10 Fastest Animals On Earth - Fastest Animals In The World 10 Fastest Animals On Earth Apr 6 • Animal Profiles • 40767 Views • Comments Off on 10 Fastest Animals On Earth How fast can you run? Research suggests that human beings could run as fast as 40 miles an hour—in theory—but sprint speeds average to closer to 12-15 mph. You may be thinking, “that’s not too shabby,” but as you will see, a 15 mph sprint would not be enough to win a race with any of the fastest animals on earth. Many animals can go much faster than we can—some of them predatory. What is the fastest animal on earth? Let’s find out. 1. Peregrine Falcon Peregrine Falcon (Wikimedia) Birds have something of an advantage when it comes to speed, for obvious reasons. The peregrine falcon is particularly swift, capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 mph while at a dive, making it a fearsome hunter. The rest of the time it does not fly this fast, but that hardly matters to its prey. It is the fastest animal on the planet when in a dive.

2. Frigate Bird Frigate Bird (Wikimedia) This spectacular avian makes the peregrine falcon look slow by comparison. It can reach speeds of up to 95 miles per hour—much faster than you drive on the highway. It has the largest wingspan to body weight ratio and can stay in the air for intensely long periods. Sometimes these birds do not touch down for over week at a time. How’s that for speed and endurance? 3. Sail Fish Sail Fish (Wikimedia) What is the fastest sea animal? That honor goes to the sail fish, which can read speeds up to 68 miles per hour—again possibly faster than you are used to driving on the highway. Can you imagine a fish racing alongside your vehicle and keeping up with you? That’s one fast sea animal. The characteristic sail is used when the fish is frightened in order to intimidate threatening animals. The rest of the time, it is kept folded up. 4. Cheetah Cheetah (Wikimedia) The fastest animal in the world is of course the cheetah. This animal is actually only slightly faster than the pronghorn antelope, and can reach speeds of up to 61 miles per hour.

This record was set by an 11 year old cheetah in 2012 named Sarah. Unlike most of the other animals on this list, the cheetah is a predator. It represents a serious threat to animals on this list that inhabit the same geographic areas (not just grasslands, but forest environments as well). The cheetah is a sprinter, not a long distance runner, but pairs agility with speed for deadly attack runs. Cheetahs are also very fast accelerators, and can ramp up their speed four times faster than human beings can. They can also pull to a stop extremely fast. It is also interesting to note that the speed and agility of the cheetah is not matched by strength. The cheetah is fairly fragile and will lose in most fights with other predators. As a result, they will quickly surrender prey to competitors. An injured cheetah may not be able to run quickly, which can put its life in danger. 5. Pronghorn Antelope Pronghorn Antelope (Wikimedia) This antelope takes second place among land animals for speed. It can easily out-sprint most predators at speeds as high as 60 miles per hour.

Interestingly enough, a pronghorn antelope is not actually an old world antelope, and is native to North America. Actual antelopes are quite fast as well, but not as fast as the pronghorn. Also curious is the fact that the pronghorn is far faster than the predators which inhabit North America. This seems to indicate that it evolved its great speed at some point in the past under the threat of a now-extinct predator, perhaps the American cheetah. The pronghorn has a number of special adaptations that allow it to function at high speeds, including cushioned, pointed toes to absorb shock, and extra large organs that assist with air intake. 6. Blue Wildebeest Blue Wildebeest (Wikimedia) Another swift land animal which also inhabits the plains is the blue wildebeest. They are not quite as fast as the pronghorn, but are still pretty impressive at around 50 miles per hour. 7. Lion Lion (Wikimedia) Unfortunately for the blue wildebeest, the lion’s fastest speed almost exactly matches. Lions can chase down their prey at around 50 miles per hour, making them extremely deadly predators on the plains. 8.

Thomson’s Gazelle Thomson’s Gazelle (Wikimedia) This is another creature in the same category as wildebeests and lions, also capable of running at around 50 miles per hour. Chases between lions and cheetahs and gazelles can be quite intense as a result of the close speed matching. Unfortunately for Thomson’s gazelles, they are the preferred prey of cheetahs, the fastest animal on our list. 9. Brown Hare Brown Hare (Wikimedia) One of the smallest animals on our list is the brown hare. This little creature can run extremely fast, reaching speeds of up to 47 miles per hour. The story of the tortoise and the hare is famous for a reason. Hares really are incredibly fast creatures, and they are capable of outrunning the majority of other animals. 10. Elk Elk (Wikimedia) There are a number of animals which run faster than the elk, but the elk deserves a mention because it is a good deal larger and less “swift” looking than a gazelle or antelope. Elks can be quite large, but their size and build should not deceive you.

The elk is capable of running at speeds as high as 45 miles per hour. Do not make an elk angry. If it charges you, it is going to win. As you can see, there are some impressively fast animals on the land, as well as in the sea and air. These remarkable animals showcase the many different ways that creatures can adapt to fulfill the role of either predator or herbivore. While we may be at the top of the food chain thanks to our tools and inventions, we are easily outclassed when it comes to speed. Many of these creatures are as fast as the cars we have constructed to get from place to place at a reasonable pace. If that isn’t a humbling thought, what is? SPEED FREAKS! 10 of THE FASTEST ANIMALS in the world! (World's fastest land animal, bird and fish!) - YouTube Close SPEED FREAKS! 10 of THE FASTEST ANIMALS in the world! (World's fastest land animal, bird and fish!) Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented.

This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Apr 28, 2014 SPEED FREAKS! 10 of THE FASTEST ANIMALS in the world! (Including the world's fastest animal, bird, insect, fish and more!) This video features some of the world's fastest animals (from the air, land and sea; including the fastest land animal, fastest bird on earth, fastest insect alive and fastest fish!). Please note the list is not a categoric claim of the absolute fastest animals in order, as such a list would contain mostly birds and insects. The verbatim fastest animal list top 10 countdown from video is below: 10. Kangaroo 71 km/h (44 mph) 9. Jackrabbit 72km/h (45 mph) 8. Lioness 80 km/h (50 mph) 7. Pronghorn 89 km/h (55 mph) 6. Ostrich 97 km/h (60 mph) 5. Sailfish 109 km/h (68 mph) 4.

Cheetah 118 km/h (73 mph) 3. Horse-fly 140 km/h (90 mph) 2. Magnificent Frigatebird 153 km/h (95 mph) 1. Peregrine Falcon 389 km/h (242 mph) The ***MUSIC*** called "Robot Race" is by Senbei. It can be purchased at Premium Beat: The World’s Fastest Animals on Land, Sea and Air «TwistedSifter CHEETAHS: THE WORLD’S FASTEST LAND ANIMALS The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. They are the only felid with non-retractable claws and pads that, by their scope, disallow gripping (therefore cheetahs cannot climb vertical trees, although they are generally capable of reaching easily accessible branches).

The cheetah, however, achieves by far the fastest land speed of any living animal—between 112 and 120 km/h (70 and 75 mph) in short bursts covering distances up to 500 m (1,600 ft), and has the ability to accelerate from 0 to over 100 km/h (62 mph) in three seconds. Adaptations that enable the cheetah to run as fast as it does include large nostrils that allow for increased oxygen intake, and an enlarged heart and lungs that work together to circulate oxygen efficiently. During a typical chase, its respiratory rate increases from 60 to 150 breaths per minute. While running, in addition to having good traction due to its semi-retractable claws, the cheetah uses its tail as a rudder-like means of steering to allow it to make sharp turns, necessary to outflank prey animals that often make such turns to escape.

[ Source ] SAILFISH: THE WORLD’S FASTEST ANIMALS IN WATER Photograph by ALEXANDER SAFONOV Sailfish are two species of fish in the genus Istiophorus, living in warmer sections of all the oceans of the world. They are predominately blue to gray in color and have a characteristic erectile dorsal fin known as a sail, which often stretches the entire length of the back. Another notable characteristic is the elongated bill, resembling that of the swordfish and other marlins. They are therefore described as billfish in sport fishing circles. Both species of sailfish grow quickly, reaching 1.2–1.5 metres (3 ft 10 in–4 ft 10 in) in length in a single year, and feed on the surface or at mid-depths on smaller pelagic forage fish and squid. Individuals have been clocked at speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph), which is the highest speed reliably reported in a fish. Generally, sailfish do not grow to more than 3 metres (9.8 ft) in length and rarely weigh over 90 kilograms (200 lb).

The sail is normally kept folded down and to the side when swimming, but it may be raised when the sailfish feels threatened or excited, making the fish appear much larger than it actually is. This tactic has also been observed during feeding, when a group of sailfish use their sails to “herd” a school of fish or squid. Sailfish are highly prized game fish and are known for their incredible jumps. They can appear in a startling array of colors, from subdued browns and grays to vibrant purples and even silver. Their body colors are often highlighted by stripes of iridescent blue and silver dots. Sailfish can change their colors almost instantly; a change controlled by their nervous system. The sailfish can rapidly turn its body light blue with yellowish stripes when excited, confusing its prey and making capture easier, while signalling its intentions to fellow sailfish. [ Source ] PEREGRINE FALCONS: FASTEST ANIMALS IN THE WORLD Photograph by KEVIN COLE The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae.

A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and “moustache”. The Peregrine is renowned for its speed, reaching over 325 km/h (202 mph) during its characteristic hunting stoop, making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom. The Peregrine’s breeding range includes land regions from the Arctic tundra to the tropics. It can be found nearly everywhere on Earth, except extreme polar regions, very high mountains, and most tropical rainforests; the only major ice-free landmass from which it is entirely absent is New Zealand. This makes it the world’s most widespread bird of prey. [ Source ] The Fastest Animal On Earth Is Not A Cheetah | Fast Company | Business + Innovation The Fastest Animal On Earth Is Not A Cheetah It might be a falcon, a shrimp, or even the humble jellyfish. We go deep on the surprisingly complicated question.

01 /08 Termite 03 /08 | Escape jump by a trap-jaw ant Trap-jaw ants (Odontomachus bauri) can launch themselves into the air to escape potential predators or aggressive intruders. This ant aimed its jaws toward the substrate and launched itself into the air. Filmed at 3,000 frames per second, played back at 30 frames per second. 04 /08 | Two trap-jaw ants fighting Trap-jaw ants can toss each other away during fights. This video shows two different species of Odontomachus trap-jaw ants fighting. Filmed at 3,000 frames per second, played here at 30 frames per second. 05 /08 | Trap-Jaw Ants 06 /08 This peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) uses its hammer-shaped appendages to smash open hard-shelled prey. This is a "regular speed" video showing an individual successfully opening a snail shell. 07 /08 A photograph of a female Odontodactylus Scyllarus mantis shrimp.

Mantis shrimp, or stomatopods, are an ancient group of marine predators that are only distantly related to other more familiar crustaceans, such as crabs, shrimp, and lobsters. While most occur in shallow tropical marine waters, a few species are found in more temperate seas. Although they are called mantis shrimp, they are neither shrimp nor mantid (a species of insect), but received their name due to their resemblance to both praying mantis and shrimp. Mantis shrimp appear in a variety of colors, from shades of browns to bright neon colors. 08 /08 Jason Bittel 12.24.14 8:00 AM What is the fastest animal on Earth? Did you say a cheetah? You’re wrong. For some reason, the idea that the cheetah is the planet’s fastest creature has hardened into fact through years of childhood repetition. But not all superlatives in the animal kingdom are so easily settled as weight (the blue whale) and height (the giraffe). In fact, determining the fastest creature on earth is much more complicated than we’ve all been led to believe.

"When we talk about something being fast, it’s really not clear if you’re talking about the total duration, the total time it takes to perform the movement, the speed at which its performed, and the acceleration at which its performed," said Sheila Patek, biologist and founder of Duke University’s Patek Lab. "Each one of these things mean very different things." In fact, determining the fastest creature on earth is much more complicated than we’ve all been led to believe. For instance, cheetahs are only "the fastest animal" if you restrict your search to land animals running from Point A to Point B. In which case, sure, cheetahs can hit speeds up to 29 meters per second (or about 64 miles per hour). But even that figure requires a little context. Cheetahs run for a reason—to catch dinner—and most prey are smart enough not to bet their life on a drag race. Instead, they zig. Some even zag. And that means that while cheetahs are capable of reaching 29 m/s under ideal test conditions, in the wild they average only 15 m/s (33 mph) and maintain that speed for just one to two seconds.

Yawn. "They have a relatively low acceleration and thus take a long duration to achieve their impressive speeds," said Patek. Another animal often included in the "fastest" conversation is the sailfish . These large billed fish, in the same family as marlins and swordfish, have been known to reach speeds of about 30 m/s (68 mph) when they breach the waves, though like the cheetah their normal cruising speed is closer to half that. Still, these big-billed-beasts move so fast on a normal basis, they’ve evolved special tissues that heat up their eyeball nerves so they can process images at "race-car speed and precision." But neither land nor sea creature can hold a candle to the falcon, lord of air. When hunting, falcons climb to extraordinary heights and then use the force of gravity to plummet down toward prey like a meteor with talons. In one study, a gyrfalcon named Kumpan was found to accelerate to speeds between 52 and 58 m/s (~116 and 129 mph) after free-falling from a height of 500 meters (~1640 feet).

Another experiment by National Geographic clocked a peregrine falcon at nearly 82 m/s (183 mph), though this bird was taxied up to 4,572 meters (15,000 feet) in a plane before its record-breaking dive . Photo: Flickr user Andrea Pokrzywinski But neither land nor sea creature can hold a candle to the falcon, lord of air. Okay, so if we’re done shaming the cheetah, can we just crown the falcon in its place? Well, that depends on how you think about speed. For example, you can look at the falcon’s impressive dive speed and forget that it took many seconds of climbing (either by wing power or by riding thermals) for the animal to reach a necessary height. That means falcons are capable of high speeds but relatively lame acceleration. And if it’s acceleration you want, Patek has some speedy candidates. The mantis shrimp, for instance, has a spring-loaded, hammer-like appendage that it can cock and release like a crossbow. Once fired, the mantis shrimp’s Mjölnir hits home in less than three milliseconds.

Translation: You could fit 90 mantis shrimp strikes into the time it takes a human to blink. Jellyfish boast an even faster acceleration. When one of these slimy sacks stings you, it’s actually launching billions of microscopic venom harpoons into your skin at velocities comparable to a bullet fired out of a gun. According to a paper published in Current Biology in 2008 , each of these explosive cells, called nematocysts, can discharge in 700 nanoseconds or less and create an acceleration of more than 5 million times the force of gravity, or 5,410,000 g. Nematocysts "clearly rule" in terms of highest acceleration in the shortest amount of time, said Patek. "But, in terms of a high acceleration-driven speed, trap-jaw ants and termite jaws are the most impressive." Trap-jaw ants are basically walking bear traps. Their mandibles ratchet open 180 degrees and then lock, relying on tiny sensory hairs to act like trip wires and tell the ant when to fire. According to Patek’s research, these mandibles close at speeds that reach 64 m/s (~143 mph) .

Best of all? When the going gets tough, this ant simply directs its weapon at the ground and lets the force of the mandibles ricochet it away from danger. Blastoff! But even the power of the trap-jaw ant comes in second place to the bite of its arthropod cousin, Termes panamaensis. But, in terms of a high acceleration-driven speed, trap-jaw ants and termite jaws are the most impressive. Termite soldiers don’t have the luxury of open spaces. When they defend the nest, its often one-on-one in the confines of a dark tunnel, which is why they’ve evolved a bite that’s both fast and small—ideal for close combat. First the termite flips over onto its back like a ninja. This positions the business end of its bite just below the invader’s head. Then it presses its mandibles against each other really hard until one jaw slides over the other so blindingly fast that both the biter and the bitten are flung backwards in the tunnel. Most invaders die instantly from blunt force trauma, but some stumble around for a few steps before dropping dead, apparently succumbing to the bug equivalent of the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique.

Jeremy Niven, a research fellow at the University of Sussex, measured the speed of this terrible termite deathblow back in 2008. Individual strikes exceeded 67 m/s (nearly 150 mph) . "Since we published, no other group has published anything faster," Niven confirmed via email. So no matter how you slice it—top speed, acceleration, duration—the cheetah lags behind the competition for fastest animal on earth. The fastest animal movement belongs to the lowly little termite, the fastest cells to a jellyfish, and the fastest full-body move to a free-falling falcon. But Patek would caution against closing the case file here. After all, these are only the fastest animals that we’ve taken the time to measure. Next year could bring in a whole new raft of contenders. Slideshow Credits: 01 / Photo: Jeremy Niven; 02 / Photo: Jeremy Niven; 05 / Photo: Flickr user Geoff Gallice; 07 / Photo: Roy L. Caldwell, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley; 08 / Photo: Flickr user Derek Keats; Never miss a story.

Sign up for the Fast Company newsletter and get the best stories delivered to your inbox daily. Send What are the Fastest Animals in the World? (with pictures) What are the Fastest Animals in the World? Last Modified Date: 20 December 2016 Copyright Protected: Adorable animal families that will make you "aww" When speaking of the fastest animals in the world, it makes sense to talk about three separate groups: the fastest on land, in water, and in the air. Each environment has its own challenges, and animals that move fast in one often are much slower in another. Peregrine falcons are often considered the fastest, however, reaching tremendous speeds when diving through the air. Mammals are the fastest animals on land, with the cheetah , which can run 70 miles per hour (113 km per hour), taking the lead. Compare this with the fastest insect, the hawk moth, which reaches 33 miles per hour (53 km per hour), and the fastest reptile, the spiny-tailed iguana, which can reach 21 miles per hour (34 km per hour).

The fastest bird on land is the ostrich , which runs at 43 miles per hour (69 km per hour), while the wild turkey can attain 15 miles an hour (24 km per hour), with the chicken following at 9 miles per hour (14 km per hour). Following the cheetah, there are a number of other mammals, including the wildebeest, lion , and Thomson’s gazelle, all of which can obtain 50 miles per hour (80 km per hour), and the hyena , zebra , and Mongolian wild ass, all of which can reach 40 miles per hour (64 kilometers per hour). The white-tailed deer, wart hog, and grizzly bear all check in at 30 miles per hour (48 km per hour). The fastest dog is the greyhound, which can run 43 miles per hour (69 km per hour), while cats can reach speeds of 30 miles per hour (48 km per hour). In the water, fish take the lead.

Sailfish are the fastest in the water, at 70 miles per hour (113 km per hour) — the same speed in the water as cheetahs attain on land. Mako sharks can reach 60 miles per hour (97 km per hour), and marlins, 50 miles per hour (80 km per hour). The fastest mammal in the water is the killer whale, which can swim at up to 48 miles per hour (77 km per hour). Neither insects, reptiles , mammals, or terrestrial bird speeds come anywhere close to birds in flight. Birds are not only the fastest animals in the air: they are the fastest on Earth. Swifts can fly at 106 miles per hour (171 km per hour). Peregrine falcons fly at 90 miles per hour (171 km per hour) and dive at 200 miles per hour (322 km per hour). Ad What non-marine animal can swim 50 mph underwater? anon328802 Post 44 Actually, because of aerodynamics, build,and feather type, the peregrine is the fastest.

It has been clocked at over 250mph; look it up! Ignorance is bliss, so let me correct this. They can adjust angles, direction, breathe, control movements, attack, maintain, and manage a speed beyond terminal velocity due to the evolution of their biological make up. What makes me such an authority on this? I train, maintain and study them. anon327884 Post 43 While cheetahs are clearly the fastest land animals, I believe the peregrine falcons are the fastest animals because they can move over 20 mph (322 km/h) without their lungs being crushed or their eyes being coated with debris. According to National Geographic, the fastest recorded speed of a peregrine falcon's dive is 242 mph (389 km/h). The record was set by a peregrine named Frightful. She was released from a helicopter at 15,000 ft (4,572 m) which is a height that she could achieve naturally. If a cheetah was thrown off the Empire State Building they would die without even reaching 200 mph (322 km/h).

They aren't aerodynamic like the peregrine, so they would be slowed down way more by air. Also the Empire State Building is only 1,454 ft (433 m) high, and Frightful was diving for several thousand feet before she got up to 242 mph (389 km/h). Plus, the cheetah wouldn't be reaching 200 mph (32 km/h) of its own power, so it shouldn't count. I mean, Felix Baumgartner skydived from 24 miles (39 km) above New Mexico. He broke the sound barrier by falling at a top speed of 833.9 mph (1,342 km/h), but humans clearly aren't the fastest animals. P.S. Peacock mantis shrimp only strike at about 50 mph (80 km/h), and golden eagles only dive at about 150 mph (241 km/h). Also, the pronghorn is sometimes referred to as the pronghorn antelope and the prong buck, even though it isn't an antelope.

Its top speed is estimated to be 55 mph (88.5 km/h), but it can sustain that speed for .5 mi (.8 km) which is much further than the cheetah can run at its top speed. I also agree with the cheetah being the fastest animal on land. anon276269 Post 41 Have heard that some spiders are the fastest creatures in the world. Normally they just creep along, but in panic mode is a different story. anon183834 Post 38 Sorry, but you are very, very wrong. You will never reach 200 miles/hour in a dive. Terminal velocity, mate. anon156193 Post 35 i think the cheetah is the fastest animal because technically, the peregrine falcon flies, not runs, which gives him a boost, but if you put him on land the cheetah would win the race any day. Plus, as some of you are saying, it dives off cliffs and that's what makes it fast.

Anything could reach the same speed falling or diving off a cliff (even me), but the peregrine falcon just has to fly at the end of the cliff to stop dying so it's not the cheetah cheating. p.s. some of you say the cheetah can reach up to 70 mph. yeah he can in three seconds, but its top speeds are 100-122 mph and if I'm wrong, then go to the library because i have three books saying it's the fastest animal and it can reach speeds from 100-122 mph. anon139201 Post 32 Slight problem with the whole peregrine falcon argument. I'm not saying any of you're wrong, but it's called the fastest animal in the world because it is accepted by most people around the globe and it's also able to survive it and not just die after reaching the speed. anon134790 Post 30 I think why they say Peregrine falcons are the fastest is because it can reach up to very high speeds.

Of course Peregrine falcons make use of the gravity to attain such high speeds, but STILL they can travel that fast. Diving is a part of the peregrine falcon's lifestyle (they catch prey by diving down very fast, reaching 200mph). I think it is the fact that they are able to have control even at these speeds make it the fastest animal in the world. anon130314 Peregrine falcons dive, not jump off from the Empire State Building or a cliff. Elijah Urdaneta Post 26 The Peregrine Falcon can manage to obtain that speed that speed on a dive but still unhurt. It can even fly upwards right after a dive. They just simply open their wings to catch the drag all they need to stop. anon113738 Post 25 Something that some people forget is the fact that the peregrine falcon can survive these speeds, without its lungs being crushed or being unable to breathe. If you dropped a cheetah from those heights, even if it magically didn't die from impact, the falling itself would kill it.

anon109728 Post 24 a cow can reach a speed of 120 ft/s when dropped out of a helicopter. that's about 82 mph or 132kph for the metric users out there. anon103481 Post 23 Just to let you all know, you are all wrong. The spine tailed swift, also known has the white-throated needle-tail has reached recorded speeds of 106 mph, which is why they call it a swift. Now we are talking about level motion not gravity assisted plunge diving, so the peregrine falcon is not the world's fastest animal. How I look at it is, I could push anyone off of the Empire State Building and crown them the world's fastest beast, huh? anon103480 it's the peregrine falcon -- over 200mph! anon91321 Post 21 What most of people here ignore is that no skydiver can actually stay alive after falling from such heights unless he has a parachute or smith, and that is technology, not something that a human can do by himself.

And if a cheetah is dropped from the cliff, it will die too. I'm no scientist but as far as I understand, we are talking about animals who run/fly/swim like that every day without any help from technologies and they live after reaching such speeds. Just my opinion. anon90563 the african cheetah is the fastest animal in the world. anon82704 Post 18 You're all wrong. Peacock mantis shrimp. It strikes the shells of crustaceans fast enough to create light and heat not unlike the sun. And that's underwater. 800 times as dense as air. anon80813 Post 16 I hate how when you see an article like this there are always complaints saying eagles, cheetahs, hawks, (skydivers) are fastest. anon75766 Post 15 I know for a fact that the Cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world. anon68101 Post 14 Anything "falling" is going to reach terminal velocity, assuming it falls far enough, from a peregrine falcon diving to a cheetah dumped off a cliff.

Based on wind resistance, for example, the terminal velocity of a skydiver in a free-fall position with a semi-closed parachute is about 120 mph. Terminal velocity is the balance point the falling body strikes between acceleration due to gravity and air resistance/drag. In the parachuter example, a speed of 50 percent of terminal velocity is reached after only about 3 seconds, while it takes 8 seconds to reach 90 percent, 15 seconds to reach 99 percent and so on. Higher speeds can be attained if the skydiver pulls in his or her limbs. In this case, the terminal velocity increases to about 200 mph, which is also the terminal velocity of the peregrine falcon diving down on its prey or the cheetah tossed off the cliff. Or for a bullet fired up in the air, and falling back to earth. Competition speed skydivers fly in the head down position reaching even higher speeds. The current world record is 614 mph by Joseph Kittinger, set at high altitude where the lesser density of the atmosphere decreased drag.

anon66904 Post 13 The American Quarter Horse is the fastest race horse for sprinting short distances. It can top about 55 miles per hour. It is the most popular horse breed in the United States. anon62716 it is a peregrine falcon. it can top 200 miles an hour. anon54754 A golden eagle can reach 200 miles per hour in a dive. anon46716 Post 9 Flying Mazie, my greyhound, clocked 46 miles per hour in a race at the track. Still, not a great racer, but a much better dog. Any Cowboy fans? If you remember Alexander Wright then that is Mazie, a ton of talent but couldn't play ball! anon45074 Ohio cheetah is fastest land mammal, at 36 mph. anon45069 Just for a smile you need to remember "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" anon45059 Which race horses are the fastest? You can bet that they can run very fast.

anon45049 Post 5 What if you took a cheetah, and dropped him off a cliff? I bet he'd make 200 miles per hour in a dive. Right? anon27612 which is the fastest animals? anon24838 Post 2 The ass is a more subtle creature rather than a fast runner they were bred into what we call today a Donkey. Top 10 - The World's Fastest Animals - OneKind Share Some animals are perfectly designed to be the ultimate speed machines. Some of these fly through the air, others swim through water and some run on land. Most of the fastest animals are birds so our list below includes a selection of the fastest of all these different types of animals. Here are 10 of the fastest animals in the world. Peregrine Falcon The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest bird, and in fact the fastest animal on the planet, when in its hunting dive, the stoop, in which it soars to a great height, then dives steeply at speeds of over 322kph (200mph). It reaches horizontal cruising speeds of up to 90 kph (56mph).

Find out more fascinating information on Peregrine Falcons in our Animals A-Z section. Picture Credit: Juan Lacruz 5 FASTEST BIRDS on the planet! - YouTube 5 FASTEST BIRDS on the planet! Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jan 14, 2014 5 FASTEST BIRDS on the planet!

(Including the fastest bird in level flight and fastest bird dive ever recorded!) The WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAIL has a Maximum Recorded Airspeed of 169 km/h (105 mph) (And is the fastest bird in continuous level flight.) Top 5 fastest birds alive today are as follows: The WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAIL has a Maximum Recorded Airspeed of 169 km/h (105 mph) The SWIFT has a Maximum Recorded Airspeed of 171 km/h (106 mph) The GYRFALCON has a Maximum Recorded Airspeed of 209 km/h (130 mph) The GOLDEN EAGLE has a Maximum Recorded Airspeed of 320 km/h (199 mph) The PEREGRINE FALCON has a Maximum Recorded Airspeed of 389 k/h (242 mph) (Which of course makes it the fastest bird on Earth.) The featured ***MUSIC*** -- called "Robot Race" -- is from Senbei. They can be found at Premium Beat:

Question: What is the fastest animal alive?
Answer: Peregrine falcon