The 10 Fastest Animals in the World
While the Peregrine Falcon is the fastest when it’s diving, there are a lot of really fast animals… but the top ten includes one bat, one cat, one fish, and seven birds.
The Sailfish is fast in more than one way. Their eggs take only 36 hours to hatch, and at one year old, they’re already as long as five feet! Their sail can be taller than the length of their body, and they often change color when hunting, tired, or excited.
Here are the fastest animals, their speeds measured in miles per hour and kilometers per hour:
- Peregrine Falcon: ~240 mph (386 kph) – while diving
- Golden Eagle: ~199 mph (320 kph) – while diving
- White-throated Needletail: ~105 mph (169 kph) – level flight
- Eurasian Hobby: ~100 mph (161 kph) – while diving
- Mexican Free-tailed Bat: ~99 mph (159 kph) – level flight
- Frigatebird: ~95 mph (153 kph) – level flight
- Spur-winged Goose: ~88 mph (142 kph) – level flight
- Gray-headed Albatross: ~79 mph (127 kph) – level flight
- Cheetah: ~70 mph (113 kph) – fastest land animal
- Sailfish: ~68 mph (109 kph) – fastest fish