In nature, speed is crucial – either you need speed to catch your prey or to escape your predator. In other words, your speed often comes down to the difference between life and death. This extensive list of 40 animals that can run faster than a car highlights a few of these creatures.
Although some don’t technically run, but rather swim or fly, I can almost guarantee you that every single one would beat you in a race.
#1 Cheetah
The cheetah is the epitome of speed, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just a few seconds, reaching top speeds of 75 mph.
#2 Peregrine Falcon
Being the fastest bird worldwide, the peregrine falcon can dive at over 240 mph to catch its prey.
#3 Pronghorn Antelope
The pronghorn is North America’s fastest land mammal, capable of speeds up to 55 mph. As if this wasn’t impressive enough, they can also maintain this high speed for long distances.
#4 Sailfish
Sailfish are the fastest fish in the ocean, reaching speeds of up to 68 mph. Their streamlined bodies and large dorsal fins, which can be raised to intimidate predators or reduced to minimize drag, contribute to their incredible speed. Sailfish use their speed to hunt schooling fish.
#5 Springbok
Springboks can reach speeds of up to 55 mph and are known for their unique “pronking” behavior, where they leap into the air to display their fitness and to avoid predators.
#6 Jaguar
Jaguars are capable of reaching speeds up to 50 mph in short bursts, in addition to being powerful swimmers and climbers.
#7 Lion
Lions, the kings of the jungle, can reach speeds of up to 50 mph in short bursts during a hunt.
#8 Greyhound
Greyhounds are the fastest dog breed, capable of running up to 45 mph. Their lean bodies, long legs, and deep chests are optimized for high-speed pursuits.
#9 Horse
Certain horse breeds, such as the Quarter Horse, can gallop at speeds up to 55 mph. Horses have been bred for speed and endurance, making them fast runners over both short distances and longer races.
#10 Ostrich
The ostrich is the world’s largest bird and can run at speeds up to 45 mph, thanks to its long legs and powerful stride. Ostriches use their speed to escape predators in their native African savannah habitats.
#11 Thomson’s Gazelle
Thomson’s gazelles are agile and fast and can reach speeds up to 50 mph to escape predators without breaking a sweat.
#12 Wildebeest
Wildebeests can sustain speeds of 40 mph during their massive migrations across the African plains.
#13 Kangaroo
Large kangaroos can reach speeds of up to 44 mph by using their powerful hind legs to propel themselves forward.
#14 Frigatebird
Frigatebirds are known for their exceptional speed and agility in the air, capable of reaching speeds of up to 95 mph during flight.
#15 Anna’s Hummingbird
Capable of reaching speeds that exceed 50 mph during their courtship dives, Anna’s hummingbirds are among the fastest birds in proportion to their body size.
#16 African Wild Dog
African wild dogs are known for their endurance running at speeds up to 44 mph during hunts – they work in packs to chase down prey over long distances in the African savannah.
#17 Elk
Elks can run at speeds up to 45 mph, especially when evading predators or during mating season chases. Their large size does not hinder their ability to move quickly through forested terrains or open fields.
#18 Mako Shark
The mako shark, the fastest shark in the ocean, can swim up to 46 mph thanks to its torpedo-shaped body and powerful tail.
#19 Brown Hare
Brown hares can reach speeds of 45 mph, using their powerful hind legs to escape predators. Not only that, they can skillfully make quick changes in direction to evade capture.
#20 Jackrabbit
Jackrabbits can sprint at speeds of 40 mph to escape predators. Their large ears also play a big part in being able to escape by detecting threats so they know where not to run to.
#21 Coyote
Coyotes are capable of running up to 43 mph, using their speed to catch prey and evade danger. They are adaptable animals found in North and Central America, thriving in various habitats.
#22 Quarter Horse
Known for their explosive acceleration, Quarter Horses can reach speeds up to 55 mph in short distances. It is for this very reason they frequently partake (and win) quarter-mile races.
#23 Dolphin
Dolphins can swim at speeds up to 25 mph, with bursts of up to 35 mph, using their streamlined bodies and powerful tails.
#24 Antelope
Various antelope species can run at speeds ranging from 40 to 55 mph, which is often a matter of life or death as it’s their primary defense mechanism against predators.
#25 Hyena
Hyenas are known for their endurance, capable of running at speeds up to 37 mph during a chase. They are efficient hunters and scavengers, using their speed to catch prey and escape threats.
#26 Giraffe
Despite their size, giraffes can run at speeds up to 35 mph over short distances. They can reach this surprising speed because of their long legs which allow them to cover significant ground with each stride.
#27 Zebra
Zebras can run at speeds up to 40 mph, using their speed and agility to escape from predators. When they’re moving this fast, their stripes blurr together and confuse predators during chases.
#28 Tiger
Tigers, the largest of the big cats, can reach speeds up to 40 mph in short bursts – mich needed for their ambush-hunting technique.
#29 Leopard
Leopards are capable of running up to 36 mph, using their speed and stealth to catch prey. They are solitary hunters, relying on surprise attacks to secure a meal.
#30 Polar Bear
Polar bears can run up to 25 mph on land, a surprising speed given their very chunky size.
#31 Rhinoceros
Despite their heavy build, rhinoceroses can charge at speeds up to 34 mph, which combined with their armored skin, make them much more dangerous than what they look at first sight.
#32 Elephant
Even though they’re the largest land animal their size doesn’t get in their way. Elephants can surprisingly run up to 25 mph.
#33 Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Capable of swimming at speeds up to 43 mph, the Atlantic bluefin tuna is one of the fastest and most powerful fish in the ocean.
#34 Caribou
Known for their long migrations, caribou can travel at speeds up to 50 mph. Their endurance and speed help them cover vast distances across the tundra.
#35 Serval
Servals, a type of wild cat, can reach speeds of up to 45 mph. They use their speed and jumping ability to catch birds and rodents in the African savannah.
#36 Ocelot
Ocelots can run at speeds up to 30 mph when chasing prey, a crucial weapon for these nocturnal hunters.
#38 Bald Eagle
In flight, bald eagles can reach speeds up to 100 mph when diving for fish. Their powerful wings and keen eyesight make them efficient hunters over water and land.
#39 Red Fox
Red foxes are very adaptable and can be found in many different parts on our planet. Being excellent hunters they can run as fast as 30 mph, using their agility and speed to catch prey or evade predators.
#40 Golden Eagle
Golden eagles are powerful birds of prey that can dive at speeds of up to 150 mph to catch their quarry.
Animals That Can Run Faster Than a Car: Wrapping Up
The range of animals in this list is almost just as notable as the amazing speeds at which they can run (or fly or swim, depending on their habitat). Looking at these different creatures makes me think that we humans are good at a lot of things, but running is definitely not on that list.
Even if some of us can reach similar speeds with lots of training, there’s no way we’ll ever look as graceful as these animals who soar through the sky or glide through the water completely effortlessly.
Thank you for reading this article about animals that can run faster than a car! For more posts similar to this one, take a look here:
- 12 U.S. Animals That Have Bounced Back From the Brink of Extinction
- 15 Reasons Why the Bald Eagle is the National Animal of the U.S.
- The 100 Most Extreme Animals in the USA
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