Let’s talk about speed. Speed is very important for survival, sometimes in hunting down the prey and sometimes in defense. We have gathered a list of the top 16 fastest animals on land, in the air, and water.
Fastest Animals in the World
Number 16: Pronghorn → 97 km/hr
A pronghorn can run up to 60 miles per hour or 97 Kilometres per hour. Pronghorn is a mammal indigenous to western and central North America. This speed helps them get away from wolves, cougars, and bears.
Number 15: Ostrich → 97 km/hr
An Ostrich can also run up to 60 miles per hour or 97 kilometers per hour. Ostriches are the heaviest birds on the planet and cannot fly.
Number 14: Swordfish → 97km/hr
A swordfish can swim up to 60 miles per hour or 97 Kilometres per hour. Swordfish are found in mild temperature parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. It is a predatory fish with a long pointed bill and weight of 650 kg.
Number 13: Anna’s Hummingbird → 98km/hr
Anna’s hummingbird can fly up to 61 miles per hour or 98 kilometers per hour. During locomotion, their wings help them through long flights. Their flights are exclusively powered by pectoral muscles, which are made up of glycolytic fibers, for the quick response and fatigue-resistance, due to which hummingbirds can maintain high wingbeat frequencies.
Number 12: Sailfish → 110km/hr
Sailfish can swim at the speed of 68 miles per hour or 110 kilometers per hour. Sailfish is well-known for being the fastest fish than any marine animal. It is capable of flying due to its large fin called a sail. Sailfish are thought to be capable of changing colors which helps them to communicate with mates and also to confuse their prey.
Number 11: Cheetah → 112 km/h
A Cheetah can run up to 70 miles per hour or 112 kilometers per hour and is well known as the fastest land animal which can achieve its highest speed level in just three seconds. Their speed helps them to hunt their prey.
Number 10: Grey Headed Albatross → 127 km/hr
A Grey-Headed Albatross also known as mollymawk can fly up to 79 miles per hour or 127 kilometers per hour. Albatross are capable of taking long restless flights. Due to their high speed, mollymawk can successfully reach their destination as well as capture their prey on strong stormy nights in the Antarctic oceans.
Number 9: Gyrfalcon → 128km/hr
A Gyrfalcon can fly up to 80 miles per hour or 128 kilometers per hour. Falco Rusticolus are mainly avian hunters. Their speed allows them a long chase of their prey. They stoop downwards and hunt near the ground.
Number 8: Spur Winged Goose → 142km/hr
A Spur-winged Goose can fly up to 88 miles per hour or 142 kilometers per hour. They are venomous and sharp birds as they hold the poison in their bodies which saves them from predation. Spur-winged Goose usually survives on a steady diet of blister beetles as well as vegetables and crops such as maize.
Number 7: Rock Dove → 148km/hr
A Rock Dove is also known as a “common pigeon” can fly up to 92 miles per hour or 148 kilometers per hour. Their flying speed saves them from becoming prey, however, they are one of the favorites for a vast range of raptors in the World.
Number 6: Frigate Bird → 153 km/hr
A Frigate Bird is one of the members of the seabird family which can fly up to 95 miles per hour or 153 kilometers per hour. Their speed helps them to catch their prey from the upper surface of the ocean such as flying fishes, with the help of their long hooked beaks.
Number 5: Eurasian hobby → 160 km/h
A Eurasian hobby is a small-sized slim falcon that can fly up to 100 miles per hour or 160 kilometers per hour. Eurasian Hobby can easily be found in the forests of Africa, Europa, and Asia. Their speedy hunting stoops help them capture their prey in a matter of seconds.
Number 4: Brazilian free-tailed bat → 160 km/h
A Brazilian free-tailed bat can fly up to 100 miles per hour or 160 kilometers per hour. These bats are famous for having unbelievable speed. Brazilian free-tailed bats are found in abundance in North America.
Number 3: White-Throated Needletail (also known as the Spine Tailed Swift) → 171km/hr
A White-Throated Needletail also known as Spine Tailed Swift can fly up to 106 miles per hour or 171 kilometers per hour. They are well known for being the fastest flapping birds. They are abundantly found in the rocky hills of Siberia and Asia.
Number 2: Golden eagle → 322 km/h
A Golden eagle can fly up to almost 200 miles per hour or 322 kilometers per hour. Their vast diving speed towards the ground helps them chase and capture their prey. They are known as the largest raptor of North America. Golden eagles are found in the northern hemisphere in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America.
Number 1: Peregrine falcon → 389 km/h
A Peregrine falcon also known as a duck hawk can fly up to 242 miles per hour or 389 kilometers per hour. This bird is the World’s fastest known animal. Peregrine falcons are famous for their speed and hunting stoops. Peregrine falcon is commonly found in most parts of the world except extreme solar regions.
Summary
- Pronghorn: 97 km/hr
- Ostrich: 97 km/hr
- Swordfish: 97km/hr
- Anna’s Hummingbird: 98km/hr
- Sailfish: 110km/hr
- Cheetah: 112 km/h
- Grey Headed Albatross: 127 km/hr
- Gyrfalcon: 128km.hr
- Spur Winged Goose: 142km/hr
- Rock Dove: 148km/hr
- Frigate Bird: 153 km/hr
- Eurasian hobby: 160 km/h
- Brazilian free-tailed bat: 160 km/h
- White-Throated Needletail (also known as the Spine Tailed Swift): 171km/hr
- Golden eagle: 322 km/h
- Peregrine falcon: 389 km/h
