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The fastest animals in the world – Top 10

The fastest animals – Top 10 and Top 100

Speed is a survival tool that has evolved in many different species. From the swift cheetahs of the African savanna to the agile dolphins of the ocean, the animal kingdom is full of creatures capable of reaching incredible speeds. In this article, we will explore the top 10 fastest animals in the world, taking a closer look at the anatomy, habitat, and behavior of these speed demons. From the world-famous cheetah to lesser-known animals such as the peregrine falcon and the sailfish, we will examine the incredible adaptations that allow these creatures to reach such incredible speeds. So get ready to experience the thrill of the world’s fastest animals, and discover the secrets behind their speed.

Top speed of Animals

We present a list of over 100 fastest animals in the world. The list of fastest animals includes birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and insects. The top animal speed table shows the highest speed measured for a given species.


The fastest animals TOP 20

NoAnimalTop Speed [km/h]Top speed [mph]GroupWhere
1Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)389242birdair
2Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)320199birdair
3Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)209130birdair
4Common Swift (Apus apus)171106birdair
5Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo)160100birdair
6Frigatebird15395birdair
7Rock dove / rock pigeon (Columba livia)14992.5birdair
8Spur-winged goose (Plectropterus gambensis)14288birdair
9Horse fly14087insectair
10Black marlin (Istiompax indica)13081fishwater
11Grey-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma)12779birdair
12Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)12075mammalland
13Moth Dark sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)11069insectair
14Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)11068fishwater
15Sailfish10968fishwater
16Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)10062mammalland
17Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna)9861birdair
18Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)9760fishwater
19Free-tailed bat9760mammalair
20Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri)9760fishwater

A table containing the speed of over 140 animals can be found below in this article.

In the article, we successively supplement the data concerning the speed of animals. Previously prepared charts may therefore differ slightly from the data presented in tables.

 

 

The fastest animals – Top 10
chart speed [km/h]

 

Fastest animals TOP 10 - chart speed in km/h.
Chart: Fastest animals TOP 10 – speed in km/h

 

 

 The fastest animals – Top 10
chart speed [mph]

Fastest animals TOP 10 - chart speed in mph.
Chart: Fastest animals TOP 10 – speed in mph

 

 

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) – the fastest animal in the world – No 1

The fastest animal in the world is a bird – Peregrine Falcon. During the dive flight, the peregrine falcon can reach a speed of up to 350 km/hour (217 mph)! The top speed of the falcon, that was able to be measured was 389 km/h (242 mph).

Some sources claim that while diving the falcon can reach a top speed exceeding 400 km/h (248 mph) …

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) – the fastest animal in the world.

Golden EagleGyrfalcon and Common Swift – birds at the top of the list – No 2, 3, 4

The second, third and fourth place also accounts for the birds. We will not mention all the birds that reach dizzying speed – we have prepared for this purpose a separate statement – The fastest birds in the world. On this list, we wanted only to underline the dominant position of the birds in terms of achieving the maximum speed in the animal world.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) – 320 km/h (199 mph).

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) – the fastest land animal

Number twelve (previously seven) on the list is the cheetah – the fastest mammal, reaching on a short distance in pursuit of prey speed of 113 km/h / 70 mph, (according to some sources even 120 km/h / 75 mph).

Different sources indicate different speeds for cheetah: 96–120 km/h (60–75 mph), 98 km/h (61 mph), 100 km/h (62 mph), 104 km/h (65 mph), 104.4 km/h (65 mph). There is a tendency to overestimate the speed of fast animals, especially cheetah, and claims that cheetah can run 114 km/h (71 mph) or faster has been discredited

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) – the fastest mammal and land animal.

Black marlin, Sailfish and Swordfish – the fastest fish in the world

The black marlin (Istiompax indica) and Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) are the fastest fishes in the world. Black marlin reaches probably a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) and is most likely faster than… cheetah.

Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) – one of the fastest fish in the world.

 

 

Top speed of animals – Top 100

NoAnimalTop Speed [km/h]Top speed [mph]ClassWhere
1Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)389 km/h242 mphbirdair
2Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)320 km/h199 mphbirdair
3Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)209 km/h130 mphbirdair
4Common Swift (Apus apus)171 km/h106 mphbirdair
5Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo)160 km/h100 mphbirdair
6Frigatebird153 km/h95 mphbirdair
7Rock dove / rock pigeon (Columba livia)149 km/h93 mphbirdair
8Spur-winged goose (Plectropterus gambensis)142 km/h88 mphbirdair
9Horse fly140 km/h87 mphinsectair
10Black marlin (Istiompax indica)130 km/h81 mphfishwater
11Grey-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma)127 km/h79 mphbirdair
12Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)120 km/h75 mphmammalland
13Moth Dark sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)110 km/h69 mphinsectair
14Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus)110 km/h68 mphfishwater
15Sailfish109 km/h68 mphfishwater
16Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)100 km/h62 mphmammalland
17Anna’s hummingbird (Calypte anna)98 km/h61 mphbirdair
18Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)97 km/h60 mphfishwater
19Free-tailed bat97 km/h60 mphmammalair
20Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri)97 km/h60 mphfishwater
21Thomson’s gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii)94 km/h59 mphmammalland
22Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)89 km/h55 mphmammalland
23Springbok  (Antidorcas marsupialis)88 km/h55 mphmammalland
24Quarter Horse88 km/h55 mphmammalland
25Blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)80 km/h50 mphmammalland
26Blackbuck  (Antilope cervicapra)80 km/h50 mphmammalland
27Serval (Leptailurus serval)80 km/h50 mphmammalland
28Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica)80 km/h50 mphmammalland
29Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)80 km/h50 mphmammalland
30Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)80 km/h50 mphfishwater
31Striped marlin (Kajikia audax)80 km/h50 mphfishwater
32Caracal (Caracal caracal)80 km/h50 mphmammalland
33Cougar (Puma concolor)80 km/h50 mphmammalland
34Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)80 km/h50 mphmammalland
35Hare80 km/h50 mphmammalland
36Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)76 km/h47 mphmammalland
37Virginia deer (Odocoileus virginianus)75 km/h47 mphmammalland
38Dog Greyhound74 km/h46 mphmammalland
39Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)72 km/h45 mphbirdland
40Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)72 km/h45 mphmammalland
41Elk, Wapiti (Cervus canadensis)72 km/h45 mphmammalland
42Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)72 km/h45 mphfishwater
43African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)71 km/h44 mphmammalland
44Kangaroo (Macropus)70 km/h44 mphmammalland
45Gray wolf (Canis lupus)70 km/h44 mphmammalland
46Flying fish70 km/h44 mphfishwater
47Onager (Equus hemionus)69 km/h43 mphmammalland
48Coyote (C. latrans)69 km/h43 mphmammalland
49Blue shark (Prionace glauca)69 km/h43 mphfishwater
50Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)68 km/h42 mphmammalland
51Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)65 km/h40 mphmammalland
52Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)65 km/h40 mphmammalland
53Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica)65 km/h40 mphmammalland
54Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)65 km/h40 mphmammalland
55Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)65 km/h40 mphmammalland
56South China tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)65 km/h40 mphmammalland
57Jaguar (Panthera onca)65 km/h40 mphmammalland
58Common dolphin65 km/h40 mphmammalwater
59Zebra (Equus)65 km/h40 mphmammalland
60Camel (Camelus)65 km/h40 mphmammalland
61Bonefish (Albula vulpes)64 km/h40 mphfishwater
62Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)64 km/h40 mphmammalland
63Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)64 km/h40 mphmammalland
64Mongolian wild ass (Equus hemionus hemionus)64 km/h40 mphmammalland
65Donkey/ass (Equus africanus asinus)64 km/h40 mphmammalland
66Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)61 km/h38 mphmammalland
67Hyena60 km/h37 mphmammalland
68Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)60 km/h37 mphmammalland
69Greater rhea (Rhea americana)60 km/h37 mphbirdland
70Darwin’s rhea (Rhea pennata)60 km/h37 mphbirdland
71Lion (Panthera leo)60 km/h37 mphmammalland
72Amur leopard60 km/h37 mphmammalland
73Leopard (Panthera pardus)58 km/h36 mphmammalland
74Jackal57 km/h35 mphmammalland
75Common rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)57 km/h35 mphmammalland
76Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)56 km/h35 mphmammalland
77Snow leopard (Uncia uncia)56 km/h35 mphmammalland
78Dog Whippet56 km/h35 mphmammalland
79American bison (Bison bison)56 km/h35 mphmammalland
80Wild boar (Sus scrofa)56 km/h35 mphmammalland
81Killer whale/orca (Orcinus orca)56 km/h35 mphmammalwater
82Dall’s porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli)55 km/h34 mphmammalwater
83Moose (Alces alces)55 km/h34 mphmammalland
84Bobcat (Lynx rufus)55 km/h34 mphmammalland
85Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)50 km/h31 mphmammalland
86Cassowary (Casuarius)50 km/h31 mphbirdland
87Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)48 km/h30 mphbirdland
88Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos)48 km/h30 mphmammalland
89Common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)48 km/h30 mphmammalland
90Domestic cat (Felis catus)48 km/h30 mphmammalland
91White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)48 km/h30 mphmammalland
92Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)48 km/h30 mphmammalland
93Tapir48 km/h30 mphmammalland
94Blue whale48 km/h30 mphmammalwater
95Llama (Lama glama)45 km/h28 mphmammalland
96Human45 km/h28 mphmammalland
97Barracuda43 km/h27 mphfishwater
98African elephant (Loxodonta africana)40 km/h25 mphmammalland
99Perentie (Varanus giganteus)40 km/h25 mphreptileland
100Bearded dragon (Pogona)40 km/h25 mphreptileland
101Chimpanzee40 km/h25 mphmammalland
102Gorilla40 km/h25 mphmammalland
103California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)40 km/h25 mphmammalwater
104Dragonfly39 km/h24 mphinsectair
105Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)39 km/h24 mphmammalwater
106Red panda (Ailurus fulgens)38 km/h24 mphmammalland
107Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)35 km/h22 mphreptilewater
108Green iguana (Iguana iguana)35 km/h22 mphreptileland
109Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)35 km/h22 mphmammalland
110Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)35 km/h22 mphbirdwater
111Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)35 km/h22 mphmammalwater
112Chipmunk33 km/h21 mphmammalland
113Lizard Six-lined Racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus)32 km/h20 mphreptileland
114Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)32 km/h20 mphbirdland
115Gray Squirrel (Sciurius carolinensis)32 km/h20 mphmammalland
116Mongoose32 km/h20 mphmammalland
117Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)30 km/h19 mphmammalwater
118Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)30 km/h19 mphmammalland
119Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)30 km/h19 mphmammalland
120Honey badger (Mellivora capensis)30 km/h19 mphmammalland
121Squirrel25 km/h16 mphmammalland
122Mule24 km/h15 mphmammalland
123Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)24 km/h15 mphmammalland
124Raccoon (Procyon lotor)24 km/h15 mphmammalland
125Alligator24 km/h15 mphreptileland
126Snake black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)23 km/h14 mphreptileland
127Beluga, white whale (Delphinapterus leucas)22 km/h14 mphmammalwater
128Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)21 km/h13 mphreptileland
129Lemur katta (Lemur catta)19 km/h12 mphmammalland
130Elephant Seal19 km/h12 mphmammalwater
131Pig (domestic)18 km/h11 mphmammalland
132Domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus)17 km/h10 mphmammalland
133Frog17 km/h10 mphamphibianland
134Freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnsoni)17 km/h10 mphreptileland
135Chicken14 km/h9 mphmammalland
136House mouse13 km/h8 mphmammalland
137Rat13 km/h8 mphmammalland
138Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)10 km/h6 mphmammalland
139Sea otter (Enhydra lutris)9 km/h5 mphmammalwater
140Housefly7 km/h4 mphinsectair
141Mosquito2 km/h1.2 mphinsectair
142Sloth1.9 km/h1.2 mphmammalland
143Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra)0.3 km/h0.2 mphreptileland
144Garden snail (Cornu aspersum)0.05 km/h0.03 mphmolluskland

 

 

The fastest mammals – Top 10
chart speed [km/h]

The fastest mammals TOP 10 [km/h]
The fastest mammals TOP 10 [km/h]

 

 The fastest mammals – Top 10
chart speed [mph]

The fastest mammals TOP 10 [mph]
The fastest mammals TOP 10 [mph]

 

The fastest reptiles – Top 10

NoAnimalTop Speed [km/h]Top speed [mph]Where
1Perentie (Varanus giganteus)40 km/h25 mphland
2Bearded dragon (Pogona)40 km/h25 mphland
3Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)35 km/h22 mphwater
4Green iguana (Iguana iguana)35 km/h22 mphland
5Lizard Six-lined Racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus)32 km/h20 mphland
6Alligator24 km/h15 mphland
7Snake black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)23 km/h14 mphland
8Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis)21 km/h13 mphland
9Freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnsoni)17 km/h10 mphland
10Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra)0.3 km/h0.2 mphland

 

 

The fastest reptiles – Top 10
chart speed [km/h]

The fastest reptiles Top 10 [km/h]
The fastest reptiles Top 10 [km/h]

 

The fastest reptiles – Top 10
chart speed [mph]

The fastest reptiles Top 10 [mph]
The fastest reptiles Top 10 [mph]

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20 Comments

  1. A roadrunner is a bird, not a reptile. Otherwise an interesting and comprehensive list.

    1. Right, our mistake. We have corrected the table, the graph we’ll correct soon. Thank you!

  2. Hi, it would be great if you could verify the mako shark and the tigers measurements’ because of the last researching

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