Apex Predators

Apex predators sit at the top of their food chains with no natural predators of their own. By controlling prey populations, they keep entire ecosystems in balance. These are the top hunters featured in our guide.

By the Global Animal Guide editorial team Last reviewed July 16, 2026 Cite this page How we research & review

Rankings use stats and conservation status from our species database. For IUCN categories, verify current assessments on the IUCN Red List.

Apex Predators compared

Apex Predators: size, speed, lifespan, native range and conservation status
Animal	Weight	Length	Top speed	Lifespan	Native to	Status
Lion Panthera leo	250 kg	2.5 m	80 km/h	14 yrs	Africa, Asia	Vulnerable
Tiger Panthera tigris	300 kg	3.1 m	65 km/h	15 yrs	Asia	Endangered
Leopard Panthera pardus	60 kg	1.9 m	58 km/h	15 yrs	Africa, Asia	Vulnerable
Clouded Leopard Neofelis nebulosa	18 kg	1 m	40 km/h	15 yrs	Asia	Vulnerable
Shortfin Mako Shark Isurus oxyrinchus	570 kg	3.2 m	74 km/h	30 yrs	Oceans	Endangered
Orca Orcinus orca	5,000 kg	8 m	56 km/h	60 yrs	Oceans	Data Deficient
Polar Bear Ursus maritimus	700 kg	3 m	40 km/h	25 yrs	North America, Europe, Asia	Vulnerable
Brown Bear Ursus arctos	350 kg	2.8 m	56 km/h	25 yrs	North America, Europe, Asia	Least Concern
Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus porosus	1,000 kg	5.5 m	29 km/h	70 yrs	Asia, Oceania	Least Concern
Gray Wolf Canis lupus	60 kg	1.6 m	60 km/h	13 yrs	North America, Europe, Asia	Least Concern
Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis	90 kg	3 m	20 km/h	30 yrs	Asia	Endangered
King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah	9 kg	5.5 m	18 km/h	20 yrs	Asia	Vulnerable
Black Mamba Dendroaspis polylepis	1.6 kg	3 m	16 km/h	12 yrs	Africa	Least Concern
Caracal Caracal caracal	14 kg	95 cm	80 km/h	15 yrs	Africa, Asia	Least Concern
Ocelot Leopardus pardalis	12 kg	1 m	55 km/h	14 yrs	North America, South America	Least Concern
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus	40,000 kg	16 m	35 km/h	65 yrs	Oceans worldwide	Vulnerable