The fastest animal on Earth is not the cheetah

Arabia Weather - When we talk about the fastest animals in the world, some may assume that the cheetah holds first place. Although the cheetah is on this list, it is not the fastest at all. It attracts fast cats, which makes us forget some other species that move much faster than the cheetah, as some of them can move at speeds exceeding three times or even more than the speed of the cheetah.

We must first keep in mind that there are many factors that can hinder our ability to determine the fastest animals in the world with complete accuracy. For example, the effect of wind speed when measuring an animal's speed plays an important role.

In addition, the animal may be at peak energy at the time of measurement, or may be lacking energy. Taking these factors into account, scientists were successfully able to prepare a relatively accurate list of the fastest animals in the world. Here are their findings:

The fastest animal in the world is the peregrine falcon

The Shaheen Falcon, also known as the Peregrine Falcon, is the fastest animal in the world

These hawks are considered one of the most widespread birds of prey in all parts of the world except Antarctica. Peregrine falcons prefer areas with large open spaces, such as coasts where shorebirds are abundant. However, they can be found in various regions from the Arctic to deserts.

These hawks live even in major cities, where you can find them on bridges and skyscrapers. It is famous for its tremendous speed during landing in flight, as its landing can reach more than 300 kilometers per hour, making it not only the fastest bird in the world but also the fastest animal on Earth.

Shaheen falcons are considered one of the largest and strongest types of falcons. It is characterized by long wings with a pointed end and a relatively short tail. The wings and head are dark blue, while the wings appear from the underside with black shadows and lines. The crown of the head is dark in color, and it has a black moustache. Adult falcons range in size from about 36 to 49 cm (14.2 to 19.3 in).

The hunting strategy of Shaheen Falcons depends on flying at a high altitude and then quickly pounce on their prey. It strikes the prey with its tense claws and kills it. Prey for these hawks includes ducks, a variety of songbirds, shorebirds, doves, and rabbits, with waterfowl often among their prey.

In the mid-twentieth century, the number of peregrine falcons witnessed a sharp decline, and these beautiful birds became an endangered species in the United States. However, significant progress has been made in saving this species thanks to conservation programs for endangered species. These programs have contributed to increasing the number of peregrine falcons in the United States and Canada.

Thanks to these efforts, the population of peregrine falcons is currently considered large in these two countries. In some areas of the world, there may actually be more peregrine falcons than there previously were before their numbers declined during the twentieth century.

He noted that falconry trainers have preferred to use peregrine falcons in sports for centuries, and these falcons were traditionally trained to participate in hunting prey.

It is said that the peregrine falcon can fly at speeds of up to 322 kilometers per hour, and this is somewhat true. However, specialists point out that this speed is not the limit for the peregrine falcon when flying at a steady level. In fact, its speed when flying at a steady level can range between about 46 to 96 kilometers per hour, which is considered fast for a bird.

What distinguishes the peregrine falcon is its ability to reach its maximum speed when it falls, known as “stooping,” and this movement represents a rapid decline towards its prey while hunting. During this process, the peregrine falcon can actually reach speeds of up to 322 kilometers per hour, making it one of the fastest creatures on Earth.

The fastest land animal in the world is the cheetah

Although the cheetah is not the fastest animal in the world, it is certainly considered the fastest land animal in the world. The cheetah can easily achieve top speeds of 60 or even 70 miles per hour (equivalent to 97 to 113 kilometers per hour) over short distances. The cheetah easily outperforms other fast animals such as race horses. Cheetahs usually chase their prey at only half this speed, and after the chase, the cheetah needs about half an hour to catch its breath before it begins to eat the prey.

These cats are agile at high speeds, and are able to make quick and sudden turns while searching for prey. Cheetahs' bodies are uniquely adapted to help them reach the highest speeds, from their long, slender limbs and hard footpads, to their flexible spine that gives them long strides.

In addition, cheetahs are known for their tan coats covered in black spots, and each cheetah has a unique spot pattern that helps identify individuals. Prominent black lines extend from the inner corners of their eyes to the sides of their mouths, and the ends of their bushy tails are decorated with black rings.

The cheetah's excellent eyesight helps it search for prey during the day, and it is distinguished by its ability to see things clearly. In contrast, the cheetah is difficult for prey to see because of its spotted coat, which blends in perfectly with the tall, dry grass of the plains.

The cheetah's diet includes small to medium-sized animals, such as hares, antelope, blue wildebeest, and gazelle. Due to their size, strength, predatory skills, and ranking as the world's fastest land animal, some scientists consider cheetahs to be part of the "big cats," a group that also includes tigers, lions, and jaguars. Unlike other members of this group, cheetahs cannot roar, but they can make other sounds such as the murmur of a river.

Determining the maximum speed of a cheetah is very difficult. A conservationist conducted a record-breaking experiment in which he attached a piece of meat to the back of a car and drove around, then had it chased by a cheetah he was raising. During this experiment, an approximate speed of about 103 kilometers per hour was recorded.

Furthermore, a cheetah at the Cincinnati Zoo covered a distance of approximately 98 kilometers per hour in 2012.

However, it should be noted that these numbers do not necessarily reflect the speed of wild cheetahs. But when scientists put GPS collars on wild cheetahs, they found that the top speed typically ranged between 53 kilometers per hour. Therefore, it seems that the cheetah prefers to control its speed and be able to easily evade prey rather than going as fast as possible.

10 fastest animals in the world

1. Shaheen bird 322+ km per hour
2. Brazilian light-tailed bat 161 km per hour (unconfirmed)
3. Hypometra henny wrighty fly – 145 km/h (we think)
4. Gray-headed albatross 129 km per hour
5. The common swift flies 113 km per hour
6. Cheetah 105 km per hour
7. Anna's hummingbird 98 km per hour
8. American antelope 100-62 km per hour
9. An animal that jumps 97 km per hour
10. Quarter horsepower 88 km per hour

Brazilian light-tailed bat

According to a 2016 study, all Brazilian light-tailed bats studied could fly at speeds exceeding 88 kilometers per hour. Of these bats, five reached speeds of 113 kilometers per hour, and one of them achieved a speed of approximately 161 kilometers per hour, making it almost the fastest flying animal in the world.

Despite these impressive results, some scientists expressed doubts about the record, suggesting that bats may have taken advantage of Earth's gravity or the influence of wind to achieve such high speeds. However, the study authors expressed confidence in their results and measurements.

Hypometra hennyi fly

According to an article published in the US magazine Discover in 2000, an entomologist from the University of Florida attempted to model the mating behavior of the horse fly Hypometra hennyi. In this behavior, the males of the species chase the females, catch them, and fall together to the ground.

To simulate this behavior, the researcher fired plastic pellets from an air rifle, and the pellets were chased at speeds of up to 145 kilometers per hour. Since then, not much research has been done on the topic, and the result is hailed as a “noteworthy achievement” but has not been adequately reviewed in the scientific literature.

Gray-headed albatross

The truth is that the Guinness World Record for the fastest bird in constant flight goes to a grey-headed albatross, specifically one captured in an Antarctic storm.

“The typical speed in the air of a young albatross in flight with a tailwind is between 15 and 32 kilometers per hour, and this speed remains relatively constant as the wind strength increases,” according to the study detailing how the record was achieved. The study noted that the wind speed in this case reached between 64 and 80 kilometers per hour.

Common swift bird

Many sources claim that the white-throated swift is the fastest bird at fixed levels of flight, and is sometimes also referred to as the spiny-tailed swift.

However, setting a bird's speed record while flying at a steady level is difficult and highly inaccurate. Because there is no standard and reliable methodology for this type of measurement, the values often given for velocities are uncertain.

As such, it is difficult to accurately determine which bird is faster. But one specimen of the common swift was observed reaching a speed of about 112 kilometers per hour while flying at a steady level.

Anna's hummingbird

This little creature has the ability to fly at speeds of up to 98 kilometers per hour over short distances during mating displays, and this flying feat alone is enough to impress. But this hummingbird is an excellent candidate for being one of the fastest vertebrates in terms of length per second.

American antelope

The American antelope is often cited as the second-fastest land animal on Earth, and although many speed estimates are based on studies conducted in the 1940s, they indicate that the American antelope can run at speeds of up to 65 kilometers. per hour.

There is other information indicating that the American antelope can cover a distance of about 11 kilometers in just 10 minutes, which equates to approximately 64 kilometers per hour, according to what was reported on the American site Mental Floss.

Jumping animal

According to research, it is shown that the black wildebeest has superior muscle fibers that enable it to run at high speeds over long distances. It is also thought that hops, which belong to the same genus, may also possess these fibers, allowing them to escape predators in the African savannah.

Quarter horse

At the end of the list, there are several animals that race at approximately equal speeds. Among these animals we find the Quarter Horse, which is generally considered faster than its more famous thoroughbred horses.

During his participation in multiple races held at different distances, the Quarter Horse achieved an average speed of 72 km per hour, while the average speed of Thoroughbred horses was 56 km per hour, despite participating in races that generally last longer distances. What is most striking is that the Quarter Horse was able to cover a distance estimated at approximately 89 km per hour when the end of the race approached.