Fastest Animals in the World
When posed with the question, “What is the fastest animal on Earth?” the answer may not be as straightforward as one might think. It’s not fair to compare the speed of animals that fly in the air with those that swim in water or those that run on land, as each environment presents its own unique challenges and requires specific adaptations for animals to achieve their maximum speed.
Cheetah: The Fastest Land Animal
The cheetah (scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus) holds the title for the fastest land animal, reaching an impressive speed of 64.8 miles per hour (29 meters per second). However, this remarkable speed is only sustainable over short distances, as cheetahs are unable to maintain their top speed for extended periods.
Characterized by a slender body covered in a light brown coat with distinctive black spots measuring between 2-3 centimeters in diameter, cheetahs have a white underbelly. Their narrow, deep chest, long tail ending in a prominent white tuft, and relatively small head contribute to their streamlined appearance. Each eye is adorned with a black streak known as the “tear mark,” which serves to protect the eyes from the sun’s glare. An adult cheetah typically weighs between 40 and 65 kilograms, with a body length of 115 to 135 centimeters and a tail length of up to 84 centimeters. Male cheetahs can be slightly larger than females, often displaying a larger head as well.
Other Fast Terrestrial Animals
Here are some additional land-dwelling animals that can run at high speeds, though they fall short of the cheetah:
- American Pronghorn Antelope, reaching speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.
- Blue Wildebeest, at speeds of 50 miles per hour.
- Lion, also capable of reaching 50 miles per hour.
- Thomson’s Gazelle, achieving speeds of 50 miles per hour.
- Brown Hare, with a maximum speed of 48 miles per hour.
Peregrine Falcon: The Fastest Bird
The Peregrine Falcon (scientific name: Falco peregrinus) is celebrated as the fastest bird in the world. While its normal flying speed ranges between 40 to 60 miles per hour, it can reach astonishing speeds of up to 220 miles per hour (354 km/h) when diving. The falcon’s streamlined body shape, pointed wings, powerful chest muscles, and strong feathers help reduce air resistance during flight.
The Peregrine Falcon is the most widespread species of raptor, found on every continent. It typically inhabits open rocky areas near water, abundant in birds, and usually nests on cliff ledges. Some falcons also utilize nests built by other birds in trees or on tall structures like skyscrapers. Adult Peregrine Falcons measure between 13 – 19 inches (33 – 48 cm) in length, featuring grayish-blue plumage on the back and white or yellowish-white underparts adorned with black stripes.
After World War II, the population of Peregrine Falcons declined significantly due to the use of pesticides such as DDT and dieldrin, which weakened their eggshells. Thankfully, their numbers have rebounded following the banning of these harmful chemicals.
Sailfish: The Fastest Marine Animal
The sailfish, or Istiophorus, is recognized as the fastest marine animal, capable of swimming at speeds exceeding 68 miles per hour (110 km/h). Renowned for its vibrant colors, sailfish have a dark blue back, white underbelly with brown spots, and are adorned with 20 blue dot stripes along each side of their bodies. Their fins are usually a shade of blue, leaning toward black, except for the anal fins, which are white. Notably, sailfish feature an exceptionally long dorsal fin shaped like a sail, which they typically fold down while swimming but raise when facing predators to appear larger than they are.
Other Fast Fish
While there are some discrepancies in sources regarding the speeds of fish that fall below those of the sailfish, here is a ranked list of fast fish from fastest to slowest:
- Swordfish, reaching speeds of 60 miles per hour.
- Marlin, with speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
- Wahoo fish, capable of swimming at 48 miles per hour.
- Tuna, reaching 46 miles per hour.
- Bonito fish, with speeds of 40 miles per hour.
General Information on Animal Speeds
Below are the fastest representatives from various animal groups including marine mammals, reptiles, mollusks, and insects:
- The fastest marine mammal is the common dolphin, which can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h).
- The fastest reptile is the spiny-tailed iguana, with a maximum speed of 21.5 miles per hour (35 km/h).
- The fastest mollusks are the Humboldt and Jumbo squid, capable of speeds up to 15 miles per hour (24 km/h).
- The fastest insect is the Australian tiger beetle, which can reach speeds of 5.6 miles per hour (9 km/h).