Hobbies And Interests

What Are the Fastest Animals on the Planet?

Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man as of 2011, runs at a top speed of 27.3 miles per hour. But while Bolt has won multiple Olympic gold medals, he's far outclassed by animals like the cheetah, peregrine falcon and sailfish in terms of pure speed. On the other hand, the Anna's Hummingbird is the world's fastest animal as measured by body lengths per second.
  1. Peregrine Falcon

    • The peregrine falcon is the world's fastest animal, with a top speed of 200 mph when diving, as National Geographic News reports. The peregrine falcon hunts other birds such as pigeons and blackbirds for food. Using its tremendous diving speed, the peregrine falcon is often able to kill its prey on initial impact. The Peregrine Fund notes that peregrine falcons live in a wide range of habitats in every continent except Antarctica.

    Cheetah

    • The cheetah, well-known for its swiftness, is the world's fastest animal by land. Cheetahs can reach speeds of 70 miles per hour in 200-yard sprints. As the African Wildlife Foundation notes, cheetahs are the only cats that cannot retract their claws, which helps them maintain traction while running at top speeds. Cheetahs inhabit open and partially open savannas, primarily in Africa.

    Sailfish

    • The sailfish is the world's fastest animal in water. National Geographic News, citing the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoo, reports that sailfish can reach speeds of 68 mph. The sailfish takes advantage of its speed to both hunt smaller sea creatures and escape from larger predators such as sharks.

    Anna's Hummingbird

    • As "The Telegraph" reports, researchers at the University of California in 2009 declared the Anna's Hummingbird to be the world's fastest animal as measured by body lengths per second. The 4-inch male Anna's Hummingbird can reach a velocity of 385 body lengths per second when diving; in comparison, a fighter jet with afterburners on attains a speed of 150 "body lengths" per second.


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