The Fastest Animals In The World

The speed and agility of wild animals are nothing short of amazing. From a complete standstill, certain animals can reach speeds that could lead to a speeding ticket if done in a vehicle. Out of all the species in the animal kingdom, Cheetahs are by far the fastest animals on land because they can reach speeds of up to 75 miles per hour (mph), which is equivalent to 120 kilometers per hour.

While most animals can run faster than humans, there are some that quite literally separate themselves from the pack and reach levels of speed to place them in a category of their own. However, keep reading to also learn about animals that hit unbelievable speeds in the air and water, such as the common swift and sailfish.

The 10 Fastest Land Animals In The World Ranked By Speed

• Click here to learn about avian and aquatic speedsters:

Cheetah

• Top Speed - 75 mph (121 kph)
• Weight - 110 lbs (50 kgs)
• Where to find - Africa

Known worldwide as the fastest land animal alive, the cheetah uses its astounding speed to hunt down fast-moving targets like gazels and antelopes across the African savannah. Reaching speeds of 75 mph, the speed of the cheetah is unrivaled.

Cheetahs are certainly fast but they do lack endurance. A cheetah excels in short sprints but will fade in a prolonged chase. When a cheetah hunts it relies on its blistering speed and the element of surprise to secure a meal.

Pronghorn

• Top Speed - 55 mph (89 kph)
• Weight - 90 lbs (41 kgs)
• Where to find - North America

Roaming around the Great Plains region of North America is the pronghorn antelope. These small and slender animals are not only fast in a sprint but can maintain a blistering speed for long distances as well.

The pronghorn's natural predators are usually wolves or the occasional mountain lion. They have great vision which allows them to often see threats coming long before they are in any danger. Once the pronghorn antelope takes off, there is virtually no chance of catching it.

Springbok

• Top Speed - 55 mph (89 kph)
• Weight - 80 lbs (37 kgs)
• Where to find - Africa

Springboks are a relatively small type of antelope that lives in southern and central Africa. Know for their speed, the springbok can easily outrun the various threats on the savannah whether they be lions or even cheetahs.

The speed of the springbok is certainly impressive but so is their ability to jump great distances. In some scenarios, such as fleeing a predator, the springbok can jump as high as 11 f

Blue Wildebeest

• Top Speed - 50 mph (80 kph)
• Weight - 600 lbs (272 kgs)
• Where to find - Africa

A common sighting across Africa, the speed of the blue wildebeest comes as a shock to many. Despite being so large, the blue wildebeest are both quick and agile. While they might not have the explosive speed that a cheetah possesses, once they get into a gallop, they are hard to catch.

The wildebeest often uses its speed to evade predators but it can also be used as a weapon. Wildebeest are known to charge and gore their attackers. A 600-pound animal charging at a max speed of 50 mph is enough to dissuade even the most determined hunter, both man and animal alike.

Lion

• Top Speed - 50 mph (80 kph)
• Weight - 280 lbs (127 kgs)
• Where to find - Africa

A staple of the African wilderness, the mighty "king of the jungle" is one of the fastest animals alive. While lions might not actually live in jungles, they do dominate the African grasslands and share a spot at the top of the food chain.

Lions, unsurprisingly, use their speed to ambush and run down other animals for food. Always hunting in packs, it is usually the female lions that do most of the killing and tracking of prey. If male lions do hunt it is to take down larger animals like wildebeest.

Blackbuck

• Top Speed - 50 mph (80 kph)
• Weight - 90 lbs (21 kgs)
• Where to find - India

Native to the Indian Subcontinent, the blackbuck is a small and nimble animal that looks like a mix between a deer and a sheep. Notable for its black and white fur, the blackbuck uses its speed to evade tigers and other predators.

Similar to the springbok, the blackbuck are incredible jumpers and can easily leap over a fully grown human with ease. Blackbuck males are famous for their long spiraling horns, which they use primarily to joust with other males during mating season or to gore attackers if their speed can't take them to safety.

Horse

• Top Speed - 47.5 mph (76.5 kph)
• Weight - 1,100 lbs (499 kgs)
• Where to find - North America

There are a near-endless amount of various breeds of horses. All of which had been bred or evolved for different purposes since they were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago. However, of all the breeds, the American Quarter Horse is the fastest.

This breed was made with short sprints in mind (quarter-mile races to be exact) and can reach speeds close to 50 mph. Their muscular hind legs allow them to explode from a standing position and achieve their top speed within seconds.

Brown Hare

• Top Speed - 45 mph (72 kph)
• Weight - 9 lbs (4kgs)
• Where to find - Europe/Asia

Brown hares have evolved to have outstanding speed and maneuverability on open surfaces. Hares are the target of many predators and have to be alert at all times. Their large ears and sense of smell allow them to detect threats before they arrive.

Using their large and powerful back legs, the brown hare is able to bolt off in nearly any direction should a predator come too close for comfort. The brown hare is a surprisingly good swimmer as well, which allows gives them multiple avenues of escape.

Greyhound

• Top Speed - 44 mph (69 kph)
• Weight - 67 lbs (30 kgs)
• Where to find - Global

Bred almost exclusively for the purpose of racing, it is no wonder that the greyhound is one of the fastest animals alive and certainly the fastest dog breed. Greyhounds are easily spotted by their long and slender build.

Traditionally, greyhounds were bred for hunting game such as foxes and birds but this began to change in the 1800s. Originally from the British Isles, the greyhound became a popular dog across Europe and is a common companion across the world today.

Kangaroo

• Top Speed - 43 mph (71 kph)
• Weight - 200 lbs (91 kgs)
• Where to find - Australia

Serving as the unofficial mascot of the Australian Outback, the kangaroo is well known for its bizarre and fascinating appearance. Looking like an oversized rabbit or hare, the kangaroo does not run or walk like most animals but hops around on its hind legs instead.

Using its strong and sturdy tail as a rudder of sorts, a kangaroo can hop to a top speed of roughly 43 mph. Kangaroos can leap as far as 20 ft horizontally and 6ft vertically if need be. The only natural predators kangaroos have aside from humans are dingos.

Exceptional Speeds of Non-Mammalian Flyers, Swimmers

Among the swiftest creatures on the planet, certain non-mammalian species exhibit remarkable speeds in air and water. The peregrine falcon tops the charts, reaching diving speeds up to 186 mph, making it the fastest bird in a stoop. For a level flight, the white-throated needletail (also known as the common swift) has a maximum top speed of 105 mph.

In the aquatic world, the sailfish is known for bursts up to 68 mph and is therefore considered the fastest swimmer. However, in one unrepeated occurrence, the BBC reported that a black marlin clocked in at 82 mph, although it has only been verified to hit 31 mph. Other species, such as the Striped Marlin, can certainly reach 50 mph.

Last, for those curious about the maximum speed of insects on land, the Australian tiger beetle may seem slower in comparison to the rest of the creatures in this list, but it is nonetheless astonishing that such a tiny animal can sprint at speeds up to 5.5 mph.

Final Thoughts

The animal kingdom is an amazing example of life's will to surpass and compete against itself. Both prey and predators alike are constantly in a never-ending battle for survival. In the case of these animals, speed is their primary means of living to see another day.

The Twenty Fastest Land Animals In The World