These animals used the fastest running speed to survive and thrive in the wild, quickly chasing prey or escaping from enemies.
These animals used the fastest running speed to survive and thrive in the wild, quickly chasing prey or escaping from enemies.
These record-breaking "superfast" species are found in the animal kingdom, whether they're running on land, swimming in water or flying in the sky.
Wild animals don't participate in any Olympic races, so scientists often have to venture into the animals' natural habitats to find out how fast they can move. any. And animals are not necessarily moving as fast as they can at the time people happen to measure them, many of the speeds on this list are estimates only, in fact animals can move even faster. .
Here are the 9 fastest animals alive today:
1. Ostrich: 43 mph (70 km/h)
Ostriches running in the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. (Image: Getty)
The ostrich (Struthio camelus) is the largest bird on Earth today and the fastest bird on the ground because they are flightless. According to the San Diego Zoo, ostriches use their long and strong legs to run up to 43 mph (70 km/h) for short periods of time. Ostriches grow up to 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and a stride can be 10 to 16 feet (3 to 5 m) long. These giant birds use their agility to escape danger, including predators like lions.
Ostriches live in lowlands and semi-arid woodlands in Africa, including countries like Mauritania and Senegal in the west; Somalia and Tanzania in the East, Zimbabwe and South Africa in the South, according to the Africa Wildlife Foundation.
2. Antelope: 60 mph (97 km/h)
Antelope in Yellowstone National Park. (Image: Getty)
According to Barnyards & Backyards, a journal in partnership with the University of Wyoming, the branched antelope (Antilocapra americana) is a small, hoofed North American mammal that can reach top speeds of up to 60 mph. (97 km/h). This means that the wildebeest is the second fastest animal on land.
Today, no other predator can reach such speeds in North America. However, this agile antelope relative evolved alongside the now-extinct American leopard, an enemy the antelope needs to outrun to survive, according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service. . Wyoming's wildebeest can make 300-mile (483 km) migrations in search of food, according to the National Wildlife Federation.
3. Jaguar: 70 mph (112 km/h)
A cheetah runs in the Serengeti National Park. (Image: Getty)
In the animal kingdom, cheetahs/cheetahs (Acinonyx joyatus) will dominate sprint races. These big cats are the fastest land animals and are capable of running at top speeds of 60 to 70 mph (96 to 112 km/h). A cheetah at the Cincinnati Zoo named Sarah has been recorded reaching the 100m in 5.95 seconds in sprints. The fastest runner ever, Olympic athlete Usain Bolt, holds the world record for running the same distance in 9.58 seconds.
Cheetahs live in northern, eastern and southern Africa, with small numbers in Iran in Asia. Leopards have long, slender bodies and strong legs, which help them achieve top speed to be able to chase agile prey, such as antelope.
4. Sailfish: 19 to 68 mph (30 to 110 km/h)
Sailfish swim off Isla Mujeres in the Caribbean. (Image: Getty)
Sailfish (Istiophorus) are a group of fish that scientists generally consider to be the fastest fish in the ocean, with a reported top speed of more than 68 mph (110 km/h), according to the U.S. Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
5. Swordfish: 22 to 62 mph (36 to 100 km/h)
Swordfish swimming in dark waters. (Image: Shutterstock)
The swordfish (Xiphias joyius) is also a contender for the title of fastest animal, with an estimated top speed of more than 62 mph (100 km/h). This figure comes from Russian research translated into English and published in the early 1960s.
A 2007 study published in the Royal Journal of Social Interfaces found that speeds above 62 mph can exceed the physical limits of any fish or crustacean (like fish). pigs, whales). The researchers found that bubbles created by animals while swimming can deflate their fins and cause damage if they move faster than 10 to 15 meters per second, or 22 to 34 miles per hour. (36 to 54 km/h). In other words, these speeds will be difficult for animals that can swim in water because they will injure themselves by moving too fast.
The swordfish may still be the fastest fish in the ocean despite likely not being able to travel faster than 22 mph. Fish use swords and large, elongated bodies to reduce drag and create streaks in the water. According to a 2016 study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, swordfish secrete oil from their pores to create a lubricating oil layer, which can reduce drag and increase swimming efficiency. of them.
6. Dall Dolphin: 34 mph (54 km/h)
Dall dolphins swim off the coast of Alaska. (Image: Shutterstock)
Dall dolphins (Phocoenoides dalli) glide through water at speeds of up to 34 mph (54 km/h), according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDC), a wildlife charity that trains focus on crustaceans.
NOAA says Dall dolphins live in the frigid waters of the North Pacific. Dall dolphins are a group of marine mammals separate from dolphins, with longer bodies and elongated beaks. Orcas (Orcinus orca), the largest member of the dolphin family, can also reach speeds of 34 mph.
7. Brazilian free-tailed bat: 100 mph (160 km/h)
Brazilian free-tailed bats in Mato Grosso, Brazil. (Image: Getty)
The fastest flying animal on record is not a bird but a mammal. A 2016 study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science found that Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) flew at 44.5 m/s, or 100 mph (160 km/h). . The study tracked female bats that weighed only about 0.4 ounces (11 to 12 grams).
Some experts believe that the white-necked warbler (Hirundapus caudacutus), a member of the swiftlet family, can fly faster at speeds of 169 km/h. However, this has not been scientifically proven.
Brazilian free-tailed bats are not only found in Brazil as their name suggests. They live in an area stretching from Argentina and Chile in South America, through Central America into the United States, including the states of Oregon and Ohio. These small bats tend to sleep in large numbers in a few locations, which makes them vulnerable to human disturbance and habitat destruction, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Service. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
8. Golden Eagle: Nearly 200 mph (322 km/h)
A golden eagle lands in the snow in Telemark, Norway. (Image: Getty)
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the largest birds in North America, with a wingspan of more than 7 feet (2.2 m). They fly fast despite their large size and can dash through the air at speeds of nearly 200 mph (322 km/h). Their habitat range extends throughout the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
9. Peregrine Falcon: 220 mph (354 km/h)
The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal in the world today. (Image: Getty)
The Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is the fastest animal in the world and can reach speeds of up to 220 mph (354 km/h) while soaring through the air as it hunts other birds. Their typical flight speed is between 40 and 60 mph (64 to 97 km/h). These falcons are adapted for speed with pointed, elongated wings, a sternum adapted for attachment with powerful muscles, and stiff feathers that reduce drag. According to the National Wildlife Federation, the Peregrine Falcon can be found all over the world and on every continent except Antarctica.
