Fastest animals - Knowledge (XXG)

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straight line over a measured course. Laboratory measurements of numerous kinds of fishes — representing a wide range of body sizes — swimming against an artificial current have revealed a surprisingly uniform maximum burst speed of about 10 times the body length per second. Thus, for an average-sized, 2 m (6.5 ft) shortfin, its theoretical maximum speed might be something on the order of 72 km/h (45 mph). Yet some estimates of the top-speed of a shortfin mako are considerably higher.

3700: 641:, tracked running up to 322 body lengths per second, equivalent to a human running at around 2,092 km/h (1,300 mph). Because of this feat, it is ranked the fastest animal on the planet relative to its body size. It can also achieve this speed across a concrete surface at a temperature of 60 °C (140 °F), which is lethal to many animals. 1272:

Pronghorns can reach a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) in good conditions, and a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) normally. They can reach speeds of 72 km/h (45 mph) in a 2-3 km course. Estimated by observing the odometer when the animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a

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The comfortable hopping speed for a kangaroo is about 21–26 km/h (13–16 mph), but speeds of up to 71 km/h (44 mph) can be attained over short distances, while it can sustain a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) for nearly 2 km (1.2 mi). The faster a kangaroo hops, the

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The pronghorn (American antelope) is the fastest animal over long distances; it can run at 56 km/h (35 mph) for 6 km (3.7 mi), 67 km/h (42 mph) for 1.6 km (0.99 mi), and 88.5 km/h (55.0 mph) for 0.8 km (0.50 mi). Its top speed is estimated

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Underwater and unimpeded by a fishing line, the Shortfin mako has been reliably clocked at 50 km/h (31 mph), and there is a claim that one individual of this species achieved a burst speed of 74 km/h (46 mph). But it is extremely difficult to get a fish in the wild to swim in a

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Different sources cite different speeds; estimates include 96–120 km/h (60–75 mph), 98 km/h (61 mph), 100 km/h (62 mph), 104 km/h (65 mph), and 104.4 km/h (64.9 mph). There is a tendency to overestimate the speed of fast animals, and claims of the

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at about 1.4 m/s (5.0 km/h; 3.1 mph) and run at about 5.1 m/s (18 km/h; 11 mph). Although humans are capable of walking at speeds from nearly 0 m/s to upwards of 2.5 m/s (9.0 km/h; 5.6 mph) and running one mile (1.6 kilometers) in anywhere between

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The highest reliably measured running speed for ostriches is 61 km/h (38 mph), obtained by speedometer reading when a car was chasing an ostrich in a straight line chase to force it to move as fast as it could. Although there are reports of speeds of 72–97 km/h (45–60 mph) for

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In full stoop, a golden eagle can reach spectacular speeds of up to 240 to 320 km/h (150 to 200 mph) when diving after prey. Although less agile and maneuverable, the golden eagle is apparently quite the equal and possibly even the superior of the peregrine falcon's stooping and gliding

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The 60 mph (97 km/h) figure listed for the swordfish is based on a corrupted version of calculations made by Sir James Gray to estimate the impact speed necessary for a hypothetical 600-pound (270 kg) swordfish to embed its sword 3 feet in the timbers of ships, as has been known to

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The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at speeds up to

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A widely quoted top speed figure of 71 mph (114 km/h) has been discredited due to lax and questionable methodology. The highest speed reliably and rigorously measured in cheetahs in a straight line is 29 m/s (104 km/h), as an average of 3 runs over a 201.2-meter (220 yards) course

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etre world record at 9.58 seconds. His absolute fastest speed during that sprint was 13.21 m/s (47.6 km/h; 29.5 mph) at one stride between 50 and 70 meters. The average speed of this race, including the brief reaction time immediately after the commencement of the race, was

159:. The peregrine achieves its highest velocity not in horizontal level flight, but during its characteristic hunting stoop (vertical flight). While stooping, the peregrine falcon soars to a great height, then dives steeply at speed of over 320 km/h (200 mph). 1237:

The cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 96.6 km/h (60.0 mph) in under three seconds, though endurance is limited: most cheetahs run for only 60 seconds at a time. When sprinting, cheetahs spend more time in the air than on the ground. See

957:. While not the fastest bird at level (horizontal) flight, its great speed is achieved in its hunting dive (vertical flight), the stoop, wherein it soars to a great height, then dives steeply at speeds of over 200 mph (320 km/h). 694:, United States, sailfish swam and leapt 91 meters (300 ft) in 3 seconds, equivalent to a speed of 109 km/h (68 mph), although this speed includes leaps out of the water, which do not strictly qualify as swimming speed. 2088:

Svendsen, Morten B. S.; Domenici, Paolo; Marras, Stefano; Krause, Jens; Boswell, Kevin M.; Rodriguez-Pinto, Ivan; Wilson, Alexander D. M.; Kurvers, Ralf H. J. M.; Viblanc, Paul E.; Finger, Jean S.; Steffensen, John F. (2016).

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When hunting, African wild dogs can sprint at 66 km/h (41 mph) in bursts, and they can maintain speeds of 56–60 km/h (35–37 mph) for up to 4.8 km (3 mi). Their targeted prey rarely escapes.

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The blackbuck antelope can sustain speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph) for over 1.5 km (0.93 mi) at a time. Each of its strides (i.e., the distance between its hoofprints) is 5.8–6.7 m (19–22 ft).

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Tigers live in jungles, and have been recorded going anywhere from 30 mph (48 km/h) to 40 mph (64 km/h); much like the cheetah and lion, however, they only maintain this for a short burst.

730:, which slows them down as vapour accumulates. Tuna have bony fins without nerve endings, which prevents the fish from feeling the pain of cavitation but does not fully protect them from the implosive damage. 2603: 1468:

The jackrabbit's strong hind legs allow it to leap 3 m (9.8 ft) in one bound; some can even reach 6 m (20 ft). Jackrabbits use a combination of leaps and zig-zags to outrun predators.

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Assuming the maximum size at 58 cm (23 in), its relative speed clocks at 186 body lengths per second during its hunting swoop, the equivalent of a human running at 170 m/s (560 ft/s).

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Coyotes can easily reach 48 km/h (30 mph), and can sprint at 65 km/h (40 mph) when hunting. Even without a front foot, a coyote can still run at around 32 km/h (20 mph).

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Assuming the maximum size at 1.02 m (3 ft 4 in), its relative speed clocks at 66–87 body lengths per second, the equivalent of a human running at 60–80 m/s (197–262 ft/s).

106:, which is the fastest insect in the world relative to body size, with a recorded speed of 1.86 metres per second (6.7 km/h; 4.2 mph), or 171 body lengths per second. The 89:, which has a speed of 322 body lengths per second. The equivalent speed for a human, running as fast as this mite, would be 1,300 mph (2,092 km/h), or approximately 1454:

Hares can reach maximum speeds of 35 mph (56 km/h) in short distances of approximately 90 meters, and a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) for about 20 meters.

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Due to physical constraints, fish may be incapable of exceeding swim speeds of 36 km/h (22 mph). The larger reported figures below are therefore highly questionable:

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Mohler, B. J.; Thompson, W. B.; Creem-Regehr, S. H.; Pick, H. L. Jr; Warren, W. H. Jr. (2007). "Visual flow influences gait transition speed and preferred walking speed".

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in the world relative to body size, which has been recorded at 6.8 km/h (4.2 mph) or 171 body lengths per second. It can fly at 43 km/h (27 mph).

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Browning, Raymond C.; Baker, Emily A.; Herron, Jessica A.; Kram, Rodger (2006). "Effects of obesity and sex on the energetic cost and preferred speed of walking".

4818: 2611: 2091:"Maximum swimming speeds of sailfish and three other large marine predatory fish species based on muscle contraction time and stride length: a myth revisited" 3108: 2200: 1367:. Both are extremely fast runners, which allows them to flee from predators. They are better at maintaining endurance for long distances than at sprinting. 1554:

Zebras have a home range anywhere between 11 and 232 sq mi (28 and 601 km) and they can travel 10 mi (16 km) a day while grazing.

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Catry, Paulo; Phillips, Richard (13 May 2004). "Sustained fast travel by a gray-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma) riding an antarctic storm".

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Natural History Magazine (March 1974). The American Museum of Natural History; and James G. Doherty, general curator, The Wildlife Conservation Society

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species are capable of swimming at fast speeds colloquially cited at around 80 km/h (50 mph). The tails of tuna move fast enough to cause

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Biomechanical Analysis of the Sprint and Hurdles events at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Athletics (Rolf Graubner & Eberhard Nixdorf,

1712:) can run at 56 km/h, the maximum speed reliably recorded at Yellowstone is 48 km/h. It has been speculated that American black bears ( 4057: 4162: 3625: 5160: 3824: 3533: 3487: 3311: 2816: 1787:

with a time of 2:00:35, corresponding to 20.99 km/h (13.04 mph). The world record for longest distance run continuously is held by

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occur; the figure seems to have entered the literature without question as though someone had actually timed a swordfish at that speed.

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Minetti, A. E. (2000). "The three modes of terrestrial locomotion". In Benno Maurus Nigg; Brian R. MacIntosh; Joachim Mester (eds.).

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Estimates include 64 km/h (40 mph), 70 km/h (43 mph), and 72 km/h (45 mph) (some attribute this to the

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McKean, Tom; Ben Walker (September 1974). "Comparison of selected cardiopulmonary parameters between the pronghorn and the goat".

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The peregrine falcon is the fastest aerial animal, fastest animal in flight, fastest bird, and the overall fastest member of the

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Thomson's gazelles, being long-distance runners, can escape cheetahs by sheer endurance. Their speed is partially due to their "

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A hooked black marlin has been recorded stripping line off a fishing reel at 120 feet per second (82 mph; 132 km/h).

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Alexander, R. McN.; Maloiy, G. M. O.; Njau, R.; Jayes, A. S. (1979). "Mechanics of running of the ostrich (Strutio camelus)".

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Common dolphins are the fastest marine mammals. When reaching their top speed, they take very short breaths. As an example,

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The stated speed equals 276 body lengths per second, the highest known length-specific velocity attained by any vertebrate.

30: 367:, the cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 96.6 km/h (60.0 mph) in under three seconds, though endurance is limited. 5102: 2452: 925: 4039:

Virchow, Dallas; Hygnstrom, Scott; Ferraro, Dennis (1 January 2003). "G03-1526 Prevention and Control of Rabbit Damage".

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When drawing comparisons between different classes of animals, an alternative unit is sometimes used for organisms:

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Pigeons have been clocked flying 92.5 mph (148.9 km/h) average speed on a 400-mile (640 km) race.

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Pigeons have been clocked flying 92.5 mph (148.9 km/h) average speed on a 400-mile (640 km) race.

192: 2533: 83:. On this basis the 'fastest' organism on earth, relative to its body length, is the Southern Californian mite, 4985: 3549:

Williams, Terrie M.; Dobson, G. P.; Mathieu-Costello, O.; Morsbach, D.; Worley, M. B.; Phillips, J. A. (1997).

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Garland, Theodore (1983). "The relation between maximal running speed and body mass in terrestrial mammals".

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Estimates include 64 km/h (39.8 mph), 64.4 km/h (40 mph), and 65 km/h (40 mph)

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Estimates include 67 km/h (42 mph), 68.4 km/h (42.5 mph), and 69 km/h (43 mph).

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Sustained ground speed for approximately nine hours with no rest on high tailwinds during an Antarctic storm.

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The frigatebird's high speed is helped by its having the largest wing-area-to-body-weight ratio of any bird.

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The frigatebird's high speed is helped by its having the largest wing-area-to-body-weight ratio of any bird.

3994: 3025:"Black wildebeest skeletal muscle exhibits high oxidative capacity and a high proportion of type IIx fibres" 1944: 1795: 1730: