Top 10 Speediest Creatures on the Planet

Humans often like to label animals with superlatives—smartest, fastest, strongest—but measuring these traits is far from straightforward. For instance, tales of sailfish reaching 68 mph originate from the 1940s and '50s. Modern research suggests that speeds beyond 33 mph are improbable, as they could cause severe damage to fin tissues.

Historical speed records may be exaggerated due to factors like strong winds or flawed measurement techniques. Additionally, it's challenging to gauge an animal's maximum speed when it might not be exerting full effort during testing. Moreover, not all animals are constantly monitored, leaving room for undiscovered record-breakers. Despite these limitations, scientists have identified these 10 animals as strong contenders for the title of the fastest on Earth.

10. Quarter Horse // 55 mph

Several animals at the lower end of the list share similar speeds. Among them is the quarter horse, which outpaces its more renowned thoroughbred counterparts, especially in short-distance sprints like a quarter mile. Studies reveal stark differences: quarter horses average 45 mph across various race lengths, while thoroughbreds lag at 35 mph, despite typically running longer races. Notably, quarter horses can reach speeds exceeding 55 mph during the final stretch [PDF].

9. Springbok // 60 mph

Research suggests that the black wildebeest possesses unique muscle fibers enabling it to sustain high speeds over long distances. The springbok, a relative of the wildebeest, is believed to share these fibers, aiding its ability to evade predators on the African Savanna.

8. Pronghorn // Approximately 40-62 mph

The pronghorn is often regarded as the second fastest land animal globally, though many speed estimates stem from 1940s studies [PDF], suggesting speeds of around 60 mph. Other observations indicate pronghorns can cover nearly seven miles in just 10 minutes, equating to 40 mph.

7. Anna's Hummingbird // 61 mph

This tiny bird can reach 61 mph during brief mating dives, making it a standout contender for the fastest vertebrate relative to body length. A 2009 study found it achieves 385 body lengths per second (excluding its .59-inch bill; including it reduces the speed to 320 bl/s). In comparison, the space shuttle reentering the atmosphere travels at 207 bl/s. For a blue whale to match this speed relative to its size, it would need to circumnavigate the Earth in roughly an hour.

6. Cheetah // 65 mph

Determining a cheetah's top speed is challenging. One of the most reliable records comes from a conservationist who raised a cheetah. By luring the animal with meat tied to his vehicle, he recorded speeds of around 64 mph during trials. Similarly, a cheetah at the Cincinnati Zoo achieved 61 mph in 2012. However, wild cheetahs rarely reach such speeds; GPS data shows that while one wild cheetah hit 59 mph, the average top speed was only 33 mph, as slower speeds allow for better maneuverability.

5. Common Swift // 70 mph

Many sources suggest the white-throated needletail, also known as the spine-tailed swift, is the fastest bird in level flight. However, the methodology behind this claim lacks evidence, making it rarely considered credible. Instead, the title goes to the common swift, with one individual observed reaching nearly 70 mph in flight.

4. Gray-Headed Albatross // Approximately 80 mph

The Guinness World Record for the fastest bird in level flight is held not by the common swift but by the gray-headed albatross. This record was set by an albatross caught in an Antarctic storm. The paper documenting this achievement noted that small albatrosses typically fly at 20±9 mph with a tailwind, but this bird benefited from a 40 to 50 mph tailwind, described by Audubon as "the equivalent of avian steroids."

3. Hybomitra Hinei Wrighti // Approximately 90 mph (We Think)

A 2000 article in Discover detailed an experiment by a University of Florida entomologist who recreated the mating behavior of the Hybomitra hinei wrighti horsefly. Males of this species pursue females, and upon catching them, they descend to the ground. To mimic this, the researcher shot a plastic pellet from an air rifle, which the male horsefly chased at speeds exceeding 90 mph. This finding, though not extensively researched since, is noted as a "noteworthy record" in "the unrefereed literature."

2. Brazilian Free-Tailed Bats // 100 mph (Maybe)

A 2016 study revealed that all seven Brazilian free-tailed bats observed flew faster than 55 mph, with five nearing 70 mph and one reaching 100 mph, potentially making it the fastest flying animal. While some scientists, as reported by New Scientist, questioned whether wind or gravity aided the bats, the study's authors stood by their findings.

1. Peregrine Falcon // 200+ mph

While the peregrine falcon is often credited with speeds of around 200 mph, this figure is achieved during a specialized hunting dive known as a stoop. In level flight, the falcon typically reaches speeds of 40 to 60 mph—impressive but not extraordinary.

(This might seem like a loophole—extreme human skydivers can achieve considerably higher speeds, and if diving speeds were counted for all creatures, this list would be dominated by birds. A 2001 study [PDF] recorded passerine birds diving at remarkable speeds: a barn swallow at 117 mph, a yellow wagtail at 118 mph, and a pied flycatcher at 120 mph.)

For decades, doubts surrounded the peregrine falcon's top speed, with some 1990s researchers estimating a more modest stoop speed of 90 mph. However, in the 2000s, a researcher skydived alongside a peregrine falcon, recording speeds exceeding 200 mph. Despite this, since the speed is achieved during a dive, the title of the fastest animal on Earth remains contested.