In the animal kingdom, speed can mean life or death. Predators use speed to outrun and subdue their prey, while animals lacking other defenses rely on speed to avoid becoming their prey's dinner. Here are some of the world's fastest animals.
1. The fastest land animal
Cheetah. The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is one of the world's most famous felines. A cheetah running in Kenya, Africa.
The cheetah, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds, is considered the fastest land animal, although it can only maintain this speed over short distances. Lions are also quite fast when hunting, reaching top speeds of around 50 mph. However, common prey of Africa's big cats is also remarkably fast. For example, springbok can reach speeds of up to 55 mph when being chased, and blue wildebeest can reach speeds of up to 50 mph.
2. Fastest land animal (long distance)
Pronghorn (American antelope).
Cheetahs are the fastest sprinters, while pronghorn (also known as American antelope) are the fastest long-distance runners in the animal kingdom. They can maintain speeds of nearly 35 mph for miles, and even faster over shorter distances. In a sprint to evade predators, pronghorn can reach top speeds of 55 mph, thanks to special cushioning pads on their hooves and their ability to absorb large amounts of oxygen while running.
3. The fastest fish
Black marlin (Istiompax indica). Fish, marine biology, fish scutes, ichthyology, giant black marlin, carnivorous fish, game fish.
Tom Dolan illustrated this work specifically for the Encyclopædia Britannica under the supervision of Loren P. Woods at the Chicago Museum of Natural History.
Various fish species can reach impressive speeds when necessary, but obtaining accurate and verifiable calculations has always been challenging. According to some sources, the black marlin is the fastest, with estimated top speeds reaching 80 miles per hour. The sailfish is also a top contender, with estimated top speeds of at least 67 miles per hour.
4. The fastest insect
Horsefly (Tabanus trimaculatas)
Insect speeds are difficult to measure accurately. However, it is well known that, in certain situations, the speed of a common horsefly can be estimated to reach 90 miles per hour, a speed measured in scientific experiments.
5. The fastest bird
Peregrinus (Falco peregrinus)
When it comes to astonishing speed, birds are the Olympians of nature. The peregrine falcon is considered the fastest bird and the fastest member of the animal kingdom, capable of flying and diving at speeds exceeding 185 miles per hour while hunting. Another incredibly fast bird is the golden eagle, which can dive at speeds exceeding 150 miles per hour. The white-throated needletail can reach speeds of 105 miles per hour in horizontal flight, while the Eurasian swift can reach 100 miles per hour.
