Top 10 Strongest Reptiles in the World (2023)

The diverse animal kingdom brings in organisms of various sizes. The class of the King Animalia, with the most visible physical dimorphism, is the class Reptilia. For the past few days, a question has kept surfacing, which is, which are the strongest reptiles in the world?

Therefore, as an answer to the question, we bring to you our today’s article, “Top 10 Strongest Reptiles in the world.” The ranking has been made based on the species body size and bite force.

Top 10 Strongest Reptiles in the World

10) Kingsnakes

Kingsnakes
Kingsnakes
Genus Lampropeltis
Size 1 to 1.5 m
Location southeastern Canada to southern Ecuador
Diet other snakes, rodents and other small mammals, lizards, frogs, salamanders, and birds

You might wonder why we have included Kingsnakes in our list, right? Well, the Kingsnakes have evolved into the world’s most powerful constrictors worldwide, capable of exerting pressures of nearly 180 mm of Hg.

Almost 26 species of Kingsnakes have been recorded that come in various sizes and colors. They feed on venomous and nonvenomous snakes and small mammals like mice.


9) King Cobra

King cobra
King cobra
Scientific Name Ophiophagus hannah
Size 3-5.4 m
Location northern India, east to southern China, including Hong Kong and Hainan
Diet other snakes

King Cobra is the world’s largest venomous snake, with an average length of 4-5 meters. Majorly found in South and Southeast Asia, the bite of the King Cobra can eliminate an adult human in 30 minutes.

They feed primarily on snakes, like the rat snake, Indian cobra, pit vipers, small pythons, banded wolf snakes, etc., and are apex predators.


8) Water Monitor Lizards

Water Monitor Lizard
Water Monitor Lizard
Scientific Name Varanus salvator
Size 2-3 m
Location South and Southeast Asia
Diet birds, eggs, small mammals, fish, lizards, frogs, snakes, juvenile crocodiles, and tortoises

The next animal on our list of Strongest Reptiles in the world is the Asian Monitor Lizard. With body lengths of nearly 2-3 meters, the Asian Monitor Lizards are the world’s second-largest and heaviest lizards, after the Komodo Dragon.

They are equipped with powerful jaws, claws, and teeth for both hunting and defense. Their diet ranges over a broad spectrum and consists of fish, amphibians, snakes, eggs, young hatchlings, other lizard’s eggs, chickens, etc.


7) Alligator Snapping Turtle

Alligator Snapping Turtle
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Scientific Name Macrochelys temminckii
Size 80-100 cm
Location the Gulf of Mexico
Diet fish and fish carcasses, mollusks, carrion, and amphibians

The vast, heavy head and three dorsal ridges of enormous scales (osteoderms) on the alligator snapping turtle give it a primitive appearance resembling some of the plated dinosaurs, most notably Ankylosaurus.

Adult Turtles reach weights of nearly 100 kg (220.4 lbs) or more and are one of the heaviest freshwater turtle species on the planet. Its powerful jaws, combined with its hard body beak, can bite and snap off its prey. T

hey are almost entirely carnivorous and feed on almost everything, from fishes to mollusks, frogs and other amphibians, snakes, squirrels, opossums, muskrats, and young alligators, etc.


6) Komodo Dragon

Komodo Dragon
Komodo Dragon
Scientific Name Varanus komodoensis
Size up to 3 m
Location Africa south of the Sahara, southeastern Asia, Australia, and on islands in the southwestern Pacific
Diet Wild boar, Sunda deer, water buffalo, large snakes, smaller Komodos

The next reptile on our list of Strongest Reptiles in the world is the Komodo Dragon. They are the apex predators in their ecosystem, growing up to maximum lengths of 3 meters and weighing nearly 80 kg (176.37 lbs).

Their saliva is venomous, and they cause massive lacerations on their prey, which eventually die of infections caused by the septic bacteria in the mouths of these lizards.

Komodo dragons are the apex predators in their ecosystem and feed on relatively large animals like the water buffalo, deer, pigs, goats, horses, and monkeys. They may also look out for birds, their eggs, and also eggs of other lizards.


5) Alligatoridae 

American Alligator
American Alligator
Family Alligatoridae
Size 3-4.5 m
Location
Diet small animals, fish, turtles and birds

Next up, we have the very close relatives of the Crocodiles, the Alligatoridae family. Consisting of two genera, the Alligator and the Caiman, they are equivalently dangerous and lethal as the crocodiles. We have two main species who deserve their place in this list of Strongest Reptiles in the world.

  • Black Caiman: The largest member of the Alligatoridae family, it’s a sizeable carnivorous reptile inhabiting the slow-flowing South American rivers. With body lengths of nearly 4.5 meters and weighing 300 kg (661.3 lbs) or above, that bring about tremendous strength and a bite force of almost 6000 psi. It feeds on a wide spectrum of animals, ranging from fish and turtles to capybaras, snakes, birds, monkeys, giant otters, and deer, and sometimes even exhibits cannibalism.
  • American Alligator: They are the second largest member of the Alligatoridae family, with body lengths of nearly 3.5- 4.5 meters. American alligators are the apex predators in their ecosystem and feed on fishes, turtles, smaller mammals like raccoons, etc. They can deliver a bite force of nearly 16,000 N.

4) Boa constrictor

Boa
Boa
Scientific Name Boa constrictor
Size 3-5 m
Location northern Mexico to Argentina
Diet large lizards, small or moderate sized birds, opossums, bats, mongooses, rats, squirrels

The Boa Constrictor is another large species of non-venomous constrictor snakes. They grow up to an average length of 11 -12 ft and weigh anywhere between 20-27 kg (59.5 lbs).

They, too, slaughter their prey by constricting them, which often consists of giant lizards, monkeys, pigs, birds, and other smaller amphibians.


3) Reticulated Python

Reticulated Python
Reticulated Python
Scientific Name Malayopython reticulatus
Size 1.82-2.4 m
Location southern and Southeast Asia
Diet mammals and birds

Only found in South and Southeast Asia, the Reticulated Pythons are the longest snakes on the planet. Up to 21 ft in length (6.5 meters) and weighing nearly 50 kg (110.2 lbs), these snakes are non-venomous.

As a result, they seize their prey by constricting them. Python’s prey consists of small animals like mice and birds to large animals like primates, deer, pigs, and even dogs. They wrap around the prey’s body, ultimately choking them to death and crushing their bones for easy swallowing.


2) Green Anaconda

Green Anaconda
Green Anaconda
Scientific Name Eunectes murinus
Size up to 9 m
Location large parts of South America
Diet fish, reptiles (including caiman), amphibians, tapirs, deer, dogs, capybaras, sheep

In the Boidae family, the Green Anaconda is considered to be the largest snake in the world. They are undoubtedly the 2nd strongest reptile on the planet.

Reaching lengths of nearly 15 ft or even more and with specimens weighing around 250 kg (551.1 lbs), the Green Anacondas are also the world’s heaviest snakes.

They feed on large animals like deer, capybaras, large fishes, lizards, and birds. In some instances, they have been spotted feeding on large reptiles like the alligator and caimans. They are ambush predators and kill their prey by constricting them.


1) Crocodiles

Crocodile
Crocodile
Family Crocodylidae
Size 1.5 to 5.3 m
Location Africa, Asia, and Australia
Diet small animals, fish, turtles and birds

The crown for the strongest reptiles in the world goes to Crocodiles. Among crocodiles, we have ranked the top strongest based on the size and bite force. These crocodile species can drag large prey like the zebra or wildebeest underwater. 

Crocodiles have a jaw that snaps with a force that is multiple times stronger than hyenas or lions. These crocodiles churn their prey underwater to tear the flesh apart.

  • Saltwater Crocodiles: Saltwater crocodiles are the largest and strongest reptiles on the planet, growing up to lengths of 20 ft (4.3-5.3 meters).They deliver a bite force that is estimated to be nearly 3,700 psi. Hence, they are also the animals with the strongest bite force globally.
  • Nile Crocodiles: They are the 2nd largest and strongest crocodile species on the planet, with a bite force that can well rival that of the Saltwater crocodiles. Nile Crocodiles reach lengths of nearly 4.5 meters and weigh up to 800 kg (1763.7 lbs).

Here we conclude our article on “Top 10 Strongest Reptiles in the World“. We have many more informative and exciting articles up our sleeve, so keep a close eye on our site.


Also Read: