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These animals are wicked fast! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the quickest animals in the world, taking into account their movement styles and speeds relative to other similar species.
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00:00We still don't know exactly why they do this.
00:06The simplest answer is that they're dancing for joy.
00:10Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the quickest animals in
00:14the world, taking into account their movement styles and speeds relative to other similar
00:19species.
00:20Consider flying around so the bats practice catching those before they have to fly away
00:23far away.
00:26Number 20.
00:27Greyhound
00:28Surprisingly, modern greyhounds are bred to race.
00:31It should come as no surprise that an animal with a bus service company named after it
00:35is remarkably fast.
00:37Greyhounds can reach speeds of up to 45 miles an hour, making them the fastest dog breed
00:42in the world.
00:43A combination of spinal flexibility, a slim build, and long, powerful legs enables them
00:48to reach this exceptional speed.
00:52When sprinting, greyhounds move with graceful strides, with all four of their limbs contracting
00:57and extending without touching the ground.
01:00As a result, they end up spending more time in the air than on the ground.
01:03This unique running style is known as a double suspension gallop.
01:15Number 19.
01:16Kangaroo
01:17A kangaroo's tail also plays an integral role in their famous hop.
01:23In full flight, the tail acts as a counterbalance, keeping the animal stable.
01:28When it comes to hopping, no animal can outdo the kangaroo.
01:31Although they are the only mammal who move around primarily by hopping on two legs, they
01:35certainly are not at a disadvantage.
01:37These creatures can maintain an extraordinary hopping speed of 25 miles per hour for over
01:42a mile, and in short bursts, they can hit up to 40 miles per hour.
01:46In slow motion, the kangaroos seem to move with effortless grace, making use of every
01:50ounce of energy, the height of efficiency.
01:54Their enlarged hind feet, powerful tail, and efficient energy distribution are the major
01:59factors that make this possible.
02:00While their hopping ability is impressive on its own, it's even more incredible when
02:04you realize that they can also leap up to 10 feet in the air.
02:14Number 18.
02:15American Quarter Horse
02:20The most popular horse breed in the United States, this creature displays electrifying
02:24speed over a quarter mile distance, consistently outrunning any other horse breed in the world.
02:29It is for this reason that it is known as the American Quarter Horse.
02:32We're talking quick bursts as high as 55 miles per hour, particularly among trained
02:37racehorses.
02:38Their muscular legs and powerful haunches are key to achieving this remarkable speed
02:43and agility, allowing them to make sharp turns and sudden stops, even when they're moving
02:47so fast.
02:49It's not just their top speed that's impressive, but also how quickly they can accelerate over
03:00such short distances.
03:02Number 17.
03:03Black Buck
03:12Also known as the Indian Antelope, the Black Buck can outrun almost any other mammal with
03:17ease.
03:18Once widespread, the population of the Black Buck declined significantly during the 20th
03:22century due to hunting, deforestation, and habitat destruction.
03:31In the expansive grasslands and sparse forests where they exist today, Black Bucks rely on
03:35their extraordinary velocity to survive, which can reach up to 50 miles per hour.
03:39They're also equipped with sharp eyesight, which helps them stay vigilant, and when faced
03:43with danger, they use their incredible speed to swiftly escape any potential threats.
03:52Number 16.
03:54European Hare
03:55It may not be the fastest land animal, but the European Hare definitely gives its competitors
03:58a run for their money.
04:00A relative to the more common European Rabbit, the Hares have longer ears and legs and are
04:04known for their speed and agility.
04:07During mating season, female Hares have a peculiar habit of fighting off or boxing with
04:11males if they aren't ready to mate.
04:13But when a doe is ready, the males need to be in peak condition because only the one
04:17fast enough to catch her gets the chance to breed.
04:19Hares are capable of running up to 43 miles per hour, which also gives them a fighting
04:23chance of evading their many predators.
04:26Number 15.
04:27Lion
04:28A favorite animal for many, the Lion holds a special place in popular culture.
04:31They are seen as masters of their domain and symbolize strength, courage, and wisdom.
04:36Between Aslan from the Chronicles of Narnia and Mufasa of The Lion King, we grow up seeing
04:41lions as figures worthy of reverence.
04:44So why do they always seem to lounge around like house cats in the real world?
04:48In fact, lions spend roughly 20 hours a day resting to conserve energy for the hunt.
04:53And when these fierce predators spot prey, they can run up to 50 miles per hour, though
04:57only for short periods of time.
04:59Regardless, you wouldn't want to be this king of the jungle's target.
05:02Number 14.
05:03Blue Wildebeest
05:04Wildebeest are continually on the move as they seek favorable supplies of grass and
05:09water.
05:10It's difficult to find it in our hearts to forgive wildebeest for what they did in
05:13The Lion King.
05:14We've got to hand it to them.
05:15They certainly are fast.
05:16The blue wildebeest is particularly swift and can be found in about 10 African countries,
05:22including Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
05:25According to experts, the blue wildebeest runs at approximately 50 miles per hour, which
05:30is roughly the same estimate given to lions, making for a pretty exciting hunt.
05:34The males, or bulls, are known for their particularly outlandish and territorial behavior during
05:39the mating season, which has earned them the unflattering nickname, Clowns of the Savannah.
05:43Poor guys.
05:44Number 13.
05:45Thompson's Gazelle
05:46Located in eastern Africa, the Thompson's Gazelle has the ability to zoom through savannas
05:59and grasslands at speeds up to 55 miles per hour.
06:02These gazelles accelerate to such high velocities using long strides and are able to move rapidly
06:07in a zigzag fashion.
06:09Their light yet sturdy legs, along with powerful hind muscles, make them exceptional runners.
06:14And they're not just short-distance sprinters.
06:16These fellows can keep up their pace over long distances.
06:18Their incredible speed helps them escape many predators, leaving them mostly susceptible
06:22to cheetahs, which are much faster.
06:24However, because of the gazelle's endurance, they are sometimes also able to outrun the
06:28cheetahs.
06:29The Tommy can only achieve 50 miles per hour, but it's much quicker on the turns.
06:34Number 12.
06:35Springbok
06:36True to their name, Springbok can leap two meters high.
06:41It's jumping with a purpose.
06:43This swift antelope, native to southern and southwestern Africa, is a true speed demon.
06:48The Springbok's top speed clocks in at 55 miles per hour with an elegant running style
06:53consisting of repeated high leaps, known as pronking.
06:56We still don't know exactly why they do this.
07:02The simplest answer is that they're dancing for joy.
07:06This practice allows them to jump as high as two meters above the ground.
07:10They're also able to execute quick, sharp turns, which help them swiftly escape from
07:14predators.
07:15The numbers certainly don't lie when it comes to the Springbok's speed.
07:17But even more striking than that is the absolutely graceful way in which they move, which makes
07:22them one of the coolest speedsters in the animal kingdom.
07:24Number 11.
07:25White-throated Needletail
07:27Also known as the Needletail Swift, the White-throated Needletail is a bird like no other.
07:32It holds the record for the fastest flapping flight speed in the world.
07:35To put it simply, if you account for factors like wind and exclude the effects of aerial
07:39maneuvers such as soaring and diving, this bird can outpace any other in level horizontal
07:44flight.
07:45It is believed that they can fly at speeds of up to 105 miles per hour, although this
07:49remains unverified as the studies have not yet been published.
07:53If true, then they are just slightly faster than the homing or messenger pigeon, which
07:57can sometimes reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour in short distances.
08:01Number 10.
08:02Pronghorn
08:03Some theories suggest that in prehistoric times, it was being hunted by a now-extinct
08:08species of wild cat.
08:09Often considered the second fastest land animal on the planet, the Pronghorn is substantially
08:13faster than any of its North American predators.
08:15It is believed that it evolved to run at such extreme speeds to escape from predator species
08:21that have since gone extinct, like the American cheetah.
08:23Although often referred to as the Pronghorn Antelope, it is technically not an antelope
08:27at all.
08:28At a top speed estimated at 55 miles per hour, it is the fastest animal in the Northern Hemisphere.
08:33Globally, it is second only to the cheetah, but unlike that animal, the Pronghorn can
08:38maintain its top speed for much longer durations.
08:47Number 9.
08:48Spur-Winged Goose
08:49If we had to bet on a real goose to win a game of duck-duck goose, our money would be
08:53on the Spur-Winged Goose.
08:55This species holds the title of fastest flying goose, with a max recorded speed of 88 miles
08:59per hour, according to the Guinness World Records.
09:02Its large, powerful wings not only make it swift, but also contribute to it being ranked
09:06as one of the largest goose species in the world.
09:08Whether soaring through the sky or cruising across wetlands, the Spur-Winged Goose's
09:12speed and agility gives it an advantage that few birds have.
09:15Number 8.
09:16Black Marlin
09:17One of the fastest fish in the world, the Black Marlin's highest recorded speed is
09:23reportedly around 80 miles per hour, although this is likely exaggerated.
09:32While not as intimidating as a shark or killer whale, it is still considered a pretty serious
09:36predator, eating a diet of small to medium-sized fish and squid.
09:40The females, which are significantly larger than the males, top out at 15 feet long and
09:45can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, which when paired with their speed, makes them a force to be
09:49reckoned with.
09:50While the more recognizable Swordfish may share anatomical similarities with the Marlin,
09:54it can't really keep up, apparently peaking at just 60 miles per hour.
10:06Number 7.
10:07Sailfish
10:13The Sailfish lost its position as the undisputed fastest fish in the sea in the 21st century
10:17to one specific Black Marlin, but many argue that it should keep its title.
10:21The Sailfish has been recorded swimming up to a speed of 68 miles per hour, which is
10:25faster than the average recorded Black Marlin, making it, generally speaking, the fastest
10:30fish one will encounter in the ocean.
10:32But why nitpick?
10:39The Sailfish usually keeps its sail folded over itself while swimming, unless agitated,
10:43scared, or hunting.
10:45When unfurled, it makes a striking figure as it races through the ocean.
10:53Number 6.
10:54Ostrich
10:55Sure, they might not be able to fly, but what these gigantic birds lack in flight skills,
11:03they more than make up for with their remarkable size and impressive set of legs.
11:07Running up to 43 miles per hour on average, with some recorded at 60 miles per hour, they
11:12use their wings as stabilizers while running at high speeds.
11:15This enables them to make sharp, calculated turns.
11:18The Ostrich is the largest living species of a bird, and also lays the largest eggs.
11:23One Ostrich egg is actually equivalent to two dozen chicken eggs in terms of volume,
11:27so they go big on everything.
11:29Number 5.
11:30Frigatebird
11:31Deprived of victims, the pirates return to the sea to fish.
11:36Frigatebirds are perhaps the most impressive gliders in the sky, effortlessly using wind
11:39currents to propel themselves forward.
11:41At times for weeks on end.
11:43In a similar fashion, the grey-headed albatross harnesses the wind to its advantage, helping
11:47it move as fast as 79 miles per hour.
11:50However, that's simply not as fast as the Frigatebird, which can notch top speeds of
11:5495 miles per hour.
12:01There's an effortless nature with which they move, which makes it hard to conceptualize
12:04how they achieve such rapid motion with very little flapping.
12:08This incredible speed is made possible by their large wing area to body weight ratio,
12:13the highest of any bird species.
12:19Number 4.
12:20Eurasian Hobbie
12:21A relatively small falcon, the Eurasian Hobbie, or just Hobbie to its friends, is all about
12:26speed and agility, and can reach a velocity of up to 100 miles per hour when in flight.
12:31As part of the breeding ritual between male and female Hobbies, a pair can often be seen
12:35performing high-flying acrobatic feats.
12:37In this courtship, the male Hobbie will often pull off high-speed handoffs of captured prey
12:42to the female to demonstrate his hunting abilities and prowess.
12:46This is an important quality for the male to possess, as he will be responsible for
12:49hunting during the 27-33 day incubation period.
12:52Number 3.
12:53Mexican Freetailed Bat
12:55Believe it or not, the fastest horizontal flight speed of any animal does not belong
13:06to a bird.
13:07It's a bat.
13:08The Mexican Freetailed Bat, also known as the Brazilian Freetailed Bat.
13:12Researchers found that these fellas can fly at about 100 miles per hour, faster than any
13:17other documented avian creature in level flight.
13:25While there is some uncertainty about the influence of wind on this recording's speed,
13:29researchers believe their data reflect the bat's speed without wind.
13:32The Mexican Freetailed Bat's aerodynamic body shape and relatively long wings are believed
13:37to be key factors contributing to its astonishing speed.
13:46Number 2.
13:47Cheetah
13:48The cheetah isn't the king of the jungle, but it certainly wears the crown for the world's
13:59fastest land animal.
14:01Capable of running up to 75 miles per hour and going from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3
14:06seconds, this big cat certainly deserves the title.
14:09Through its evolution, the cheetah's abilities as a hunter have been absolutely maximized.
14:13It has a slender body, muscular chest, narrower paws than other big cats, and an oversized
14:19extra-sharp dewclaw that it uses to trip its prey.
14:22It shares various other characteristics more commonly found in small cats as well, such
14:26as a flexible spine, but you'll never see Garfield racing around like the Flash.
14:34Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
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14:50Number 1.
14:51Peregrine Falcon
14:52Meet the fastest animal on our planet.
15:03The Peregrine Falcon is only about the size of a large crow, but this bird of prey is
15:07especially known for its prowess as a hunter.
15:10To catch its prey, which is most often medium-sized birds, it climbs in the air and then launches
15:15into a sharp dive.
15:18It is during this dive that the Peregrine Falcon achieves its remarkable speed.
15:22An average dive reaches 200 miles per hour, but the fastest recorded Peregrine hits 242
15:29miles per hour.
15:30Its closest competition, the Golden Eagle, lags behind a bit, averaging 150 to 200 miles
15:35per hour when diving.
15:40Close eagle, but no cigar.
15:42Let us know in the comments what slow animals fascinate you.
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