Ever wondered which ten land animals are the fastest? One essential quality for animals to have in order to live in the wild is speed. Hunting prey or evading a predator both benefit from it. Curiously, organisms differ in their rates of speed, with the swift having the upper hand over the sluggish.
Because survival in the wild is based on fitness, speed is a crucial quality. Many species have the ability to move quickly, but some stand out and have amazed people with their extraordinary speed. The top 10 fastest land creatures that are worthy of recognition are listed below.
Top 10 fastest land animals and their speeds & species
Most terrestrial creatures have an advantage over their rivals in hunting and defense due to their speed. The list of the world’s fastest land animals is provided below.
10. Ostrich (70 km/h)
Today’s largest bird on Earth and the swiftest land bird due to their lack of wings is the ostrich (Struthio camelus). The San Diego Zoo claims that ostriches may reach up to 43 mph (70 km/h) during brief bursts of speed because to their large, powerful legs.
Ostriches may reach a height of 2.7 meters (9 feet) and have a stride length of 3 to 5 meters (10 to 16 feet). These enormous birds of prey utilize their swiftness to avoid harm, even from lions and other predators.
Ostriches inhabit the semi-arid woods and lowlands of Africa, which include Senegal and Mauritania in the west. The Africa Wildlife Foundation states that South Africa and Zimbabwe are in the south, and Somalia and Tanzania are in the east.
9. Greyhound (72 km/h)
- Speed: 72 km/h
- Lifespan: 10 to 14 years
- Origin: England, British Isles
The Greyhound is a calm, sensitive, and perceptive hunting dog breed. Consequently, this breed is now well-liked as a family pet. This animal’s capacity to sprint quickly—up to 74 km/h—is its greatest feature.
It can sprint at amazing speeds because of its long, powerful legs, broad chest, flexible spine, and slender build. They can also stride a great distance because of their extraordinarily long, powerful legs. Additionally, when running, the long, pointed tail serves as a rudder and brake.
They are a species that may also accelerate rapidly in a little amount of time. The only animal you should think about bringing inside is the greyhound.
8. Hare (77 km/h)
- Speed: 77km/h
- Weight: 3.8 kg
- Length: 53cm
In order to avoid predators in their grassy home, hares may attain speeds of up to 80 km/h thanks to their strong, powerful hind legs.
The hare lives on the ground alone or in couples and resembles an ordinary rabbit with larger ears. Because this rabbit can jump in addition to sprint, it is challenging to catch slower opponents.
7. Blackbuck Antelope (80 km/h)
- Speed: 80km/h
- Weight: 36 kg
- Length: 1.2 m
- Species: Cervicapra
Indian antelope is another name for blackbuck antelope. Thanks to their enormous 6.5-meter stride, they can sustain a high speed of 80 km/h for over 1.5 kilometers.
On the list of the fastest animals in the world today, the blackbuck is tragically an endangered species and a target for intense hunting because to its spectacular male horns.
6. Lion (81 km/h)
- speed: 81km/h
- species: Panthera leo
Although the lion is one of the biggest and most deadly predators on the planet, it is not very fast. When hunting, lions may swiftly attain a top speed of 81 km/h.
In 3 to 5 seconds, the lion can compute the distance and reach its maximum running speed of 80 km/h. But since they frequently hunt in packs, lions’ ability to catch prey depends on more than just speed.
5. Wildebeest (82 km/h)
- Speed: 82km/h
- Weight: 260 – 290kg
- Height: 170 – 240cm
The wildebeest is an African-only indigenous species. There are two varieties: black wildebeest and blue wildebeest. The highest running speed attained by wildebeest is 80 km/h.
Because of the way their bodies are built, they can run for endurance rather than speed, which is useful for their ongoing land migration. The most notable yearly migration of any mammal, wildebeests travel in herds of 1,000–100,000 individuals in search of food.
4. Quarter Horse (nearly 71km/h–88 km/h)
- Speed: 71 km/h
- Length: 2.4 m
- Lifespan: 25 – 30 years
- Species: Caballus
Humans have domesticated horses for use in transportation and leisure. 88 km/h is the fastest running speed that several horse species can reach.
It is harder for wild horses to reach this pace than it is for purebred horses that have been nurtured by people since they need to be taught and given the right diet.
3. Antelope Springbok (nearly 89km/h)
- Speed: 89 km/h
- Height: 70 – 90 cm
- Species: A. marsupialis
- Weight: 33 – 48 kg
They are commonly referred to as leaping antelopes and are found mostly in Africa’s savannas. The peak running speed of a springbok antelope is 89 km/h, but only over short distances.
This animal also has a variety of unique abilities, including the ability to jump three meters high, shift positions, and sprint quickly in one direction or another. Again, very few other creatures are able to possess this skill.
2. Pronghorn Antelope (98.5 km/h)
- Speed: 98km/h (maximum), 88.5km/h (average)
- Height: 81 – 100 cm
- Weight: 35 – 65 kg
The second-fastest running mammal in the world is the pronghorn antelope, sometimes referred to as the American antelope. But for the largest distance, this animal is able to run at its quickest pace.
For the first few kilometers, it can sustain a speed of around 56 km/h, and for shorter distances, it can go much faster. Pronghorns can attain a maximum speed of around 88 km/h when sprinting to avoid predators because of their excellent hoof cushioning and capacity to breathe heavily when running.
1. Jaguar Cheetah (130km/h)
- Speed: 80 – 130 km/h (running, estimated)
- Length: 1.1 m – 1.5 m
- Species: Jubatus
The cheetah, known for its exceptional speed, holds the title of the fastest animal in the world. Primarily residing in Africa, this remarkable species is distinguished by various classifications, including Asian cheetahs, leopards, black panthers, and more. Yet, it is the cheetah alone that claims the crown for unparalleled speed within the journalistic family.
Boasting a flawless physique characterized by long legs, a slender waist, a lightweight skeleton, a flexed spine, and an elongated tail, cheetahs can achieve astonishing speeds ranging from 85 to 130 km/h. Notably, their acceleration from 0 to 95 km/h in under 3 seconds rivals that of high-performance supercars like Lamborghini and Bugatti.
The acceleration of cheetahs surpasses even that of jets, enabling them to materialize and strike their prey with the swiftness of the wind. However, it’s crucial to note that while cheetahs can maintain their maximum speed of 120 to 130 km/h, this extraordinary velocity is sustained for a brief duration of only 25 seconds. Their ability to chase prey over the maximum distance is limited to 500 meters.
FAQs
Lion’s Top Speed:
- A lion can attain a maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Cheetah vs. Ostrich:
- In a speed comparison, the cheetah outpaces the ostrich, as the cheetah can reach speeds of 70 mph (113 km/h), while the ostrich reaches 43 mph (69 km/h).
Fastest Animal in North America:
- The pronghorn holds the title of the fastest land creature in North America, achieving speeds of up to 60 mph (97 km/h).
Beyond Cheetah Speed:
- No other animal surpasses the incredible speed of the cheetah, which can sprint at 70 mph (113 km/h).
Fastest Animal Worldwide:
- The cheetah secures its position as the fastest creature globally.
Fastest Land Animal in Africa:
- The cheetah reigns as the fastest land animal in Africa.
Slowest Land Animal:
- At the opposite end of the speed spectrum, the sloth claims the title of the slowest creature on land.
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