The fastest animals in the world

The cheetah is the fastest land animal, with a maximum recorded speed of 109.4 km/h to 128 km/h, with a credible maximum speed of 98 km/h. The peregrine falcon is the fastest flying bird and the fastest animal, with a diving speed of 389 km/h. The Indian marlin is the fastest animal in the sea, but its maximum speed is uncertain and controversial.

When comparing the speeds of different groups of animals, one can compare the distance they travel in one second relative to their body length ("body lengths per second"). Using this comparison, the fastest creature on Earth is the Southern California mite (Paratarsotomus macropalpis), which travels at a speed of 322 body lengths per second, equivalent to a human running speed of 2,092 km/h. [6] The Southern California mite is much faster than the previous record holder, the Australian tiger beetle (Cicindela eburneola). Taking into account its body length, the Australian tiger beetle is the fastest insect in the world, with a recorded speed of 1.86 meters per second (6.7 kilometers per hour), or 171 body lengths per second. As the fastest land mammal, the cheetah can only run at a maximum of 16 body lengths per second. The vermilion hummingbird (Anderson's hummingbird) is the fastest vertebrate per body length per second.

Ranking of the fastest animals

1. Peregrine falcon

Maximum speed: 389 km/h, 108 m/s

Species: flying-diving

The peregrine falcon is the fastest flying bird and even the fastest animal. Peregrine falcons reach their highest speed when swooping down to hunt, not when flying horizontally. When hunting, peregrine falcons will first soar into the air, then dive at speeds exceeding 320 km/h. For example, with a maximum body length of 58 cm, the dive speed can reach 186 body lengths per second, which is equivalent to a human running 170 meters per second.

2. Golden Eagle

Maximum speed: 240-320 km/h, 67-89 m/s

Type: Flying-diving

Speeds can reach 240–320 km/h when swooping down to hunt. Taking its maximum body length of 102 cm as an example, the fastest speed can reach 66-87 body lengths per second, which is equivalent to a human running 60-80 meters per second.

3. White-throated Needletail Swift

Maximum speed: 169 km/h

Type: Flying

The fastest flapping bird.

4. Hobbit Hobbit

Maximum speed: 160 km/h

Species: Flying

Occasionally, it can fly over white-throated needle-tailed swifts.

5. Mexican free-tailed bat

Maximum speed: 160 km/h

Species: Flying

It is said that its horizontal flight speed is the fastest among all animals.

6. Frigatebird

Maximum speed: 153 km/h

Type: Flying-diving

Frigatebirds have long and pointed wings with a wingspan of up to 2.3 meters. They have the largest wing-to-body weight ratio among birds.

7. Wild pigeon

Maximum speed: 148.9 km/h

Type: Flying

Pigeons were measured to have an average speed of 148.9 km/h in a 640 km race.

8. Spur-winged Goose

Maximum speed: 142 km/h

Type: Flying

9. Gyrfalcon (Falcon, Gyrfalcon)

Maximum speed: 128 km/h

Type: Flying

10. Grey-headed Albatross

Maximum speed: 127 km/h

Type: Flying

11. Cheetah

Maximum speed: 109.4～120.7 km/h

Type: Land-based

The fastest cat and land animal, it can accelerate from a standstill to 96.6 km/h in 3 seconds, but its endurance is very limited.

12. Sailfish

Maximum speed: 109.19 km/h

Type: Flying-swimming

In a series of experiments in Long Key, Florida, USA, sailfish swam and jumped 91 meters in 3 seconds, equivalent to 109 kilometers per hour. This speed includes jumping out of the water, which is not strictly considered swimming speed.

13. Vermilion Hummingbird (Anderson's Hummingbird)

Maximum speed: 98.27 km/h

Species: Flying

Vermilion Hummingbird (Anderson's Hummingbird) is the fastest vertebrate at 276 body lengths per second.

14. Swordfish

Maximum speed: 97 km/h

Species: Parade

The 97 km/h speed is based onJames GrayThe speed required for a 270 kg swordfish to penetrate 3 feet into the boat's plank was incorrectly calculated because it had happened before. This number seemed to be used as a reference without question, as if someone had actually measured this speed.

15. Ostrich

Maximum speed: 96.6 km/h

Type: Land

16. Pronghorn, Springbok

Maximum speed: 88.5 km/h

Type: Land

17. American Quarter Horse

Maximum speed: 88.5 km/h

Type: Land Horse

Good at short-distance sprinting. It is named because it can lead other breeds of horses by a quarter mile in the competition. Some have been measured to have a speed of 88.5 kilometers per hour.

18. Wildebeest

Maximum speed: 80.5 km/h

Type: Land

19. Lion

Maximum speed: 80.5 km/h

Type: Land

20. Indian Blackbuck

Maximum speed: 80 km/h

Type: Land-based

Fish

Indian Marlin (132 km/h) An Indian Marlin that was hooked in the sea was said to have fishing linepulled from a reel at 120 feet per second (132 km/h). However, some studies have shown that due to physical limitations, fish may not be able to swim faster than 36 kilometers per hour, so any higher numbers are questionable.

Amphibians

Nauta Salamander (24.14 km/h)<span style="background-color: Also known as the Andean Salamander, it is the fastest amphibian ever recorded.

Reptile

Eye-spotted monitor lizard (40.23 km/h)Often considered the fastest reptile on record

American iguana (35.41 km/h) A large arboreal lizard capable of running at high speeds on the ground.

The Leatherback (35.28 km/h) has the most hydrodynamic shape of all sea turtles, with a large teardrop-shaped body.

Black spiny-tailed iguana (34.6 km/h) is often considered the fastest lizard in older sources.

Six-lined Whiptail (28.97 km/h) A small lizard found throughout the southern United States and Mexico.

Black Mamba (22.53 km/h)

Komodo Dragon (20.92 km/h)It can run at speeds of up to 13 mph (21 km/h) for short periods of time, but prefers to hunt by stealth.

Mammals

Mexican free-tailed bat (160 km/h)

Cheetah (<span style="color: #202122; Cheetahs can accelerate from a standstill to 60 mph in under 3 seconds, but their endurance is very limited. Most cheetahs can only run for 60 seconds at a time. When sprinting, the cheetah's body is suspended in the air for longer than it is on the ground. The fastest cheetah is Sarah, who ran 100 meters in just 5.95 seconds.

Pronghorn (88.5 km/h) is the fastest animal to run long distances, and can run 6 km at 56 km/h, 1.6 km at 67 km/h, and 0.8 km at 88.5 km/h.

Springbok (88 km/h) can jump far and make sharp turns when running. But unlike the pronghorn, the springbok is not good at running long distances.

Wildebeest (80.5 km/h) is a large antelope, divided into spotted wildebeest and white-tailed wildebeest, both of which are good at running and use it to escape pursuit. They are better at long-distance running than short-distance running.

Lions (80.5 km/h) are the second fastest cats, with a top speed of 80.5 km/h, although this is only for short sprints. This is very energy-consuming, so lions need to sneak up on their prey before launching a surprise attack.

The Indian blackbuck (80 km/h) can run 1.5 km at 80 km/h,[35] with a distance of 5.8–6.7 m between each hoof print.

The Thomson's gazelle (80 km/h) is a skilled long-distance runner, and relies on its endurance to escape from cheetahs. Thomson's gazelles rely partly on their ability to hop on all fours.

The Lephas (rabbit) (80 km/h) can reach speeds of 56 km/h over short distances of about 90 m,[58] and can run at a top speed of 80 km/h for about 20 m.

The blackbuck (72 km/h) has strong hind legs that allow it to leap up to 3 m in a single bound. Some can even leap up to 6 m. [68] They use hopping and zigzag running to escape capture.

African wild dogs (71 km/h) can sprint at 66 km/h when hunting, and can maintain a speed of 56-60 km/h for up to 4.8 km. Prey that they target rarely escape.

Kangaroo (71 km/h) Kangaroos are more comfortable jumping at 21-26 km/h. However, they can reach speeds of up to 71 km/h over short distances. They can maintain a speed of 40 km/h for nearly 2 km. The faster a kangaroo jumps, the less energy it uses (until it reaches cruising speed).

Quarter Horse (70.76 km/h) The highest speed achieved by a thoroughbred horse.

Greyhound (Dog) (70 km/h) is the fastest dog, bred primarily for tracking and game.

Asiatic Wild Ass (70 km/h) The Asiatic Wild Ass consists of several subspecies, all of which are probably very fast.

Coyote (65 km/h) Coyotes can easily reach 48 km/h, and can sprint up to 65 km/h when hunting. Even with one of their front legs missing, coyotes can still run 32 km/h.

Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) (64 km/h) The Big Brown Bat is said to be one of the fastest bats, reaching 64 km/h.

Dolphins (64 km/h) Dolphins are the fastest marine mammals. They breathe very fast when reaching top speed. The larger fin whale can empty and refill its lungs in 2 seconds.

Zebra (64 km/h) Zebras range between 28 and 601 square kilometers and can travel up to 16 kilometers a day to graze.

Tiger (64 km/h) Tigers live in jungles and have been recorded reaching speeds of 64 kilometers per hour, although only in short sprints.

Hyaenidae (60 km/h) Hyenas, especially spotted hyenas, can run up to 60 kilometers per hour. Sometimes they run up to 24 kilometers in a single run in pursuit of prey.

Brown bear (grizzly bear) American black bear (48 km/h) Although there are rumors that grizzly bears can reach a speed of 56 kilometers per hour, the credible speed recorded in Yellowstone Park in the United States is 48 kilometers per hour. There is speculation that American black bears can also run that fast.

Wombat (40 km/h) Wombats can maintain this speed for 150 meters.

Human

Instantaneous speed: 47.56 km/h

Sprint (100m race): 37.58 km/h

Long-distance running (marathon): 20.81 km/h

In 2009, Usain Bolt set the world record for the 100m race in 9.58 seconds (9.572 seconds). He reached a maximum instantaneous speed of 13.21 m/s (47.6 km/h) between 50 and 70 meters. Including the reaction time at the start, his average speed in this race was 10.44 m/s (37.6 km/h). After a distance of more than 400 meters, the human body needs oxygen to maintain speed, and the speed will slow down significantly. Hisham Grujer broke the world record for the mile with a time of 3:43:13, equivalent to 26.25 km/h. Eliud Kipchoge broke the world record for the marathon with a time of 2:01:39, equivalent to 20.81 km/h.

Without significant external interference, the average human walks at about 1.4 m/s (5.0 km/h) and runs at about 5.1 m/s (18 km/h). Although humans can walk at speeds ranging from almost 0 m/s to 2.5 m/s (9.0 km/h), and run a mile (1.6 km) in anywhere from 4 to 15 minutes. Humans usually choose to use a narrow range of these speeds.

Compared to other land animals, humans have excellent endurance and can run great distances, surpassing almost all other species (except some dogs), although not very fast.

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