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| Peregrine Falcon Photo by Alan Vernon |
Bearing all of the above in mind, the following list consists of two each of the fastest animals in the world, per group, as far as we know. Included are insects, birds, mammals, reptiles and fish. Now, if this list were to be compiled based solely on speed, birds would dominate the list. In fact, the Peregrine falcon’s dive is nearly twice as fast as any animal, including birds, on this list. It is most certainly the fastest animal in the world. However, included here are only the birds with the top level flying speed.
Fastest Animals in the World: Land Mammals
The Cheetah is often thought of as the fastest animal in the world. However, it is only the fastest animal on land. This is not to say that they are not astoundingly fast, though. A Cheetah can actually outrun cars, which are going the speed limit, on most highways. Their top recorded speed is 70 miles per hour.
The next fastest land mammal could not outrun the cheetah, but it can outrun its natural predators. This animal is the Pronghorn antelope. They can run up to 53 miles per hour.
Fastest Animals in the World: Reptiles
It’s difficult to say which reptiles are the fastest in the world. However, it is widely believed that the Black Spiny-tailed iguana is the fastest. This little lizard can run at speeds around 21 miles per hour.
The next animal on our list may actually be able to go one mile an hour faster than the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana. This reptile is the Leatherback sea turtle. However, there is not a lot of information available on this animal’s speed. Also, like most marine creatures, their speed is difficult to gauge accurately.
Fastest Animals in the World: Birds
As mentioned above, Peregrine Falcons are most certainly the fastest animals in the world. However, their top speed is based on their dive. Spine-tailed swifts have the fastest level flying speed. They are capable of flying at speeds up to 106 miles per hour.
Coming in just behind the Spine-tailed swift is the Frigate bird. These birds can fly up to 95 miles per hour. They’re also very interesting looking creatures. You really wouldn’t think them capable of such speed, especially if you saw the male trying to impress his potential mate.
Fastest Animals in the World: Fish
It is very difficult to gauge the speed of fish. However, some methods of measuring their speed have been used and some hypotheses exist on the subject. Using one of these methods to measure a fish’s speed, researchers measured the leaping speed of the sailfish. It was capable of moving 68 miles per hour.
The speed of this next animal is not quite certain and some believe that the Marlin is faster than this creature. Nonetheless, the Mako shark is often said to be the second fastest fish in the world. It may be capable of speeds up to 60 miles per hour.
Fastest Animals in the World: Insects
Many insects’ speeds have not been measured extensively, or at all. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to accurately state which are the fastest. However, the following two are often thought to be the fastest in the world.
The Hawkmoth is capable of speeds up to 33 miles per hour. However, the Tabinid fly and Horseflies may be much faster. In fact, the Tabanid fly may be able to reach speeds up to 90 miles per hour.
Dragonflies are capable of speeds up to 19 miles per hour. This may not seem like much when compared to the insects mentioned above. Nonetheless, various sources actually claim that they are the fastest insects in the world. This isn’t likely, but they are among the fastest. Most humans couldn’t catch up to them.
Fastest Animals in the World: Land Mammals
The Cheetah is often thought of as the fastest animal in the world. However, it is only the fastest animal on land. This is not to say that they are not astoundingly fast, though. A Cheetah can actually outrun cars, which are going the speed limit, on most highways. Their top recorded speed is 70 miles per hour.
The next fastest land mammal could not outrun the cheetah, but it can outrun its natural predators. This animal is the Pronghorn antelope. They can run up to 53 miles per hour.
Fastest Animals in the World: Reptiles
It’s difficult to say which reptiles are the fastest in the world. However, it is widely believed that the Black Spiny-tailed iguana is the fastest. This little lizard can run at speeds around 21 miles per hour.
The next animal on our list may actually be able to go one mile an hour faster than the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana. This reptile is the Leatherback sea turtle. However, there is not a lot of information available on this animal’s speed. Also, like most marine creatures, their speed is difficult to gauge accurately.
Fastest Animals in the World: Birds
As mentioned above, Peregrine Falcons are most certainly the fastest animals in the world. However, their top speed is based on their dive. Spine-tailed swifts have the fastest level flying speed. They are capable of flying at speeds up to 106 miles per hour.
Coming in just behind the Spine-tailed swift is the Frigate bird. These birds can fly up to 95 miles per hour. They’re also very interesting looking creatures. You really wouldn’t think them capable of such speed, especially if you saw the male trying to impress his potential mate.
Fastest Animals in the World: Fish
It is very difficult to gauge the speed of fish. However, some methods of measuring their speed have been used and some hypotheses exist on the subject. Using one of these methods to measure a fish’s speed, researchers measured the leaping speed of the sailfish. It was capable of moving 68 miles per hour.
The speed of this next animal is not quite certain and some believe that the Marlin is faster than this creature. Nonetheless, the Mako shark is often said to be the second fastest fish in the world. It may be capable of speeds up to 60 miles per hour.
Fastest Animals in the World: Insects
Many insects’ speeds have not been measured extensively, or at all. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to accurately state which are the fastest. However, the following two are often thought to be the fastest in the world.
The Hawkmoth is capable of speeds up to 33 miles per hour. However, the Tabinid fly and Horseflies may be much faster. In fact, the Tabanid fly may be able to reach speeds up to 90 miles per hour.
Dragonflies are capable of speeds up to 19 miles per hour. This may not seem like much when compared to the insects mentioned above. Nonetheless, various sources actually claim that they are the fastest insects in the world. This isn’t likely, but they are among the fastest. Most humans couldn’t catch up to them.
These animals are certainly some of the fastest in the world. There are definitely others that are as fast, or perhaps even faster than those mentioned, with the exception of the Peregrine falcon. However, at this point, it is impossible for us to know just how fast some animals are capable of moving. Despite our vast reach in this world, there are still things we don’t know or can’t measure. Until such a time as we can, certain mysteries will remain.
Sources
Pronghorn, animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/antelope.html
The World’s Fastest Birds, thetravelalmanac.com/lists/birds-speed.htm
Sources
Pronghorn, animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/antelope.html
The World’s Fastest Birds, thetravelalmanac.com/lists/birds-speed.htm
The Fastest fish in the world, thetravelalmanac.com/lists/fish-speed.htm
The Leatherback Sea Turtle, bagheera.com/intheworld/van-anim.turtle.htm
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