There is no denying that the cheetah is the undisputed king of speed on land, known for its astonishing capability to reach 120 km/h in just a few seconds. However, despite being crowned as the fastest land animal, you will be amazed to learn that several animals and birds are way faster than this big cat. When you look beyond the deep forests and cast your eyes toward the open ocean and the infinite skies, the cheetah's world-record speed suddenly resembles a casual jog. Here is everything you need to know about the world's fastest animals and birds.
The Speed Demons of the Deep
While water creates significantly more drag than air, evolution has engineered several marine species with hyper-streamlined bodies and immense muscle power to slice through the ocean at terrifying speeds.
The Black Marlin: Up to 130 km/h
If you pitted a cheetah against a black marlin in a flat-out sprint, the fish would actually win. Found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the black marlin is built like a living torpedo. Its elongated, spear-like bill cuts through water resistance, while its rigid, crescent-shaped tail provides immense forward propulsion. These fish use their blistering speed to tear through schools of tuna and mackerel, leaving predators and prey alike completely helpless.
The Sailfish: Up to 110 km/h
While a hair slower than the marlin on paper, the sailfish is easily capable of matching a cheetah's top speed in short, violent bursts. Named for the massive, sail-like dorsal fin running down its back, this fish folds its fin completely flat against its body when it needs to tap into maximum velocity. This makes the sailfish fast underwater, almost like a speeding bullet.
Masters of the Sky
The Peregrine Falcon: Over 320 km/h
The peregrine falcon is significantly faster than a cheetah. It achieves its speed by folding its wings and diving from high altitudes, a technique called a hunting stoop. When it spots a bird from afar, it tucks its wings in tight and becomes a super-sleek teardrop shape, then zooms down at over 320 km/h. To handle the intense air pressure, the falcon has specialized nostrils that allow it to breathe easily during such high-speed dives.
The Golden Eagle: Over 240 km/h
The golden eagle is almost as fast as the falcon when diving. It uses a similar stoop technique to reach speeds over 240 km/h. With its powerful claws and incredible speed, it can catch large animals such as foxes and deer.
Unexpected Speedsters
The Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat: Over 160 km/h
Many people believe cheetahs are the fastest mammals, but a tiny bat called the Brazilian free-tailed bat actually holds that title for horizontal flight. It flies at over 160 km/h simply by flapping its wings. Its long, skinny wings allow it to zoom through the air and catch insects with remarkable efficiency.
The Spur-Winged Goose: Up to 140 km/h
You might not expect a large, heavy bird like the spur-winged goose to be fast, but it is. Despite weighing up to 15 pounds, it has extremely strong chest muscles and large wings that enable it to fly at speeds up to 140 km/h during migration. This demonstrates that being strong can sometimes mean being fast.
