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“WILDLIFE "It can survive just about anything, including high doses of radiation and is virtually indestructible." 10 toughest animals on the planet Proving that size doesn't matter when it comes to toughness, meet the world's top 10 toughest animals. April 15, 2026 Not all strength in the animal kingdom is about size. Some of the toughest creatures on Earth survive being frozen solid, crushed under immense pressure, or attacked by predators that would obliterate most life in seconds. Others endure extreme heat, toxic environments, or brutal battles for dominance—and keep coming back for more. It can survive without water in one of the driest, deadliest places on Earth, where just 1cm of rain falls a year. Meet the ultimate survivor 5 ways to live forever: the secrets behind why some species live for a very long time Toughest animal ever The microscopically tiny, teddy bear-like tardigrade can survive just about anything. It’s not fazed by extreme cold or extreme heat – temperatures from absolute zero to boiling point – high doses of radiation, pressure equivalent to the forces found in deep ocean trenches, being almost completely dried out for years and even being in a vacuum. It does represent the ultimate in indestructibility but there are other animals that can also claim their share of fame as being the toughest animals on earth in a variety of ways. Meet the tiny water bear that are the toughest creatures on earth, able to survive being microwaved and sent to space Mice, dogs, primates...10 animals that have been to space: Discover the incredible, tragic creatures that paved the way for human exploration Toughest diet The lammergeier, or bearded vulture, has a curious preference in food items. Although it is mostly a scavenger that feeds on dead mammals, it shuns a lot of the flesh and skin of a carcass, using this only to feed to its chicks, in order to concentrate on the bones. It can swallow whole bones up to the size of a lamb’s leg. Bigger bones it takes hundreds of feet into the air and drops onto rocks to shatter them. It will often do this repeatedly until the pieces are of a suitable size to fit down its throat. It is also not unknown for the birds to drop living animals to their death, using their enormous seven- to nine-foot wingspans to drive larger animals over the edge of a precipice. The reason the bird can feed itself so successfully on a bony diet is down to its very specialised stomach acid that will dissolve the…