Super-strong animals

Some of the world's mightiest creatures, from crabs to crocs

- Leoma Williams

1. African bush elephant

Not only the largest living land animal, the African elephant is also thought to be the strongest animal on Earth in terms of the sheer amount it can lift. It is capable of lifting the equivalent of its own body weight - all seven tonnes of it. Much of the species' strength is found in its complex trunk, which contains up to 40,000 muscles.

2. Dung beetle

Elephants may lead the pack by sheer lifting power but, when it comes to strength relative to body size, dung beetles - which get their name from their diet of animal poo - are even more impressive. One species, the horned dung beetle, which is just 10mm long, can pull more than 1,000 times its own body weight.

3. Eastern gorilla