Items13The creator’s order
  1. 1CheetahCheetahLand. GPS and motion-sensing collars recorded a wild cheetah in Botswana reaching 58 mph (93 km/h). The study followed five animals through 367 runs, most of them hunts. Most chases were slower, with the cat changing speed and direction as it pursued prey.0
  2. 2Peregrine falconPeregrine falconAir, diving. A trained peregrine named Frightful was reported at 242 mph (389 km/h) in a staged high-altitude dive. A recording altimeter measured the fall over time. Published camera measurements of another peregrine diving beside a dam reached 50 mph (81 km/h), illustrating how much the setup…0
  3. 3SailfishSailfishWater. Researchers estimated a maximum of about 19 mph (30 km/h) from how quickly sailfish muscles contract and how far each tail beat can move the fish. High-speed video and motion sensors during hunts supported slower speeds than the often-repeated claims of more than 60 mph.0
  4. 4PronghornPronghornLand. One published running study cites pronghorn covering almost seven miles in 10 minutes, an average of about 40 mph (65 km/h). In separate tests the researchers measured how much oxygen a pronghorn could use, helping explain how it can sustain a fast pace across open ground.0
  5. 5Mexican free-tailed batMexican free-tailed batAir, powered flight. Researchers tracked radio-tagged bats from a plane in Texas. One short segment worked out to about 100 mph (160 km/h) relative to the ground. Wind and the uncertainty in the recorded positions matter when comparing this figure with airspeeds measured another way.0
  6. 6Shortfin mako sharkShortfin mako sharkWater. Tags that measured water flowing past the shark directly captured an 11 mph (18 km/h) burst from a female mako. The number describes one measured burst. Speeds estimated from a shark leaping clear of the water answer a different question.0
  7. 7Common swiftCommon swiftAir, powered flight. In rapid group flights called screaming parties, researchers used cameras to track common swifts. They recorded a horizontal speed of 70 mph (112 km/h) in the fastest pass. The short, fast flights were considerably quicker than the birds’ usual migration pace.0
  8. 8Common ostrichCommon ostrichLand. Film analyses have put fast-running ostriches in the range of roughly 27 to 38 mph (43 to 61 km/h). The upper value comes from a smaller individual in an early study. The footage lets researchers examine how long strides contribute to the speed of this two-legged runner.0
  9. 9GyrfalconGyrfalconAir, diving. An optical tracker recorded a trained gyrfalcon reaching 116 to 130 mph (187 to 209 km/h) in its seven fastest dives. As it accelerated, the bird drew its wings closer to its body. The figures describe dives made by that individual.0
  10. 10Dall's porpoiseDall's porpoiseWater. A wild study measured speeds from an inflatable boat and clocked Dall’s porpoises at up to about 13 mph (22 km/h). At speed the porpoise can throw a fan of spray behind it. A frequently cited 34 mph (55 km/h) figure was an estimate of a possible burst.0