By Josie  February 22nd, 2024

12 Animals That Can Run Faster Than a Car

In nature, speed is crucial – either you need speed to catch your prey or to escape your predator. In other words, your speed is the difference between life and death.

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.

#1 Cheetah

Being the fastest bird worldwide, the peregrine falcon can dive at over 240 mph to catch its prey.

#2 Peregrine Falcon

The pronghorn is North America’s fastest land mammal, capable of speeds up to 55 mph.

#3 Pronghorn Antilope

Sailfish are the fastest fish in the ocean, reaching speeds of up to 68 mph.

#4 Sailfish

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.

#5 Springbok

Jaguars are capable of reaching speeds up to 50 mph in short bursts, in addition to being powerful swimmers and climbers.

#6 Jaguar

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.

#7 Grayhound

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.

#8 Ostrich

Large kangaroos can reach speeds of up to 44 mph by using their powerful hind legs to propel themselves forward.

#9 Kangaroo

Elks can run at speeds up to 45 mph, especially when evading predators or during mating season chases.

#10 Elk

The mako shark, the fastest shark in the ocean, can swim up to 46 mph thanks to its torpedo-shaped body and powerful tail.

#11 Mako Shark

Dolphins can swim at speeds up to 25 mph, with bursts of up to 35 mph, using their streamlined bodies and powerful tails.

#12 Dolphin

Despite their size, giraffes can run at speeds up to 35 mph over short distances thanks to their long legs which allow them to cover significant ground with each stride.

#13 Giraffe

Explore another story:

Swipe up to read about the animals responsible for the most deaths in the U.S.