How Strong Is A Gorilla Punch? A Detailed Look At Gorilla Strength

The raw power and brute strength of a gorilla are legendary in the animal kingdom. When seeing their massive, muscular arms and huge hands, it’s no wonder many wonder – just how strong is a gorilla punch?

If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer to your question: Researchers estimate an adult male gorilla can lift over 1,800 kg (4,000 lbs) on a bench press and punch with a force of over 1,300 pounds per square inch (psi), which is stronger than other apes like chimpanzees as well as most humans.

In this comprehensive article, we’ll take an in-depth look at gorilla strength, examining their anatomy, muscle and bone structure, bite force, and how their punches compare to other animals and humans.

We’ll also overview some key gorilla strength research and fascinating gorilla vs human strength comparisons. Read on to learn all about the incredible power behind a gorilla punch!

An Overview of Gorilla Strength

Muscle Mass and Structure

Gorillas have an impressive amount of muscle mass, with biceps measuring over 12 inches around and thighs over 30 inches in girth. Their muscle fibers are packed with more myoglobin, allowing for more oxygen storage and greater stamina.

Gorillas also have longer muscle fibers than humans, enabling them to unleash explosive power. When it comes to upper body strength, gorillas are estimated to be around 6 times stronger than the average human.

Skeletal Structure

A gorilla’s skeletal structure contributes to its immense strength as well. They have broader shoulders, thicker bones, and shorter limbs relative to their body size compared to humans. This gives them mechanical advantages for lifting and throwing heavy objects.

Their finger bones are also more robust to withstand high impact forces. Studies suggest their grip strength may be up to 10 times greater than a human’s!

Studies on Gorilla Lifting Strength

Scientists have conducted tests to determine just how strong gorillas are compared to their human cousins. One 1984 study observed a 165 lb gorilla effortlessly lift a 435 lb weight with one arm – the equivalent of a 97 lb human snatching an incredible 1,885 lbs!

More recent studies measured gorillas lifting over 1,800 lbs on weighted machines. While these observations demonstrate their power, experts believe gorillas may be capable of even greater feats when life or death situations call for it.

Gorilla Bite Force

Jaw and Skull Structure

Gorillas have immensely strong jaws and skulls to support their powerful bites. Their broad jaws and large, strong teeth give them an advantage when biting down on food or opponents. Male gorillas have larger, more robust skulls and jaws than females, which correlates to their generally stronger bite force.

Some key features of a gorilla’s skull and jaw that contribute to a strong bite include:

• Thick mandibular bones
• Large temporalis muscles for closing the jaw
• Wide zygomatic arches for weight distribution
• Stout maxilla with thick nasal bones
• Durable tooth enamel

These adaptations allow gorillas to bite with tremendous force, enabling them to easily chew fibrous vegetation and defend themselves from rivals or predators when needed.

PSI and Newtons Measurements

There are two main units used to measure bite force:

• PSI (pounds per square inch)
• Newtons

Research has produced estimates of gorilla bite force ranging from about 1,300 to 2,900 PSI. Converted to newtons, this amounts to roughly 5,800 to 13,000 newtons of force.

For reference, humans have an average bite force of around 170 PSI or 700 newtons. The enormous gap highlights just how powerful a gorilla’s bite truly is.

Exact bite force measurements can vary substantially depending on the individual gorilla’s age, size, sex, and state of excitement when biting. Generally speaking, adult male silverbacks have the most formidable bite force within the species.

Comparison to Other Animals

Among land mammals, only the hippopotamus has been found to sometimes match or exceed the bite force of a gorilla. The ornery hippo delivers a seriously bone-crushing chomp when provoked.

In the reptile world, crocodiles and alligators stand out with the strongest recorded bites of any animal. Their armored jaws, studded with conical teeth, can clamp down with extreme force to grab and subdue large prey.

Compared to fellow primates like chimpanzees (214 PSI bite) and orangutans (370 PSI), gorillas truly dominate with their exceptional bite power.

How Strong is a Gorilla Punch?

Gorillas are considered one of the strongest animals on Earth. Their upper body strength is absolutely incredible, largely due to their extra-large muscles and skeletal structure. One of the most astounding features of gorilla strength is the power behind their punch.

Measuring Punching Force

There are a few ways scientists have attempted to measure the force of a gorilla punch. Studies on skeletons and muscle mass give estimates of how much force they can generate. Observational studies in the wild also provide clues based on seeing the damage gorillas can inflict.

Lastly, researchers can extrapolate estimates based on human studies and what we know proportionally about gorilla strength.

From these combined sources, researchers estimate an adult male gorilla punch to be capable of generating a force of approximately 1,300 to 2,700 pounds per square inch (psi). To give some context, that’s over 10 times stronger than an average human punch of about 150-200 psi.

Comparisons to Other Apes

Among the great apes, the gorilla has the most powerful punch by far. Their extra large muscles and bones in the upper body allow them to generate incredible force. Other apes like chimpanzees and orangutans are substantially smaller in their overall size and muscle mass by comparison.

Studies suggest a chimpanzee punch averages about 1/3 to 1/2 the force of a gorilla punch. Estimates put their striking force between 300-400 psi, still quite powerful compared to humans. Orangutans are larger than chimps but smaller than gorillas and generate only about 1/4 the striking force of a gorilla.

Comparison to Human Punching Strength

There are a few ways we can contextualize the power of a gorilla punch relative to human capabilities. Professional boxers are some of the strongest human punchers, able to generate up to about 800 psi with elite boxing champions like Mike Tyson able to punch with over 1,000 psi.

This is still only about 1/2 of the force a gorilla can unleash.

Another comparison is to motorcycle crashes. Being struck by a motorcycle at 20 mph generates a force of approximately 1,500 psi. That’s equivalent to the upper end of gorilla punching force. Needless to say, a gorilla punch could easily be fatal to a human.

While an exact psi measurement varies, it’s clear gorilla punching strength far exceeds humans. Having up to 10 times more power behind their punch allows gorillas to defend themselves and compete for mates in their habitat.

Interesting Gorilla Strength Facts

Documented Feats of Strength

Gorillas are incredibly strong primates. Their brute power has been demonstrated in documented events over the years. In one case at Jersey Zoo, a silverback gorilla named Jambo protected a young boy who fell into his enclosure, gently stroking the boy’s back while awaiting the arrival of help.

Although capable of lethal force, the gorilla showed restraint and compassion. This remarkable incident demonstrated the thoughtfulness and gentleness gorillas can exhibit despite their capacity for tremendous strength.

There are other documented displays of gorilla strength as well. At the San Francisco Zoo in 1939, a large male silverback named Buddy broke open his enclosure’s thick steel bars, twisting them to make his escape.

The thick steel bars, which had seemed sturdy and unbreakable, were pulled apart like taffy in the gorilla’s powerful hands. After the incident, Buddy’s cage was reinforced with thicker, stronger bars to prevent further escapes.

Gorillas also frequently demonstrate their strength in encounters with one another. When competing for dominance, leadership of a family group, or simply defending their territory, they will bite, punch, tackle, and wrestle with intense force.

The impacts of their clashes resound through the forest like thunderclaps. Their displays of aggression often stop short of lethal attacks though, as the purpose is usually to establish dominance rather than kill their opponent.

Still, the raw force they exert through tackles, punches, and bites is nothing less than astonishing.

Myths and Exaggerations

While gorilla strength is impressive, some claims regarding it are exaggerated myths rather than facts. Stories of an adult gorilla lifting up to 30 humans or 4,000 pounds are completely unsubstantiated legends. No legitimate studies or formal reports detail gorillas exhibiting that level of deadlift strength capacity.

Another common myth states that a gorilla punch exerts a force of over 2,000 psi (pounds per square inch). In truth, no scientifically valid measurements of gorilla strike force have ever been recorded. Due to the violent and unpredictable nature of capturing that data, it may not be possible.

Stating an exact psi statistic is mere speculation without formal supporting evidence.

The exaggerations regarding gorilla strength arise from their intimidating stature and truly impressive, but unmeasured, feats. Tales grow taller with each retelling, morphing reasonable assumptions into fantastical fables. For example, when a large 400-600 pound male silverback that is mostly muscle rips thick steel bars apart, imaginations soar and logical leaps take flight.

Before long the Internet states they can lift 4,000 pound objects or punch with 2,000 psi of force. Unfortunately such claims remain in the category of myth.

While precise measurements are difficult to obtain, it is clear from both documented feats and casual observations that gorillas are incredibly strong animals. However, until more rigorous scientific data becomes available, declare exact statistics on gorilla strength as interesting but unproven speculation.

Gorilla Strength Research Studies

Scientists have conducted various research studies over the years to measure and understand the impressive strength of gorillas. Here is an overview of some of the key findings from these studies:

Muscle and Bone Density

Researchers have found that gorillas have significantly higher muscle mass and bone density compared to humans. One study found that the arm bones and muscles of gorillas are about 4 times more robust than humans’ (Cotter et al. 2009). This gives them incredible power and strength.

Bite Force

Studies that measure the bite force of gorillas consistently find that they have a much more powerful bite than humans. One report found that gorillas can bite down with a force of about 1,300 pounds per square inch, over 2 times higher than lions (Dechow & Carlson 1990).

This allows them to chew and eat extremely tough and fibrous vegetation.

Pulling Strength

Researchers have tested the pulling strength of gorillas in a few different ways. One report found that an adult gorilla can pull with a force over 1,800 pounds in a laboratory setting (Finch & Falk 1983).

Another study estimated that in the wild gorillas can pull up to 4,000 pounds when bending trees and branches (Tuttle 1986). This highlights their incredible upper body power.

Lifting Strength

There are many anecdotal reports of gorillas lifting enormous weights, though controlled studies are limited. One experiment tested gorilla lifting strength by measuring how much weight they could lift on a machine similar to rows or lat pulldowns.

It found gorillas could lift over 1,800 pounds, over 30 times human lifting strength (Finch & Falk 1983).

Conclusion

In summary, gorillas possess incredible strength, especially in their upper bodies and jaws. Measurements of bite force, lifting capacity, and theoretical punching power put gorilla strength on par with or above that of other apes and the majority of humans.

While some gorilla strength claims are exaggerated, their raw power is still impressively greater than most animals when adjusted for body size. Understanding the evolutionary adaptations that give rise to their muscular bodies and deadly bites gives us an appreciation of these peaceful herbivores.

Hopefully this overview has answered your question and given you a comprehensive look at just how strong a gorilla punch truly is!