9 Fastest Mammals on Earth
Humans may be quick thinkers and have the most complex brains of any mammal on Earth. But running speed is a different story. At a paltry 44.7 km/h (27.8 mph), even the fastest humans get lapped by speedier members of the class.
Here are the nine fastest mammals on Earth:
9. Blackbuck
Top Speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
Blackbucks are native to India and Nepal. Their high speeds evolved to escape their historical arch-nemesis: the Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), which is now extinct in the Blackbuck’s range.
Antilope cervicapra | IUCN: Least Concern (LC)
8. Black Wildebeest
Top Speed: 80.5 km/h (50.0 mph)
Native to the open plains of Southern Africa, the Black Wildebeest can sustain speeds above 50 km/h (31 mph) for extended periods to outrun predators like lions, hyenas, and wild dogs.
Connochaetes gnou | IUCN: Least Concern (LC)
7. Domestic Horse
Top Speed: 88 km/h (55 mph)
The domestic horse evolved its high-speed abilities 4-5 million years ago on the North American Great Plains to outrun prehistoric predators like the Scimitar-Toothed Cat (Homotherium spp.) and the Saber-Toothed Cat (Smilodon spp.). It later traversed the Bering Land Bridge into Eurasia, where it was domesticated for milk around 3500 BCE and for mobility around 2200 BCE.
Equus ferus caballus | IUCN: Least Concern (LC)
6. Springbok
Top Speed: 88 km/h (55 mph)
The springbok is a national symbol of South Africa. In addition to its impressive speed, it possesses elite athleticism and maneuverability - allowing it to escape the fearsome African Cheetah.
Antidorcas marsupialis | IUCN: Least Concern (LC)
5. Tsessebe
Top Speed: 90 km/h (56 mph)
Native to Southern Africa, the Tsessebe is the marathoner of the open plains. They can maintain speeds above 55 km/h (35 mph) for up to 5 km (3 mi), outlasting any predator that might challenge them.
Damaliscus lunatus lunatus | IUCN: Least Concern (LC)
4. Thomson’s Gazelle
Top Speed: 90 km/h (56 mph)
Thomson’s Gazelle is the primary prey of the African cheetah. It is too small to fight back against such a ferocious predator. As such, speed is its only weapon, and the two species co-evolved in a sprinting ability “arms race.”
Eudorcas thomsonii | IUCN: Least Concern (LC)
3. Pronghorn
Top Speed: 96 km/h (60 mph)
Antilocapra americana | IUCN: Least Concern (LC)
Like the Blackbuck, the Pronghorn is an evolutionary relic that evolved high-speed abilities to escape a predator that no longer exists. Native to western and central North America, the pronghorn was once hunted by the American Cheetah (Miracinonyx spp.) - which is now extinct.
2. Cheetah
Top Speed: 120.7 km/h (75.0 mph)
The African Cheetah is the fastest land animal on Earth, capable of running at above 100 km/h (65 mph) and achieves bursts of speed up to 120.7 km/h (75.0 mph). They are apex pursuit predators, using stealth to get within 30-60 meters of a target before sprinting in for the kill.
Acinonyx jubatus | IUCN: Vulnerable (VU)
1. Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Top Speed: 160 km/h (99 mph)
The fastest mammal in the world is the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat, a common sight in North America where millions are known to roost in single locations. They forage on “aerial highways” of insects at altitudes as high as 3,300 m (10,800 ft). Unlike other species that require speed to chase prey or evade predators, these bats require extreme speed just to get to and from their distant feeding grounds in a reasonable amount of time.
Tadarida brasiliensis | IUCN: Least Concern (LC)
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