of salad or a big bowl of steamed greens i can't the fact that this hefty beast is pretty much vegetarian is mind-boggling there must be some serious nutrition in plants easily among the 10 strongest animals in the world relative to their size and weight the silverback shares a whopping 98 of its dna with humans they have both hands and feet can walk upright and their level of intelligence is highly comparable to ours it's no wonder they capture our interests the way they do i just can't imagine a human thundering through the forest ripping out plants left right and center just to fill their stomachs that i think can be a task left solely for the gorilla don't you think before we go on like this video smash the subscribe button and click the notification bell right now or this centipede will crawl on your face when you're sleeping [Music] number 14 african cape buffalo now we've all heard the old adage a memory like an elephant well it would seem the buffalo has a similar trait apparently these large bovines don't forgive in fact if you ever mess with one you should be very afraid as they won't stop until they find you and as we know payback isn't always nice back in the bygone era the buffalo was part of the big five a group that was considered the most dangerous animals to hunt in africa and contained leopards rhinos elephants and lions during that time the buffalo is believed to have killed more humans than any other animal it comes as no surprise that when wounded they become aggressive and angry and who could blame them i mean these hunters are on their turf not the other way around grumpy and unpredictable they can run up to 37 miles per hour and do a lot of damage with their horns they are very robust weighing anywhere up to 1 000 kilograms and will charge and trample anything standing in the way hunting websites have labeled them as black death because of their dangerous personality but unfortunately for the buffalo this makes them all the more prized by hunters determined to win the battle between man and beast number 13. the spotted hyena it's often said that you shouldn't let the facts get in the way of a good story and the same can be said when it comes to the spotted hyenas feeding habits many had them pegged as just a scavenger a weak-willed funny-looking character that just swooped in to clean up the leftovers but apparently this information isn't quite as accurate as once thought experts now believe that the spotted hyena is actually one of southern africa's most successful carnivores and an efficient powerful predator their sloping features ungainly walk and high-pitched squeal have given them a reputation it no longer deserves these formidable hunters pursue their prey in clans running at an average of 60 kilometers per hour for up to three kilometers once considered to be part of the dog family the hyena is now believed to be more cat-like with certain traits confirming the possibility they groom themselves often and scentmark their territory the spotted hyena is also a lot larger than you might think they are one of the largest carnivores in africa second only to the african lion they also have amazing bone-crushing teeth that can pulverize entire skeletons including that of the wildebeest the female is the larger and more dominant of the two sexes she is also more muscular and definitely more aggressive with the highest ranking male generally bowing down to even the lowest ranking female that must make for a very interesting social group structure number 12 the leopard an opportunistic hunter the leopard was built with strength and speed in mind it can run up to 58 kilometers an hour and is so strong it can haul its kills up into a tree these wild cats drag the bodies of large animals into the branches hoping to keep them away from prying eyes and mouths imagine spending your whole afternoon chasing catching and killing your dinner only to have it snatched by a hyena it's understandable that the leopard doesn't want to take any chances from their lofty position in the tree they can also hunt their spotted coat is camouflaged amongst the leaves and is able to spy on unsuspecting prey preparing itself to spring from the tree and pounce a nocturnal predator the leopard will also stalk antelope deer and pigs under the cover of long grass they are also strong swimmers so there aren't many animals that are safe from the watchful gaze of a leopard even fish and crabs are on the menu it's easy to imagine them licking their lips when they catch a glimpse of what essentially will be their next meal number 11 the african rhinoceros if the giant spike on their head isn't a dead giveaway i'm unsure what else could convince you to steer clear of these massive beasts solidly built and with the ability to wreak havoc if prompted the african rhino is pretty intimidating there are two species the black rhino and the white rhino the white rhino was once teetering on the brink of extinction but numbers of both it and the black rhino have increased in recent years thanks to successful conservation efforts particularly in south africa both species remain at risk due to the increasing demand for illegal rhino horn this is a huge problem in asia and many more countries are stepping up their efforts to save rhinos from being killed all in the name of keratin the horns are made up from the same types of protein that makes up hair and fingernails and people believe when ground up and eaten the dust from the horn has therapeutic properties it is therefore very valuable poachers will do whatever it takes to secure these horns even if it means putting their lives in danger and when you're dealing with an animal that has a body mass reaching or exceeding a ton things can get pretty hairy but hey the poachers deserve what they get don't you think number 10. the african lion african lions populate sub-saharan africa preferring to live on grassy plains and savannas rather than dense forests the largest member of the cat family and considered the kings of the jungle these ferocious felines are both strong and deadly considered the apex predator the lion is one of the most widely recognized animal symbols in human culture it features extensively throughout the globe in sculpture and paintings on national flags and in contemporary films and bugs ruthless yet majestic the african lion is deeply admired but usually from afar and it's no wonder when an adult male can weigh over 400 pounds they're not short either measuring four feet tall at the shoulder lions are also social animals so if you find one there is likely to be several more just waiting to pounce they are known to travel in packs called prides this helps protect the older and younger members of the family from predators effectively nocturnal the lion spends most of its life resting lucky thing on average these wild cats walk for two hours a day and eat for just 50 minutes their life sounds almost idyllic if you don't consider the fact they have to hunt for their food that part wouldn't be so great number nine african crowned eagle africa's most powerful eagle the crowned eagle might be strong but it's not nearly as large as the marshall eagle although officially the marshall eagle measures up to 96 centimeters in length as opposed to the crowned eagle's 99 centimeters it is the crowned eagle's longer tail that tips the balance when it comes to wingspan however the marshall eagles is considerably bigger measuring between six feet and over seven feet the crowned eagle's wingspan typically ranges from four feet eleven inches to five feet 11 inches they have a lifespan of approximately 14 years and mainly inhabit the trees and skies of sub-saharan africa in southern africa described as a large bird of prey the crowned eagle often prey on mammals such as bushback they are also known to search out small to medium-sized antelope certain breeds of rabbit and even monkeys they very rarely kill and feed on birds and large lizards for a bird that has an average body mass of just 3.64 kilograms this is quite an impressive haul given some of these animals weigh up to 30 kilograms a ferocious winged giant the eagle has unusually large talons and strong legs and may kill by crushing the skull of its victim number 8 baboons although preyed upon by leopards baboons are known to be very aggressive and can launch a vicious counter-attack when they feel threatened using their strong canines they have the ability to literally tear another animal apart and won't back down without a fight they've even clashed with humans on occasion raiding houses and storerooms like monkeys baboons are primates and vary in size and weight depending on their species the smallest the kind of baboon measures approximately 50 centimeters in length and weighs just 14 kilograms the larger of the species the chakma can reach heights of up to 120 centimeters and weigh 40 kilograms the weight of an average teenager they have long dog-like muzzles heavy powerful jaws with sharp canine teeth and thick fur except for on their muzzles tails and bottoms the lack of hair on their buttocks is further enhanced by the color the area can turn red making them some of the most identifiable monkeys in the world these old world monkeys are only found in africa and arabia they have generous tufts of hair on either side of their faces but don't have prehensile tails like some other monkeys this means they're unable to use their tail like a hand and can't grasp or hold objects with it baboons spend a lot of their time on the ground but will retreat to a tree to sleep eat or keep watch number 7 black mamba a species of large extremely venomous snake the black mamba is native to parts of sub-saharan africa it is also the second longest venomous snake on the planet generally measuring over three meters not only that but this slippery character is highly aggressive and extremely fast what a combination these snakes can reach speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour usain bolt's record-breaking 100 meter dash was 27.8 miles per hour so that'll give you some idea of the speed of this thing us mere mortals wouldn't stand a chance the black mamba is to blame for numerous human deaths with an attack triggering a fast onset of life-threatening symptoms including asphyxiation and cardiovascular collapse if left untreated the fatality rate is particularly sobering so much so that the black mamba is now widely considered the world's deadliest snake its venom is so toxic that one bite contains enough toxins to kill 10 people and don't be fooled by its color either that's yet another sneaky trap the black mamba isn't black instead they range from an olive green shade to gray the inside of their mouths however are a blue black color but that's a sight you only see when you're threatened and trust me by then it's probably too late for you unless of course you're usain bolt number six the great white shark the ultimate predator of the sea this huge shark was made famous on the big screen back in 1975 when we were introduced to jaws as the villain of the series the real-life version of the shark gained a reputation for being a vicious predator a reputation it may not entirely deserve experts believe they're simply misunderstood particularly when it comes to attacks on humans they're not actually a mindless killing machine but they do tend to attack first and ask questions later they often attack their prey from below and their mere size speed and weight means that whatever they grab hold of has almost no hope of surviving the impact a lineup of 300 triangular serrated teeth also doesn't help sitting at the top of many people's most feared creatures list the great white shark can grow to an average of four and a half meters in length but there have been some monsters found that are much longer than that it spends its days and nights trawling the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans and are capable of swimming at speeds of over 56 kilometers per hour so if you think you can outswim one of these guys you might like to think again number five the nile crocodile with a bite that can exert a force eight times more powerful than our ocean dwelling friend the great white the nile crocodile is extremely dangerous they have the strongest bite in the animal kingdom using powerful muscles to close their jaws down and around their prey their highly visible and razor-sharp teeth are also a valuable asset to these giant predators once locked inside their jaws resistance is futile and unfortunately for the trapped death is almost always inevitable these formidable semi-aquatic reptiles can snap bones like twigs they live in the tropics of africa asia the americas and australia and shouldn't be argued with under any circumstances in fact if you come face to face with one you best be prepared because it might be the last thing you ever see an adult nile crocodile can measure up to 5 meters long and weigh anywhere up to 750 kilograms so they're not exactly small they are also very aggressive and are capable of snatching almost any animal within their size range they are ambush predators and show plenty of patience with their kills happily waiting hours days or even weeks to be rewarded with a hearty meal i'm not sure i could wait that long could you let me go check the pizza in the oven number four the african elephant the largest animal on earth and also the biggest eater the african elephant consumes as much as 600 pounds of food in a single day but it's hardly surprising given that they've got a pretty big body to fill their tusks alone can weigh up to 45 kilograms and their teeth five kilograms apiece slightly larger than their asian cousins the african elephant female can weigh almost seven thousand pounds and the male over thirteen thousand they are easily identified by their ears that look like the continent of africa asian elephant ears are smaller and rounder in comparison giant eating machines african elephants play a key role in their ecosystem they are capable of shaping their own habitat by using their tusks to dig up riverbeds and create watering holes other animals can drink from by feasting on trees and shrubs in the forest elephants are also able to create pathways for smaller animals to move through in the savannah they uproot trees and eat saplings opening up the landscape for zebras and other animals to thrive their dung is also full of seeds these seeds not only help with spreading plants across their environment they also make a pretty awesome habitat for dung beetles too number three the hippopotamus river horse as we know looks can often be deceiving and none more so than this semi-aquatic mammal they might appear docile and friendly while bathing in water but the hippo has a bit of a jekyll and hyde personality one minute they're happily wallowing in their natural habitat the next they're ready to crush any potential predator that gets too close when you consider the average hippo weighs around 3 000 kilograms and is armed with the most powerful jaws of any mammal you need to be extra careful they can totally flatten anything in their path in fact there are actually more people killed each year by charging hippos than there are by shark attacks easily recognized by their large barrel shaped body short legs and enormous head these mammals are considered the second largest land animal on the planet native to sub-saharan africa the hippo is mainly an herbivore mostly eating the grass surrounding its habitat in fact in just one night they can chow down on up to 35 kilograms of this stuff they are often found in rivers lakes and mangrove swamps where terrestrial males preside over groups of up to 30 females and young hippos they warn rivals that they mean business by opening their mouths and displaying their huge teeth number two rhino beetle a large recurving horn sitting on the front of their head makes these beetles look very much like a rhino but one significantly smaller than its namesake that doesn't mean they're not as tough though in fact if you take into account their power to weight ratio these guys have the four-legged variety beat easy according to the guinness book of world records ounce for ounce the rhinoceros beetle is the world's strongest animal it can support 850 times its own body weight i don't know about you but i would seriously struggle to lift my own weight and that's just singularly the thought of multiplying that by 850 is utterly mind-boggling and these characters are tiny the rhino beetle is among the largest of beetles in the world and is a well-known site in gardens and on farms throughout south africa including the western cape although they are more than capable of doing the heavy lifting in reality these beetles don't actually carry heavy loads they do however engage in regularly strenuous activity plowing through forest litter to find food and lock horns with their rivals number one honey badger a close relative to the wolverine it's no surprise that the honey badger has been labeled one of africa's most ferocious animals they're not very big but what they lack in stature they more than make up for in aggression attacking lions and buffalo and threatened and don't ever make the mistake of creeping up on one surprise attacks are treated with scorn and they come out fighting these little guys aren't scared of much but they do have poor eyesight if they have their noses in the ground and are completely oblivious to their surroundings you can imagine the fright they might get when an intruder creeps up on him whether or not the intruder is friend or foe the honey badger's first line of defense is to release a potent scent from its anal glands if that doesn't send predators running their aggressive stance will they stand at attention with their hackles raised and will viciously bite the attacker if they don't make a hasty retreat they have a powerful bite and feed on a variety of foods including eggs fruit honey reptiles insects larvae grubs along with the occasional antelope calf cheetah cub or eagle check some of the most powerful animals on the planet live in africa a mix of water dwellers and land lovers these animals are not to be messed with under any circumstances whether you're taking a quick dip in the ocean or participating in an african safari it might pay to keep your wits about you also check out our other cool stuff showing up on screen right now see you next time you

Channel: The Finest

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Keywords: african wildlife, african animals, wild animals, nature documentary, african predators, africa wildlife, wildlife predators, wildlife documentary, big cats, most dangerous, most, dangerous, animals, africa, most dangerous animals in africa, animals in africa, creatures, crocodile, elephant, strong animals, powerful, strength, bite, biggest animals, abnormally strong animals, rino, gorilla, new, strongest animals, most powerful animals, extreme animals, most dangerous animal

Id: J3PwxecC7RA

Length: 22min 27sec (1347 seconds)

Published: Fri Sep 11 2020