If you ask anyone to name the fastest animal on Earth, they will most likely answer the cheetah. The focus on the feline's speed has taken away attention from other species, some three to more times faster than the cat. What are the speedy animals in the animal kingdom that are often overlooked?
It is evident that the speed of the cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) cannot be denied. It is also true that the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the fastest land animal. The cheetah is the world's fastest land animal, with a top speed of 64 mph (103 km/h). According to Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, some estimates put their top speed at 70 mph (113 km/h).
John Hutchinson, a Professor of Evolutionary Biomechanics at London's Royal Veterinary College, stated that the ideal body structure for the cheetah is a combination of leg length, muscle mass, and a long stride. A 2017 model that was based on 474 marine and land species, from whales to flies, showed that speed is strongly linked to size. Speed increases with increasing size until you reach an optimal. Larger animals can be slower than smaller ones, as they need more energy to accelerate. Hutchinson stated that a cheetah is the ideal size to speed up.
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Cheetahs can only be seen moving at a very slow speed over short distances. They don't chase prey at high speed for long distances. According to Nature's 2013 study, their hunting strategy is more about maneuvering and acceleration. Their endurance is very limited. Hutchinson stated that Cheetahs are not chase animals, just like other cats. According to "Built for Speed: A Year in The Life of Pronghorn" (Harvard University Press 2003), no other land species can reach speeds of 70 mph or 64 mph. However, the pronghorn Antlope (Antilocapra Americana) can travel at 45 mph (72 km/h for miles) and can achieve speeds of 60 mph (97 km/h).
The competition heats up when you add marine and avian species. Guinness World Records has recorded the dive speed of Falco peregrinus (Peregrine falcon) at more than 200 mph (322 km/h). Although scientists have not officially recorded a speed of this magnitude, it is possible that they can dive at speeds up to 350 mph (563 km/h).
Peregrine falcon hunts prey on the Cantabrian coast in Spain. (Image credit: Javier Fernndez Snchez via Getty Images)
Hutchinson stated that "quite a few flying birds" can fly faster than a cheetah. According to the National Audubon Society, the common swift (Apus.apus) can fly at speeds of 69 mph (111 km/h) and the white-throated needletail Hirundapus.caudacutus is capable of flying at speeds of 105mph (169 km/h).
There are also elite speedsters in the ocean. According to Britannica, black marlins (Istiompax Indica) have been recorded at 80 mph (1129 km/h), while the speed of the swordfish (Xiphias Gladius) or sailfish (Istiophorus), can reach speeds 60 mph (97.5 km/h), and 68 mph (109km/h, respectively according to data from ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research.
The cheetah is a worthy member of the fastest animals on Earth, but it doesn't get enough attention. Hutchinson explained that this could be because most animals have not been thoroughly studied on their speeds. Hutchinson said that racehorses and greyhounds, racehorses and camels' speeds have been repeatedly measured and verified by researchers.
Hutchinson stated that most animals' speeds are only observations and estimates. These estimates give an indication of the speed these animals move but are not good enough data to be considered a scientist.
Original publication on Live Science
