The fastest animal on earth

In the animal kingdom, speed can mean the difference between life and death. Predators use speed to outpace and subdue their prey, while animals lacking other defenses rely on speed to avoid becoming dinner for their prey. Here are some of the fastest animals in the world.

1. The fastest land animal

Cheetah. The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is one of the most recognized cats in the world. Cheetah running in Kenya, Africa.

Able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than three seconds, the cheetah is considered the fastest land animal, although it can only maintain such speeds over short distances. Lions are also quite fast when hunting, with a top speed of about 50 miles per hour. However, common prey of African big cats is also quite fast. For example, springboks can reach speeds of up to 55 miles per hour when being chased, and blue wildebeests can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.

2. The fastest land animal (long distance)

Pronghorn (American antelope).

Cheetahs are the fastest sprinters, while pronghorns (also known as antelopes) are the fastest long-distance runners in the animal kingdom. It's capable of maintaining speeds of nearly 35 mph for several miles and even faster over shorter distances. In a sprint to evade predators, pronghorns can reach top speeds of 55 miles per hour, thanks to special cushioning on their hooves and their ability to absorb large amounts of oxygen as they run.

3. The fastest fish

Black marlin (Istiompax indica). Fish, marine biology, fish plates, ichthyology, giant black marlin, carnivorous fish, game fish.

Illustrated exclusively for Encyclopedia Britannica by Tom Dolan under the supervision of Loren P. Woods, Chicago Museum of Natural History (T)

Various fish species can achieve impressive speeds when necessary, but collecting accurate, verifiable calculations has been challenging. According to some sources, black marlin are the fastest, with an estimated top speed of 80 miles per hour. The swordfish is also a top contender, with an estimated top speed of at least 67 miles per hour.

4. The fastest insect

Horsefly (Tabanus trimaculatas)

The speed of insects is difficult to measure accurately. However, it is known that under certain circumstances the common horsefly can reach speeds estimated to reach 90 miles per hour, which is the speed measured in scientific experiments.

5. The fastest bird

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

When it comes to mind-blowing speed, birds are nature's Olympians. The Peregrine Falcon is considered the fastest bird and the fastest member of the animal kingdom, capable of flying and diving at speeds in excess of 185 miles per hour while hunting. Another super-fast bird is the golden eagle, which can dive at speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour. White-throated needle-tailed swifts can reach speeds of 105 miles per hour in level flight, while Eurasian hobbies can reach speeds of 100 miles per hour.

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