List of Fastest Animals in the World

The fastest animals in the world may endeavor through air, water, or land. There is no doubt that human beings are those creatures of the animal kingdom who are superior in all attributes to animals. It’s about the time of the 1940s and ’50s when the story of sailfish that traveled at the speed of 68 mph was popular. But since then, can you agree that scientists haven’t discovered anything traveling faster than the speed of 33 mph. Studying animals from various aspects is still continued and new record breakers are always out there. However, if you are thinking that you know Cheetah is the fastest animals in the world. Then, you definitely need to refresh the fastest animals in the world list in your mind. As with the passage of time new technology and equipment, it has become possible to study in more detail and record the fastest time and distances traveled by the fastest animals. However, the fastest animals in the world are categories by the medium of traveling as well such fastest animals on land is not the same fastest animals in water.

In addition, animals’ kingdom is extreme strength and strong. Thus, every animal has taken up from the other as its creative in itself for being big in size or be the fastest animal moving. You might know about the fastest animals in the air or the fastest animal in the water, but you won’t be able to have a comparison between them to find the most superior one. Therefore, comparing work has to be done by us, the list of the top 20 fastest animals in the world is here:

Peregrine Falcon- Fastest bird and Fastest animal in the world 2020:

Type: Bird

Lifespan: nearly 7-15 years

Size: 39-50 cm

Diet: Carnivore

Weight: 600g – 1.3 kg

Scientific Name: Falco peregrinus

Range: All continents except Antarctica

It is fairly called the Peregrine Falcon fastest bird in the world. And no other creature moves as its speed so thus, called the fastest animals of the world. When it hunts dive, the stoop that soars the wonderful height and then dives steeply Peregrine Falcon fastest speed recorded is 322 km per hour. Peregrine Falcon dives down horizontally to jaunt with a speed of 90 km per hour. Where do Peregrine Falcons live in this world? Along being superior in speed to other creatures on this planet, Peregrine Falcons live in open country, agricultural land, hunting over marshes and estuaries. Peregrine Falcons size makes it the largest and most powerful species of Falcons. Species such as Feral Pigeons, woodpigeons, starlings, blackbirds, and black-headed gulls useful fall prey and become part of Peregrine Falcon’s diet.

Golden Eagle: The fastest animal in the world ranked Second.

Type: Bird of Falconry

Lifespan: More than 39 years for an adult.

Size: 66-102 cm

Diet: 230-250 g of food per day

Weight: 2.9 to 6 kg (average mass)

Range: Eurasia, North America, and North Africa.

Golden Eagle habitat is the most widely spread species of eagle in the world. With a huge range of dive stops of 240-320 km per hour, Golden Eagle speed makes it the second fastest animals in the world. Golden Eagle size is much of a large raptor with a length of 66 to 102 centimeters. Golden Eagle weights of males are slightly less than those too Golden Eagle females.

White-Throated Needletail known as Spine Tailed Swift:

Kingdom: Animalia

Size: 20 cm

Weight: 110 to 120 g

Range: Central Asia, southern Siberia, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia.

Again, a bird here is on the top fastest animals in the world list. A White-Throated Needletail size can be estimated by its weight that ranges between 110 and 120 grams. White-throated needletail speed of powered flight is recorded to 171 km per hour.

Eurasian Hobby Falco Subbuteo:

Type: Animalia

Scientific Name: Falco Subbuteo

Size: 29-36 cm

Wingspan: 74- 84 cm

Weight: 175- 285 g

Range: Africa, Europe, and Asia

Birds usually have the fastest moving speed as they are moving freely without any interruption. Eurasian Hobby Falco Subbuteo’s speed in flight is about 160 km per hour. Eurasian Hobby is very much similar to the group of Falcons that falls in the subgenus. You’ll get to find Eurasian Hobby migration most commonly in the regions of Africa, Europe, and Central & East Asia whereas, in winter Central and South Africa and South Asia are the resident areas. Thus, the hobby in flight has a swift hunt that makes it one fastest animals in the world 2020.

Mexican Free – Tailed Bat- Fly through hundreds of Grounds in Texas.

Type: Mammalia

Size: 9 cm

Diet: moths, beetles, dragonflies, flies, true bugs, wasps, and ants.

Weight: 7-12 g

Scientific Name: Tadaridabrasiliensis

Range: North America

Mexican free-tailed bat is also known as Brazilian free-tailed bat. It is a medium-sized bat native of America. Mexican free-tailed bat habitat is regarded as the most abundant mammals in North America. It is known for being one of the fastest animals in the world as it moves with the fastest animal in the world with a horizontal speed of 161 km per hour. However, its air-speed is not yet measured still stated the flying mammal. Mexican free-tailed bats size is typically only 9 cm in length. However, it weighs quite light only 7-12g. There is some Mexican free-tailed bat fun fact to tell you that their tail is almost half of their total length.

Frigatebird – A family of Sea birds:

Type: Aves

Lifespan: Wandering albatross and Leach’s storm petrel

Size: 2.3 meters

Diet: kleptoparasitic feeding behavior

Scientific Name: Fregatidae

Range: Tropical and subtropical area

Frigatebird range usually across the regions of subtropical and tropical oceans. The magnificent Frigatebirds are known for distinctive red gular pouch just below its beak. The beauty is enhanced more with a wonderful combination of black plumage. The great Frigatebirds are one of the fastest moving animals besides the largest species of birds in the world and also has the largest wing area of 2.3 meters and huge body weight. Five similar species in appearance make it the largest animal bird family. Frigatebird’s range of speed is 153 km per hour.

Rock dove (pigeon)- Fastest Flight Race:

Type: Aves

Size: 29 – 37 cm

Diet: prefer plants; chiefly fruits and grains

Weight: 238 – 380g

Scientific Name: rock dove

Range: Europe mainly

The common pigeons we see in the air flying are known as the Rock dove (pigeon) belongs to the family of Columbidae. So, there is no big difference between a dove and a pigeon, it’s just the common term used for this species. The next question that arises is why are pigeons called rock doves? In 2003 the authority of North American bird names officially changed the pigeon’s English name into Rock Pigeon. The Pigeon is a Latin word that means “a dive”. Do you know? The chicks of pigeon are called “Squabs”. Rock dove pigeon has an extremely big global population of about 17-28 million individuals in Europe. Moreover, Rock pigeons are widely used in races they make a flight with a speed of 148.9 km per hour.

Spur-winged Goose – Largest Goose in the world:

Type: Geese and Shelducks

Size: 75-115cm

Diet: vegetative parts and seeds of grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants also small fishes and insects.

Weight: 4- 6.8 kg

Scientific Name: Plectropterusgambensis

Range: wetlands sub Saharan Africa

The creature related to shelducks, the Spur-winged goose is known as the largest goose in the world with an impressive fastest flying speed of 142 km/h (88 mph). Spur-winged goose attractive and eye-catchy white face and large white wing patches. They are seen flying in flocks comprising of 50 birds on the African rivers, lakes, and swamps.

Gyrfalcon Vs Peregrine Falcon in speed:

Type: largest falcon species.

Size: 48- 61 cm

Diet: Avain

Weight: 805 to 1350 grams

Scientific Name: Falco rusticolus

Range: Arctic coasts and Eurosiberain Regions.

Peregrine is the fastest animal in the world 2020, whereas is smaller, narrower, and more pointed wings than Gyrfalcon. So, don’t mess Peregrine Falcons with Gyrfalcon as they have a major difference in their appearance. Or if you don’t know Gyrfalcon, then you might know it as with the name of Norwegian Falcon. They’re rarely found as they are concerned as Endangered animals. How fast is a Gyrfalcon that it is compared to Peregrine Falcon? Gyrfalcon makes a high-level flight of speed of 128 km per hour.

Grey-headed albatross- Guinness World Record for the fastest bird:

Type: Aves

Size: 81 cm

Diet: squid, some fishes, crustacea, carrion, lampreys, cephalopods.

Weight: 2.8 to 4.4 kg

Scientific Name: Thalassarchechrysostoma

Range: Southern Ocean

Grey-headed albatross is officially awarded Guinness World Record for the fastest bird in level flight. It is stated that the typical airspeed of a little albatross in the normal wind is 20 plus-minus per hour), however, remains constant with increasing wind force. Moreover, they are summarized as “the equivalent of Avian steroids.”

Cheetah – Fastest land animal in the world:

Type: Mammal

Lifespan: 10-12 years

Size: 3.6 – 4.6 ft (excluding the tail)

Diet: Carnivore

Weight: 77-143 lb

Scientific Name:  Acinonyx jubatus

Range: Africa, Southwest Asia, India, Sub-Sahara, and Middle-East.

The fact that makes Cheetah speed so fast is its prey and achieve a speed range of 109.4 – 120.7 km/h. To imagine the extent of Cheetah speed, it is three times faster than the fastest running human in the world which is 36 km/h. Do you know that Cheetah can camouflage itself? Yes, having more than 2,000 spots aids in camouflaging itself. From the cat family, Cheetahs are the most endangered animal in the world with only 10,000 – 12,000.

Sailfish – Fastest fish in the world:

Type: Aquatic animal

Lifespan: 13 to 15 years

Size: 10 ft

Weight: 120 lbs

Scientific Name: Istiophorusplatypterus

Range: the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

In times of the 1940s–1950s, Sailfish was recorded as the fastest animals in the world, however, advancing technology discovered there is some other creature faster than Sailfish. The fish colored in blue to gray – Sailfish speed that made it the fastest animals in the world past, is 109.19 km/h. These are Atlantic Sailfishes, as they survive mostly cold areas of the sea.

Anna’s Hummingbird – Can circle the entire planet is one hour:

Type: bird

Lifespan: 8.5 years

Size: 3.9 inches

Diet: sugar-water mixtures

Weight: 0.14 – 0.16 oz

Scientific Name: Calypte anna

Range: Southern Canada and Baja California

Can you imagine a little bird of so small size can have the circle of the whole planet earth just within “one hour”? It is also called the exotic ornament of plants in residential areas. Anna’s Hummingbird nest is caught insight in the regions of northern Baja California and Southern California. Interesting point about Anna’s Hummingbird speed of 98.27 km per hour includes wings beat of about 40 to 50 times per second. Another the Hummingbird nest just slightly bigger than that to the size of a walnut.

Swordfish – The Parent Family of Sailfish:

Type: Xiphias Gladius

Lifespan: nearly 9 years

Size: 15 feet

Diet: Carnivores

Weight: 1400 lbs

Scientific Name: Xiphias gladius

Range: Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian ocean.

This unique animal has special organs in their eyes which help its brain and eyes warm in cold water. Swordfish one of the fastest animals in the world does not eat in the whole day, they have their meal at night. What do Swordfish eat at night? The meals are very precise i.e. humans, killer whales, and large sharks. However, the fastest animal in past – Sailfish, belongs to the family of Swordfish and marline. Therefore, having the fastest marine animal in its offspring, it is too the fastest animal in the world with a speed of 97 km per hour.

Pronghorn – The Fastest Animal in North America:

Type: Mammalia

Lifespan: Nearly 10 years.

Size: 4.3 – 4.9 ft

Diet: herbivores

Weight: 120 lbs

Scientific Name: Antilocapra americana

Range: North America

How many degrees you can see with normal eyes? Pronghorn have large eyes to view 320 degrees around. Pronghorn family includes the member like Cervidae (deer) and Bovidae (cattle, goats, sheep, antelopes, gazelles). Pronghorn is used as the symbol of the American Society of Mammalogists. They prefer to not go over obstacles, rather they’re excellent swimmers.

Springbok – The National Animal of South Africa:

Type: Antelope

Lifespan: about 7-9 years

Size: 4.9 – 6.4 ft

Diet: shrubs and succulents

Weight: 100 lbs 

Scientific Name: Antidorcas marsupialis

Range: Southern Africa, Angola, Namibia, and some areas of Botswana.

Springbok is known as a gaming animal that has valuable meat and skin. They use a very rare method to protect themselves, mostly adult Springbok use it named as Pronking. It’s a very unique jump that comprises of the action looking into the air, bowed back, tailed clamped town, neck bowed, and legs completely straight. Moreover, it is The National Animal of South Africa as from the name “Bok” emblem was a symbol of oppression. Furthermore, besides being valuable it has a great speed while jumping for about 88 km per hour.

Quarter Horse- The Light Horse is the most Successful Racehorse in the world.

Type: Horse

Lifespan: between 25 to 35 year

Size: 56 to 64 inches

Diet: Herbivores

Weight: 950 to 1,200 pounds

Scientific Name: Equus caballus

Range: America mostly

The horse family is well ranked in the top fastest animal in the world on land. Quarter Horses are today best known for their beauty and speed that makes them compete in a spectacular horse race. You can also call them the fastest animal in America, as they are the most popular breed in America. Amazing there are 3 million quarter horses registered in the world over 2014. When you get to read the fastest animals in the world list, it is seen that Quarter Horses has been clocked at a speed of 88.5 km per hour. Do you know about AQHA? It is the American Quarter Horse Association which took its start in the 20th century.

Blue Wildebeest – Blue Sheen not as fast as Cheetah or Lion:

Type: Connocheates.

Lifespan: Maximum 20 years

Size: 6 ft

Diet: Herbivore

Weight: 600 pounds

Scientific Name: Connochaetestaurinus

Range: woodlands of Africa.

Blue Wildebeest species got their name from their coat has a blue sheen. The blue wildebeest population is densely found in many areas of Africa. The extent of this dense population is that 1.5 million species living alone in Serengeti alone! Blue Wildebeest speed is 80.5 km per hour which becomes safer for them to be safe when they move in large herds. Wildebeest are quite famous for migration route and duration -they can migrate for 1000 miles each year. Thus, this speed and long-distance traveling include Wildebeest in the top 20 fastest animals in the world.

Lion – The King of Jungle:

Type: Panthera leo Leo

Lifespan: 10 to 14 years

Size: 5 ft

Diet: carnivores

Weight: 400 lbs

Scientific Name: Panthera leo

Range: Sub Saharan African

The only species of Cat family that live in groups today are Lions. Depending on the factor of how much food and water available most commonly up to 30 lions live together in groups. As they are superior in everything one of the fastest animals in the world rank with a speed of 80.5 km per hour, Lion roars can be heard up to eight kilometers far away. Main the Lion hunters are female ones who find food to survive. The original name of an African Language is “Simba”. If you call yourself lazy, then these big cates break your record as Lion sleeps for about 16-20 hours each day.

Blackbuck- How many blackbucks are left in India?

Type: Indian antelope

Lifespan: 10 to 15 years

Size: 4.1 ft

Diet: mainly grasses

Weight: 80 lbs

Scientific Name: Antilope cervicapra

Range: India, Nepal, and Pakistan

One of the most famous Bollywood actor Salman Khan was once convicted for blackbuck poaching in 1998. There are some other Bollywood actors too accused of acquitted of the same charge. This beautiful animal comes from the beautiful family of Gazelles, Springbok, and Gerenuk. You would found blackbuck habitats in the areas around India and its sub-continent. However, Cheetah can outrun Blackbuck speed but yet it competes with the speed of 80 km per hour. Thus, with this speed Blackbucks completes the fastest animals in the world list.

Table Source: WIKIPEDIA

Updated List of Fastest Animals in the World 2020

If you are thinking that you know Cheetah is the fastest animals in the world. Then, you need to refresh the fastest animal in your mind.

Isha Waheed

The News Engine