# Are Humans the Weakest Animals "Pound for Pound"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016 "2014-05-22T16:47:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/1 "2014-05-22T16:47:50Z")
Or are there any other animals as large or larger than humans but with less physical strength? [May be hard to compare in all cases, since there are different types of strength.] ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/2 "2014-05-22T16:51:18Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Or are there any other animals as large or larger than humans but with less physical strength? > > [May be hard to compare in all cases, since there are different types of strength.] How about jellyfish? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/3 "2014-05-22T16:52:16Z")
Like you said, it depends on the definition of ‘strength’. IIRC, humans are the best long distance runners on the planet, so assuming I’m recalling that correctly that’s a kind of strength that we excel at. If you mean raw lifting power then we are pretty weak, at least compared to other primates. We can probably bench press more than a comparably sized deer, but then a deer is going to have a hard time using a bench press. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Batistuta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Batistuta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batistuta)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/4 "2014-05-22T16:52:55Z")
The answer is sloths While we’re on it, I’m not sure how ‘strong’ some of the larger dogs really are. Great Danes look stunning from my point of view, but they don’t look particularly strong. Maybe I’m wrong though ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/5 "2014-05-22T16:56:25Z")
Remember that while mammals certainly are animals, not all animals are mammals! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/6 "2014-05-22T17:00:21Z")
> [@Batistuta](#): > > The answer is sloths > > While we’re on it, I’m not sure how ‘strong’ some of the larger dogs really are. Great Danes look stunning from my point of view, but they don’t look particularly strong. Maybe I’m wrong though I think you’re wrong about dogs… growing up with bulldogs, I wasn’t stronger than a 60 lb bulldog until I was probably well over twice as heavy, and my mother (a short, small woman) was not strong enough to walk our male bulldog on a leash. I think Great Danes are pretty strong. ---
**Author:** ![Batistuta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@Batistuta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batistuta)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/7 "2014-05-22T17:08:16Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I think you’re wrong about dogs… growing up with bulldogs, I wasn’t stronger than a 60 lb bulldog until I was probably well over twice as heavy, and my mother (a short, small woman) was not strong enough to walk our male bulldog on a leash. I think Great Danes are pretty strong. Fair enough, I have very little experience with dogs so I was probably wrong 😉 It’s just that, every time I see a Great Dane, I can’t help but think “I would totally beat that dog at armwrestling”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/8 "2014-05-22T17:31:59Z")
In general, Primates are pretty powerful, pound for pound. So, a human in perfect condition will likely be stronger -pound for pound- than many other mammals. Of course, we lack claws, sharp teeth, etc. And certainly other primates are stronger than us. But one explorer managed to wrestle a leopard that jumped him, and pin it until he could get out a knife to kill it- and the man only had one arm (and cajones the size of basketballs, sure) . ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/9 "2014-05-22T17:54:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But one explorer managed to wrestle a leopard that jumped him, and pin it until he could get out a knife to kill it- and the man only had one arm (and cajones the size of basketballs, sure) . I was told that as something to remember when dealing with mountain lions. Remember that when it comes down to it, an adult human can give one enough of a beating that they should think twice about attacking, especially since for them a broken bone or a wound big enough to get infected is terminal even if they “win”. We aren’t used to fighting for our lives, but we’re stronger than we think. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/10 "2014-05-22T17:55:08Z")
So, no matter what kind of radioactive critter you get bit by, it’ll be an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/11 "2014-05-22T18:02:09Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But one explorer managed to wrestle a leopard that jumped him, and pin it until he could get out a knife to kill it- and the man only had one arm (and cajones the size of basketballs, sure) . I assume you’re talking about [Carl Akeley.](http://www.badassoftheweek.com/akeley.html)He didn’t use a knife, he actually killed it with his bare hands. He had two good arms, but the leopard had seized on of them. He killed it by ramming his hand further down its throat and basically strangling it from the inside. The leopard weighed less than Akeley, but even bare-handed humans are not necessarily pushovers for predators. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/12 "2014-05-22T18:13:03Z")
We are also rather chubby compared to other mammals, even when fit, which may help in a wrestling match, but hurts in pound-for-pound strength comparisons. Cite: 1987 “Fat and figures”, by Caroline Pond (Ph.D., Senior Lecturer in Biology at the Open University in Milton Keynes) New Scientist 4:62-66. pg. 63: “More than half the 31 captive monkeys that we examined were less than 5 per cent fat, thinner than most laboratory rodents, although all of them had continuous access to food and little opportunity to exercise. However, a few of the monkeys kept in the same way became obese, and at more than 25 per cent fat, were fatter than normal rats. Males and females were equally fat. In contrast, a typical “reference man” is estimated to be 15 per cent by weight adipose tissue, and a “reference woman” 27 per cent.” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/13 "2014-05-22T18:46:41Z")
How does the jaw power of other animals compare to the gripping power of the human hand? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/14 "2014-05-22T20:18:16Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I assume you’re talking about [Carl Akeley.](http://www.badassoftheweek.com/akeley.html)He didn’t use a knife, he actually killed it with his bare hands. He had two good arms, but the leopard had seized on of them. He killed it by ramming his hand further down its throat and basically strangling it from the inside. > > The leopard weighed less than Akeley, but even bare-handed humans are not necessarily pushovers for predators. Yes, thank you, that’s the guy. Badass indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/15 "2014-05-22T20:48:30Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > How does the jaw power of other animals compare to the gripping power of the human hand? For human grip strength, I found a [NASA document](http://msis.jsc.nasa.gov/sections/section04.htm)that puts the maximum grip strength for men in a range of 467 Newtons to 729 Newtons with a mean of 596 N. By contrast, the most powerful animal bite is, according to this [National Geographic article](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120315-crocodiles-bite-force-erickson-science-plos-one-strongest/), is the saltwater crocodile. It registered an astounding 16,460 Newtons of bite force. > [@](#): > > The “winners”—saltwater crocodiles—slammed their jaws shut with 3,700 pounds per square inch (psi), or 16,460 newtons, of bite force. > > By contrast, you might tear into a steak with 150 to 200 psi (890 newtons). Hyenas, lions, and tigers generate around 1,000 psi (4,450 newtons). Interestingly, your own bite strength is about a third more powerful than your grip. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/16 "2014-05-22T21:01:16Z")
> [@Batistuta](#): > > The answer is sloths Sloths are tiny. > [@DrDeth](#): > > In general, Primates are pretty powerful, pound for pound. So, a human in perfect condition will likely be stronger -pound for pound- than many other mammals. > > Of course, we lack claws, sharp teeth, etc. And certainly other primates are stronger than us. Apparently humans are far far weaker than primates like chimps etc. So making a generalization about primates doesn’t really address the question. > [@](#): > > But one explorer managed to wrestle a leopard that jumped him, and pin it until he could get out a knife to kill it- and the man only had one arm (and cajones the size of basketballs, sure) . That’s a classic case of “the exception that proves the rule”. The reason this gets written up like it does is because it’s such an outlier. Plus he didn’t kill it by brute strength, which is what I’m asking. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/17 "2014-05-22T21:28:26Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Apparently humans are far far weaker than primates like chimps etc. So making a generalization about primates doesn’t really address the question. Note that while chimps are stronger than humans in general, the difference in strength has been [exaggerated](http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2009/02/how_strong_is_a_chimpanzee.html) in popular media. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/18 "2014-05-22T21:46:55Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > Note that while chimps are stronger than humans in general, the difference in strength has been [exaggerated](http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2009/02/how_strong_is_a_chimpanzee.html) in popular media. Yeah, and they can’t throw a baseball (or a spear) worth a shit, either. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/19 "2014-05-22T21:51:51Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > That’s a classic case of “the exception that proves the rule”. The reason this gets written up like it does is because it’s such an outlier. Plus he didn’t kill it by brute strength, which is what I’m asking. It’s partly an outlier because most humans don’t have to fight other animals often, and don’t lead the sort of lives that would make them fit for it. I think you have to consider this when deciding what evidence you’ll accept. As for the last sentence, it sounds like he kind of did, at least as far as animals tend to use “brute strength” to kill. You’re not likely to see an arm wrestling contest. The only fights that are “fair” battles of strength that I can think of are generally non-lethal competitions for mates, etc. > [@](#): > > Akeley was headed back to the spot where he’d bagged a hyena and a bigass warthog earlier in the day, but when he got there all he saw was a couple of big bloody streaks leading off into a thick brush. Akeley froze, realizing what was happening, and when a noise came from the brush, he raised his rifle and fired to try and scare it off. Suddenly, out of the thicket came this gigantic fucking leopard screaming towards him teeth-first like a psychotic killer cat being launched out of a horrible predator-launching cannon. Unable to get his weapon back around quickly enough, Akeley dropped his gun and threw his arm up just in time to prevent the vicious beast from ripping out his throat. The leopard latched on to Akeley’s left hand, chomping down with all its might, and kicking at him with its back legs like a rabid 80-pound feral housecat intent on brutally mutilating him beyond recognition and burying his body in the back yard. When his attempts to pull his hand out of the leopards’ jaws only made the creature bite down harder, Akeley, locked in a life or death fistfight with one of the most perfect predators nature ever created, did one of the most insane things ever – he punched his fist further into the leopard’s mouth. > > Yes, you are reading that correctly. Carl Akeley, noted philanthropist and respected wildlife conservationist, punched a fucking leopard in the esophagus from the inside. The leopard gagged, Akeley pulled his hand out, and then he took the thing, bodyslammed it to the ground, and jumped on it with both knees, crushing it to death. Akeley, bleeding profusely from horrific wounds on both hands, clawed to shit, still recovering from a recent battle with malaria, and barely able to stand, then picked up the leopard (despite a shattered hand), threw it over his shoulder, walked back to camp with it, and taxidermized it for a museum exhibit. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2014, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016/20 "2014-05-22T22:01:10Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > That’s a classic case of “the exception that proves the rule”. The reason this gets written up like it does is because it’s such an outlier. Plus he didn’t kill it by brute strength, which is what I’m asking. Yeah, he basically did. As I posted above, **DrDeth** got the details wrong. Akeley was unarmed and essentially overpowered the leopard. And Akeley was not by any means a Hercules. In his photos, he appears to be of average build. (Admittedly, he outweighed the animal.) Big cats and other predators are lethal because of their teeth and claws. Akeley won because the leopard wasn’t able to bring its teeth and claws to bear effectively. I’m not sure that it’s a given that a big cat is stronger pound for pound than a human living under natural conditions, that is a hunter gatherer life style with a great deal of exercise every day. In the [steer-wrestling event](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfWH4u8Ys-E) in rodeos humans wrestle much heavier animals to the ground. Now much of this is due to employing leverage but humans still are able to overpower substantially larger animals. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-the-weakest-animals-pound-for-pound/689016.md?page=2)