The Fastest Animals in the World and Their Speed

Usain Bolt, the world record–holding sprinter, has been clocked at nearly 45 km/h. For humans, that is almost superhuman — but in the animal kingdom, this speed pales in comparison.

Many animals rely on pure speed for survival. Some are predators that must run, swim, or dive faster than their prey, while others depend on speed to escape danger. Some of these species will likely surprise you with just how fast they really are.

In this article, we’ll look at the fastest animals in the world, explain how their movement works, and compare their record speeds.

 Related reading: The Slowest Animals in the World

Types of Animal Movement

An animal’s habitat determines how it moves — and how fast. A snake, a pigeon, and a dog move in completely different ways, shaped by evolution over millions of years.

1. Movement in the Air

• Flapping flight: powered by wing beats.

• Gliding: using air currents to travel with little or no wing movement.

• Diving (stooping): free-falling from high altitudes, often when hunting — this is when some birds reach record-breaking speeds.

2. Movement on Land

• Slithering or crawling: snakes advance by muscular undulation.

• Walking or running: bipedal (humans) or quadrupedal (cheetahs, dogs, horses).

• Brachiation: swinging from branch to branch using arms, seen in some primates.

• Jumping: the main form of locomotion for kangaroos, while frogs use it as an escape tactic.

• Contracting and extending: earthworms move forward by contracting and stretching their bodies.

3. Movement in Water

Aquatic animals have their own forms of locomotion:

• Muscular swimming: using fins and muscles for propulsion — the fastest method.

• Flagellar motion: common in microorganisms.

• Rowing with appendages: as some crustaceans do.

• Jet propulsion: seen in jellyfish and squid, expelling water to move.

• Walking along the seabed: crabs and lobsters.

• Undulation: eels swim in a snake-like, wave-like pattern.

The Fastest Animals on Earth

Here are some of the record holders:

• Peregrine Falcon — 360 km/h
  Found on every continent except Antarctica, peregrine falcons can reach speeds of over 360 km/h in a hunting dive, making them the fastest animal on the planet. In normal flight, they cruise at about 100 km/h.

• Cheetah — 115 km/h
  The undisputed speed king of the land. Native to Africa and parts of the Middle East, the cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just a few seconds and reach peak speeds of 115 km/h.

• Shortfin Mako Shark — 124 km/h
  Known for explosive bursts of speed, this shark can sprint up to 124 km/h, making it the fastest fish in the ocean.

• Siberian Tiger — 90 km/h
  Despite weighing up to 190 kg, this giant cat can hit 90 km/h during a chase, an astonishing feat for its size.

• Carolina Squirrel — 90 km/h
  Originally from North America but now invasive in parts of Europe, this squirrel is capable of incredible bursts of speed.

• Eastern Grey Kangaroo — 80 km/h
  Sometimes called the “giant kangaroo,” it uses powerful, continuous leaps to reach 80 km/h, though it normally travels around 50 km/h.

• Hare — 72 km/h
  Twice as fast as the fastest human, hares are built for sprinting and escaping predators.

• Ostrich — 70 km/h
  The world’s fastest two-legged animal. Although flightless, the ostrich’s powerful legs allow it to outrun many predators.

• Horse — 70 km/h
  Domesticated horses have long been one of humanity’s fastest modes of transportation, with racing breeds capable of hitting 70 km/h.

• Tiny Mite (Paratarsotomus macropalpis)
  Surprisingly, the absolute champion of relative speed. This seed-sized mite can move 322 times its body length per second. For comparison, a cheetah only covers 16 times its body length per second. If a human could match that ratio, we’d be running at over 2,090 km/h — faster than the speed of sound.

The Fastest Animals in Water

Beyond the shortfin mako shark, several other fish deserve mention:

• Pacific Sailfish — 109 km/h

• Swordfish — 100 km/h

• Blue Marlin — 80 km/h

• Bluefin Tuna — 70 km/h

• Blue Shark — 70 km/h

These predators rely on raw speed to capture prey and escape danger, making them the “supercars” of the ocean.

Conclusion

• In the sky, the peregrine falcon reigns supreme.

• On land, the cheetah is unrivaled in acceleration and top speed.

• In the ocean, the shortfin mako shark and sailfish dominate.

• By proportion, a tiny mite beats them all.

Speed in the animal kingdom isn’t just impressive — it’s often a matter of life or death, shaped by millions of years of evolution. Protecting these creatures ensures that these wonders of nature continue to exist for generations to come.

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