Which fastest animal in the world

Not only is this magnificent bird of prey the fastest in the sky, but it's the fastest of the entire animal kingdom. On average, a peregrine falcon flies at a speed between 40 mph and 60 mph, but it can reach its maximum speed of mph when in a straight dive going after prey.

The peregrine falcon is found in nearly every continent and lives primarily near coastal areas. The wingspan of a fully grown adult can reach up to 4 feet. The golden eagle belongs to the Accipitridae family and is named for the light-colored markings on its head and back. They can reach speeds of up to mph when in pursuit of food.

Golden eagles have excellent vision. Also known as guano bats , these mysterious cave dwellers are capable of flying fast over long distances. Their top speed has been clocked at mph.

One of the biggest colonies can be found in Texas, outside of San Antonio. Baby bats, or pups, feed on their mother's milk when they're born and grow quickly. In just a matter of weeks, pups are ready to fly on their own and participate in long migratory events with the adults.

The rock dove, or common pigeon , as it's better known, is an ubiquitous bird found in parks and urban areas all over the world. The greenish-purple markings on their necks as well as their gray feathers make them easily recognizable. They have an uncanny ability to find their way home from any location, which is why they have been popular as domesticated pets and as carrier pigeons used to transmit communications.

Rock doves are also well-equipped for long distances, and their top speed has been clocked at 97 mph. This large, magnificent fish is native to the Indian and Pacific oceans. While on the hunt, or if escaping from danger, they can swim at speeds of up to 82 mph. Though the black marlin is the fastest sea animal, its popularity in deep-sea sport fishing leaves it vulnerable to its greatest predator and biggest threat: humans.

The albatross is a fascinating bird and it has long been considered a sign of good luck for sailors. Not only do they have the longest wingspan of any bird, but they can live for many decades and travel for years over the ocean without ever stopping on land.

They can even sleep while flying. Their top speeds reach up to 79 mph. These birds are carnivores and use their excellent sense of smell to hunt for krill and squid. Their spears, which they use to slash prey, are also thicker and more robust than those of other marlins. Finally, their bodies are laterally compressed, rather than rounded , like in other marlins, making them more streamlined and helping them reach faster speeds. Strangely enough, black marlins are the only marlin with rigid, non-retractable pectoral fins.

Retractable fins reduce drag and save energy when a fish is trying to go fast, so the fact that black marlins are the fastest fish—yet don't retract their pectoral fins—has puzzled many fishermen over the years. Cheetahs aren't the fastest animal in the world, but they are the fastest animal on land.

They can accelerate from standing still to over 60 mph in just 3 seconds and can reach speeds of up to 75 mph. Besides being extremely muscular, cheetahs have large nostrils that allow oxygen to be inhaled quickly, and their large heart and lungs work together to circulate oxygen more efficiently to aid in their speed.

Cheetahs' long, flexible spines allow them to cover huge distances with each stride, and they vary their strides per second as they speed up, taking more strides per second as they run faster. At top speed, cheetahs can go 23 feet in a single stride and can complete four strides per second.

For comparison, the average human blinks once every four seconds —meaning that from one blink to the next, a cheetah could run feet. Cheetahs have small collarbones and vertical shoulder blades that are not attached to the collarbone , as well as hips that swivel on a flexible spine. These structural adaptations let them take longer strides, accelerate more quickly, and make sharper turns than other large cats. American quarter horse.

Blue wildebeest running. Lioness scouting for prey. Blackbuck stalks through tall grass. Hare jumping over water. Greyhound running at full speed. Kangaroo with joey in pouch. Other honorable fast animal mentions: Quarter horse So-called for its ability to outrun all other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less, these horses are excellent short-distance sprinters, and have been clocked at speeds up to Ostrich The fastest land birds, and the fastest animal on two legs, ostriches are superb runners with 3.

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The fastest animals in the world! Some animals move at super speeds through land, air or water. Could you keep up?