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The cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 96.6 km/h (60.0 mph) in under three seconds though endurance is limited: most cheetahs run for only 60 seconds at a time.[1] When sprinting, cheetahs spend more time in the air than on the ground.[7]
Some attribute such flying capabilities specifically to the Mexican free-tailed bat.[9]Tail wind is what allows free-tailed bats to reach such high speeds.[10]
The pronghorn (American antelope) is the fastest animals over long distances; it can run 56 km/h for 6 km (35 mph for 4 mi), 67 km/h for 1.6 km (42 mph for 1 mi), and 88.5 km/h for .8 km (55 mph for .5 mi).[1]
The springbok, an antelope of the gazelle tribe in southern Africa,[16] can make long jumps and sharp turns while running. Unlike ponghorns, springboks are poor long-distance runners.[1]
The wildebeest, an antelope, exists as two species: the blue wildebeest and the black wildebeest. Both are extremely fast runners, which allows them to flee from predators.[19] They are better at endurance running than at sprinting.[18]
The blackbuck antelope can sustain speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph) for over 1.5 km (0.93 mi) at a time.[20] Each of its strides (i.e. the distance between its hoofprints) is 5.8–6.7 m (19–22 ft).[15]
The jackrabbit's strong hind legs allow it to leap 3 m (9.8 ft) in one bound; some can even reach 6 m (20 ft).[28] Jackrabbits a combination of leaps and zig-zags to outrun predators.[22]
When hunting, African wild dogs can sprint at 66 km/h (41 mph) in bursts; however, they can maintain speeds of 56–60 km/h (35–37 mph) for up to 4.8 km (3 mi).[32][33] Their targeted prey rarely escapes.[30]
The comfortable hopping speed for kangaroo is about 21–26 km/h (13–16 mph), but speeds of up to 71 km/h (44 mph) can be attained over short distances, while it can sustain a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) for nearly 2 km (1.2 mi).[35] The faster the kangaroo hops, the less energy it consumes (up to its cruising speed).[34]
According to the Guinness World Records, the fastest speed for a race horse, 70.76 km/h (43.97 mph), was achieved by the horse "Winning Brew" in a 2008 race in Grantville, Pennsylvania.
Thomson's gazelles, being long-distance runners, can escape cheetahs by sheer endurance.[41] Their speed is partially due to their "stotting", or bounding leaps.[40]
Coyotes can easily reach 48 km/h (30 mph), and can sprint at 65 km/h (40 mph) when hunting.[45] Even when missing its front foot, a coyote can still run at around 32 km/h (20 mph).[44]
The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest bird; when in its hunting dive, the stoop, in which it soars to a great height, then dives steeply at speeds of over 200 mph. However, it does not make the first when travelling in level flight.
The ostrich is the tallest and heaviest species of all living birds. Although its bulky body means that flying is out of the question, the ostrich has adapted to life on the ground with impressive agility. Ostriches are superb runners that can sprint at speeds of up to 45 mph (72 km/h)[55] on average, with the point on 60 mph (97 km/h) during short period, with 12 foot strides. The ostrich is also an endurance runner and can jog at a slick 30 mph (48 km/h) for as long as a half an hour. The ostrich kicks when angry and can inflict serious injury.
In a series of tests carried out in a fishing camp, Long Key, ea. Florida, USA, sailfish swam and leapt 91 meters in 3 seconds, equivalent to a speed of 109 km/h., although this speed include its leaps out of water which shouldn't really count as swimming speed.[60]
The 60 mph figure listed for the Swordfish is based on a corrupted version of calculations made by Sir James Gray to estimate the impact speed necessary for a hypothetical 600-lb Swordfish to embed its sword 3 feet in the timbers of ships, as has been known to occur; the figure seems to have entered the literature without question as though someone had actually timed a Swordfish at speed.[62]
^Different sources cite different speeds; estimates include 96–101 km/h (60–63 mph),[1] 98 km/h (61 mph),[2] 100 km/h (62 mph),[3] 104 km/h (65 mph),[4] and 104.4 km/h (64.9 mph).[5][6] There is a tendency to overestimate the speed of fast animals, and claims of the cheetah running 114 km/h (71 mph) or faster have been discredited.[6][1]
^Estimates include 95 km/h (59 mph)[8] and 96.6 km/h (60.0 mph).[9][10]
^Estimates include "over 53 miles (86 kilometers) per hour",[11] 88.5 km/h (55.0 mph),[1][4] an "alleged top speed of 60 miles an hour [96.6 km/h]" (emphasis added),[12] 98 km/h (61 mph),[13] and "a top speed of about 100 km/hr [62 mph]" (emphasis added).[14]
^Estimates include 70 km/h (43 mph) (specifically the black wildebeest),[17] "approximately 80 km/h or 50 mph",[18] and "over 50 miles per hour [80.5 km/h]" (specifically the blue wildebeest).[19]
^Estimates include 66 km/h (41 mph)[29] and 71 km/h (44 mph)[30][31]
^Estimates include "more than 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour)"[34] and 71 km/h (44 mph).[35]
^Estimates include 64 km/h (40 mph),[37]: 169 69 km/h (43 mph) (specifically for the kulan subspecies),[38] and 70 km/h (43 mph) (specifically for the Persian subspecies).[39]
^Estimates include 64 km/h (40 mph)[40] and 70 km/h (43 mph).[41]
^Estimates include 67 km/h (42 mph),[42] 68.4 km/h (42.5 mph),[43] and 69 km/h (43 mph).[4]
^Estimates include 64 km/h (39.8 mph),[44] 64.4 km/h (40 mph),[45] and 65 km/h (40 mph)[46]: 55
References
^ abcdefCarwardine, Mark (2008). Animal Records. New York: Sterling. pp. 11, 43. ISBN9781402756238.
^ abSharp, N. C. C. (1 March 1997). "Timed running speed of a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)". Journal of Zoology. 241 (3): 493–494. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb04840.x.
^ abFeldhamer, George A.; Bruce C., Thompson; Chapman, Joseph A., eds. (21 October 2003). Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation (2nd ed.). The Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 65, 140, 909. ISBN0801874165.
^ abHamilton Jr, W. J. (1998). Mammals of the Eastern United States. Cornell University Press. pp. 76, 147. ISBN9780801434754.
^Nowak, Rachel (1 December 1992). "The Pronghorn's Prowess". Discover Magazine. Kalmbach Publishing Co. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
^Krejci, Kandace; Dewey, Tanya. "Antilocarpa americana: pronghorn". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
^ abNowak, Ronald M. (7 April 1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. JHU Press. p. 1193. ISBN9780801857898.
^Virchow, Dallas; Hygnstrom, Scott; Ferraro, Dennis (1 January 2003). "G03-1526 Prevention and Control of Rabbit Damage". Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.
^ abAuman, Amy; Fye, Rachael; Dewey, Tanya. "Eudorcas thomsonii: Thomson's gazelle". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
^Branigan, Cynthia A. (14 April 2004). Adopting the Racing Greyhound. John Wiley & Sons. p. 17. ISBN9780764558986.