What are the strongest living land creatures on Earth, measured by their power to weight ratio?

The strongest land creature on Earth (measured by power-to-weight ratio) is the oribatid mite, a group of tiny soil-dwelling things which can be found in their hundreds of thousands in your average square meter of dirt. It can resist a pull of 1,180 times its own weight - which is similar to a human pulling 82 tons.

More Info: www.telegraph.co.uk

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62 Comments

Lori Koonce

Could anyone complaining about the answer give actual cites to information proving him wrong?

Summer Hall

After reading the comment below, I Googled the correct answer. The first five search results blatantly said oribatid mite. Not sure what "sources" are so "inaccurate", terrys. Perhaps it's YOUR sources rhat are inaccurate. (Obviously.)

William Laughlin

Paco Herrasti, I have found several links which confirm the answer given here for the #1 strongest animal on the planet in terms of strength-to-weight power. Most lists overlook this tiny creature because it’s relatively unknown and only a millimeter in size, but the oribatid mite does in fact come out above the dung beetle in terms of pound-for-pound strength. It has developed the ability to lift 1,180 times its body weight while the dung beetle lifts a mere 1,141 times its body weight. http://homegymr.com/if-humans-had-animal-strength/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthpicturegalleries/7521275/The-strongest-living-land-creatures-on-Earth-measured-by-their-power-to-weight-ratio.html

Rajeev Beohar

Mite is Right indeed !

Ken Putnam

Carole Benner, Things like that get down votes in review for some reason

Louella Wilson

the power of the mite is greater than the elephant! No?

Louella Wilson

Julie Allen, the mite can pull up to 1180 times. Mite wins!

earlepg

I would pull for the dung beetle followed by the industrious ant, but ended up picking the mighty mite to win.

Richard S

The answer is debatable and depends on statistical extrapolation from very small numbers of creatures from small studies. Both the dung beetle and the oribatid mite have similar power weight ratios, within 4% The likelihood is that individual specimens can be found that disprove the stated fact - anyone want to carry out a suitable comparative study?