Some say cheetahs are the fastest animals in the world, but is that really the case? In this article, we'll uncover the world's fastest animal list and let you know about these amazing creatures.
1. Land animals
1.1 Lions, tigers, leopards, etc
Most land animals run very fast, but their acceleration and duration are limited. For example, lions, tigers and leopards can accelerate to 80 kilometers per hour, but can only run hundreds of meters in a row, and then become very tired.
1.2 Desert eagle owl (diāo xiāo)
The desert eagle owl is a bird that flies fast. They can fly at speeds of more than 120 kilometers per hour, but their prey mostly moves on the ground, so they are not the fastest land animals.
1.3 Hyenas
The hyena is a carnivore like wolves, dogs and jackals, with a slender body and long arms, enough for them to run and chase giraffes and zebras across the African savannah. They can run very fast, reaching speeds of more than 80 kilometers per hour, but they are not the fastest land animals.
1.4 Anteaters
You may doubt the speed of anteaters, but the truth is that they can travel through the forests of South America at breakneck speed. Anteaters can run at speeds of more than 40 kilometers per hour, which is not the fastest animal, but for animals like them with short limbs and bulky bodies, this speed is already fast.
1.5 Shè xiāng māo
The civet cat is a small, slender cat found mainly in Asia. They can run at speeds of more than 80 kilometers per hour, which is very fast among land animals, but not the fastest either.
1.6 Cheetah
Closer to the point, cheetahs are the fastest running of land animals, and their running speeds can reach more than 110 kilometers per hour. Cheetahs can only run quickly for a very short time, and the duration is very limited, usually only 20-30 seconds. They are able to run at high speeds because of their anatomy and excellent control of balance.
2. Aquatic animals
2.1 Blue whales
The blue whale is the largest animal in the world and one of the fastest aquatic animals. They can swim at speeds of 50-55 kilometers per hour and can last for hours.
2.2 Long-snouted whales
Long-snouted whales, also known as "dolphins", are not only very intelligent, but also very fast swimmers. They can swim at speeds of up to 60-65 kilometers per hour and are very flexible in the water.
2.3 Certain sharks
Sharks are the champions of all fish and they swim very quickly. Many sharks can swim at speeds of more than 60 kilometers per hour, such as great white sharks, which can swim at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour.
3. Airborne animals
3.1 Swifts
Swifts are very small birds, but they fly very fast. They can fly at speeds of more than 110 kilometers per hour and can soar through the air for hours.
3.2 隼 (sǔn)
Falcons are the fastest birds of prey in the world, and they can dive at speeds of up to 389 kilometers per hour, more than three times the fastest animals on land.
There is not just one fastest animal in the world, and different types of animals have their own unique speed advantages. Hopefully, this article will give you a better understanding of the world's fastest army of animals and satisfy your curiosity about these creatures.