The American Fun Science website recently published an article about the world's fastest animals. These animals use their speed to survive and thrive in the wild, chasing prey or avoiding predators. Here are the fastest animals in the air in existence:
The fastest flying animal on record is not a bird, but a mammal. A 2016 study published in the Journal of The Royal Society Open Science measured that the Brazilian free tail bat flew at a speed of 44.5 meters per second (about 160 kilometers per hour). The study traced female bats weighing only about 0.4 ounces (about 11 to 12 grams).
Some experts believe that the diphtheria pintail swift, a member of the bird family, flies faster per hour. But the National Audubon Society, a nonprofit conservation group focused on birds and their habitats, said it had never been scientifically proven.
The Brazilian free-tailed bat is not found only in Brazil, as their name suggests. According to the IUCN, they can be found everywhere from Argentina and Chile in South America to Central America to the United States, including Oregon and Ohio.
Golden Eagle: Dive at nearly 200 miles per hour (about 322 kilometers)
In North America, the golden eagle is one of the largest birds, with a wingspan of more than 7 feet (about 2.2 meters). Despite their large size, they can still fly fast, but they can only reach their maximum speed when diving in the air. According to Cornell University's Cornell Ornithology Laboratory, they are able to sprint through the air at nearly 200 miles per hour when diving from above. Golden eagles swoop when hunting, courting, and playing. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the golden eagle's habitat spans the entire Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Peregrine Falcon: Dive at 220 mph (about 354 km/h)
Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals in the world. When they dive through the air to hunt other birds, they can reach speeds of up to 220 miles per hour. They regularly fly smoothly between 40 and 60 miles per hour. According to a Boston University blog on the aerodynamics of biological flight, these Falcones are suitable for high-speed flight because they have streamlined, sharp wings, sternums suitable for strong muscle attachment, and hard feathers that reduce resistance. According to the National Wildlife Conservation Federation, peregrine falcons can be found around the world and on all continents except Antarctica.
Source: Reference News Network