Of the world’s fastest animals, a few run on land, some can be seen in the sky, and certain species can be seen swimming in water. Speed is one of the essential survival strategies for animals to protect themselves from predators and get hold of their prey to meet their dietary requirements. The word ‘fast’ and ‘cheetah’ are synonymous, yet when it comes to the fastest animals, most flying animals (birds in particular) surpass them. However, it is unbeatable on land, racing at speeds as much as 70 mph.
They are large and the fastest in flapping flight.
4. Eurasian Hobby
100 mph
Flight
They are extremely fast when making a diving motion. Though small and slender, they may sometimes fly faster than the swift while hunting.
5. Mexican Free-tailed Bat
99 mph
Flight
It’s the world’s fastest mammal. These bats fly to a height of around 10,000 feet.
6. Frigatebird
95 mph
Flight
The frigatebird has the highest wing to body weight ratio contributing to their high speed.
7. Rock Dove
92.5 mph
Flight
They follow a steady path while flying.
8. Spur-winged Goose
88 mph
Flight
The spurs on their wings (as their name suggests) make these geese fly fast.
9. Gyrafalcon
80 mph
Flight
It is the fastest bird in the world when it comes to level flight (maintaining a consistent height when flying above the ground with the help of feathers and muscles)
10. Grey-headed Albatross
79 mph
Flight
Their high speed in flight helps them circumnavigate the world in a month.
11. Cheetah
65-75 mph
Land
The cheetah’s long neck, long legs, and small head give it the required speed needed for running. Despite being fast runners, most run for not more than 60 seconds at a go.
12. Sailfish
67.85 mph
Marine
Their bodies look like torpedoes as they fold their fins back and proceed toward their prey at top speed.
It is the second fastest land animal and the fastest to cover long distances. The pronghorn is also North America’s fastest land animal. Under suitable conditions, they cover a maximum speed of 60 mph.
4. Springbok
55 mph
Known for its jumping ability, it can leap up to more than 10 feet.
5. Domestic Horse
55 mph
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6. Common Tsessebe
45-55 mph
They are one of the fastest antelopes.
7. Impala
45-55 mph
The impala is intelligent enough while competing with high-speed animals like the cheetah. It sometimes slows down and even changes its speed to confuse its predators.
They use the echolocation technique when they fly by emitting a sound wave. This helps them steer clear of all obstacles that come their way during flight.
