30 Fastest Animals in the World: Land, Air, Water

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What are the fastest animals in the world? In this post, you’ll learn about the world’s 30 fastest animals. They are organized by land, air, and water. And include mammals, birds, sharks, fish. And both predator and prey.

The world’s fastest land animal is the cheetah with a top speed of 76 mph (122 km/h). The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird at 242 mph (389 km/h). And the fastest water-based animal is the black marlin that can move 82 mph (132 km/h). Here are the ten fastest animals in each category.

In this article, you’re going to learn about 30 of the fastest animals (pause for dramatic effect) in the world. You’ll learn top speeds, how they use it, and where to find them.

Saddle up for this speedy ride. The following lists will be in ascending order (going from slowest to fastest).

But first, here are the fastest animals in each category. If you just want to know the fastest land, air, or water animal here they are.

World’s Fastest Animals

The following animals are the top fastest animals in each category.

Fastest Land Animal: Cheetah

Cheetahs have the record for the fastest animal on land.

At a top speed of 61 mph and the ability to get there within seconds, no other land animal comes close unaided.

This is useful, as cheetahs often prey on animals that are speedy themselves.

Latin Name: Acinonyx jubatus
Top Speed: 76 mph (122 km/h) estimated; 61 mph (98 km/h) recorded
Speed Type: Sprint, top speed maintained for around 0.28 miles
Use of Speed: Hunting, stalk, and ambush
Location: Throughout Africa, a small pocket in Iran
Habitat: Variety of habitats, from savannahs to dry mountain ranges

Fastest Flying Animal: Peregrine Falcon

When it comes to the sky, Peregrine falcons have the crown. The fastest of all creatures on any list, Peregrine falcons can get to a whopping 242 mph!

In comparison, humans have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get close to that speed.

Latin Name: Falco peregrinus
Top Speed: 242 mph (389 km/h)
Speed Type: Dive speed
Use of Speed: Hunting
Location: Throughout the world, all continents except Africa
Habitat: Wide open areas preferred, near coasts where prey (shorebirds) can be found; but can be found in a large variety of habitats

Fastest Water Animal: Black Marlin

The water speed record goes to the black marlin.

While some scientists suggest that they have a burst speed of only 22 mph (35 km/h), some reports have them pulling a fishing line at 120 ft (36.5m) per second, which equates to 82 mph (132 km/h)!

Latin Name: Istiompax indica
Speed type: Burst speed
Top Speed: 82 mph (132 km/h)
Use of Speed: Hunting, evasion
Location: Indian, Pacific Oceans
Habitat: Shallow waters, close to shores, water temperatures of 59 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 30 degrees Celsius)

To compare, the fastest human can get to 28 mph (45 km/h). So we humans could get nowhere near this list, no matter how hard we trained nor whatever physical gifts we may have.

Now that we’ve seen the fastest of the fastest, let’s take look at a more comprehensive list of 30 of the fastest animals on the planet.

10 Fastest Land Animals in the World

These magnificent creatures can be summed up generally in two categories, those who use their speed to catch their prey, and those who use their speed to escape predators.

10. Cougar

Latin Name: Puma concolor
Top Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
Speed Type: Ambush predator, capable of sprinting
Use of Speed: Hunting
Location: North and South America
Habitat: Prefers dense underbrush, rocky areas, which

9. Lynx (Eurasian, Canada, Iberian)

Latin Name: Lynx lynx (Eurasian Lynx), Lynx canadesis (Canadian lynx), Lynx pardinus (Iberian Lynx)
Top Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
Speed Type: Stalk and Ambush
Use of Speed: Hunting
Location: Throughout Europe and Asia (Eurasian lynx); Canada, Alaska, Northern USA (Canada Lynx); Small pockets of Iberian peninsula and South France (Iberian Lynx)
Habitat: High altitude forests, with lots of thick cover

8. Blackbuck or Indian Antelope

Latin Name: Antilope cervicapra
Top Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
Speed Type: Sprint, but has high endurance
Use of Speed: Escape predators or threats
Location: Indian subcontinent
Habitat: Grassy plains, light forests, with constant water sources

7. Lion

Latin Name: Panthera leo
Top Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
Speed Type: Bursts of speed, ambush
Use of Speed: Hunting
Location: Small areas throughout Africa; Asiatic lion (Panthera leo leo) found in Gir National Park, India
Habitat: Grassy plains, savannahs

Learn more about African lions.

6. Blue Wildebeest

Latin Name: Connochaetes taurinus
Top Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
Speed Type: Endurance
Use of Speed: Fleeing from threats, protection, migration
Location: Southern and East Africa
Habitat: short-grass plains, next to acacia savannahs; areas not too dry nor wet

Blue wildebeest are among the largest antelopes in Africa.

5. Thomson’s Gazelle

Latin Name: Eudorcas thonsonii
Top Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h) (some reports of 60 mph (96.5 km/h)), sustained speeds of 30-40 mph (48-64 km/h)
Speed Type: Agility, endurance
Use of Speed: Escaping predators
Location: East Africa
Habitat: Savannahs and grasslands

4. Springbok

springbok antelope in africa — Springbok antelope in the air

Latin Name: Antidorcas marsupialis
Top Speed: 55 (88.5 km/h)
Speed Type: Agility
Use of Speed: Escaping predators
Location: South and southwestern Africa
Habitat: Open plains, dry areas

Learn more about all 74 types of African antelopes.

3. Common Tsessebe or Sassaby

Latin Name: Damaliscus lunatus lunatus
Top Speed: 56 mph (90 km/h)
Speed Type: Endurance
Use of Speed: Predator evasion
Location: Southcentral Africa
Habitat: Prefer open areas like grasslands, lightly wooded savannahs, or open plains without trees

2. Pronghorn

Latin Name: Antilocapra americana
Top Speed: 55 to 60 mph (88.5 to 96.6 km/h), sustained 35 mph for 4 miles (56 km/h for 6.4 km)
Speed Type: Endurance (top speed at 0.5 miles/0.8 km)
Use of Speed: Predator evasion
Location: Western North America
Habitat: Open terrain, elevations of around 3,000 to 5,900 feet (914 to 1,798 m)

1. Cheetah

Latin Name: Acinonyx jubatus
Top Speed: 76 mph (122 km/h) estimated; 61 mph (98 km/h) recorded
Speed Type: Sprint, top speed maintained for around 0.28 miles
Use of Speed: Hunting, stalk and ambush
Location: Throughout Africa, a small pocket in Iran
Habitat: Variety of habitats, from savannahs to dry mountain ranges

Learn more about how fast a cheetah can run. And how to tell a cheetah and leopard apart. Check out these photos of adorable cheetah cubs.

10 Fastest Flying Animals in the World

Not only are the following the fastest creatures in the air, but they are considered to be the top 10 fastest animals in the world, full stop.

10. Eurasian hobby

Latin Name: Falco subbuteo
Top Speed: 99 mph (160 km/h)
Speed Type: High-speed dive
Use of Speed: Hunting, general movement
Location: Throughout Eurasia, Africa
Habitat: Open areas, like farmlands, marshes, boreal forests, savannahs

9. African Crowned Eagle

Latin Name: Stephanoaetus coronatus
Top Speed: 100 mph (161 km/h)
Speed Type: High-speed dive
Use of Speed: Hunting
Location: Sub-saharan Africa
Habitat: Dense woodlands and forests

Check out our guide to crowned eagles.

8. Mexican or Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat

Latin Name: Tadarida brasiliensis
Top Speed: 101 mph (162 km/h)
Speed Type: Level flight
Use of Speed: Hunting, general movement
Location: Throughout Central or Southern United States, Central America, South America
Habitat: Mainly caves, sometimes in buildings with opening and dark areas in the ceilings or walls

7. White-Throated Needletail Swift

Latin Name: Hirundapus cudacutus
Top Speed: 105 mph (170 km/h)
Speed Type: Level flight (considered the fastest in this type of speed)
Use of Speed: General movement (travel, migration)
Location: Central Asia, Southern Siberia, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Eastern Australia
Habitat: Wide range of habitats, generally have nests in rock crevices in hollow trees or cliffs

6. Red-Tailed Hawk

Latin Name: Buteo jamaicensis
Top Speed: 118 mph (190 km/h)
Speed Type: High-speed dive
Use of Speed: Hunting, battling over prey
Location: Throughout North America
Habitat: Wide range of habitats, like deserts, grasslands, forests, urban areas

5. Gyrfalcon

Latin Name: Falco rusticolus
Top Speed: 130 mph (209 km/h)
Speed Type: High-speed dive
Use of Speed: Hunting
Location: Artica areas; North America, Eurosiberia
Habitat: Tundra, mountains, sea ice

4. Ferruginous Hawk

Latin Name: Buteo regalis
Top Speed: 150 mph (241 km/h)
Speed Type: High-speed dive
Use of Speed: Courtship ritual
Location: Western North America
Habitat: Arid and semiarid grasslands

3. Golden Eagle

Latin Name: Aquila chrysaetos
Top Speed: 200 mph (322 km/h)
Speed Type: High-speed dive
Use of Speed: Hunting
Location: Throughout Holarctic, or Northern Hemisphere
Habitat: Open, or semi-open areas ideal for hunting

The golden eagle is one of the largest eagles in the world. Learn more about all 68 types of eagles.

2. Saker Falcon

Latin Name: Falco cherrug
Top Speed: 200 mph (322 km/h)
Speed Type: High-speed dive
Use of Speed: Hunting (though are more likely to hunt through horizontal flight)
Location: North Africa, Central Asia
Habitat: Open grasslands with trees and cliffs

1. Peregrine Falcon

Latin Name: Falco peregrinus
Top Speed: 242 mph (389 km/h)
Speed Type: High-speed dive
Use of Speed: Hunting
Location: Throughout the world, all continents except Antarctica
Habitat: Wide open areas preferred, near coasts where prey (shorebirds) can be found; but can be found in a large variety of habitats

10 Fastest Water Animals in the World

Water is a tricky thing when it comes to speed. Some scientists estimate any records of speed beyond 22 mph may be questionable, as they claim that fish may not actually be able to go beyond that. They say this is due to physical limitations.

As a result, the following speeds may need to be taken with a grain of salt.

10. Killer Whale

Latin Name: Orcinus orca
Top Speed: 35 mph (56 km/h)
Speed Type: Burst speed
Use of Speed: Hunting, fighting
Location: Throughout all oceans
Habitat: Variety, more abundant in colder waters

9. Great Barracuda

Latin Name: Sphyraena barracuda
Top Speed: 36 mph (58 km/h) (though there are several species of barracuda)
Speed Type: Burst speed
Use of Speed: Hunting
Location: Indian, Pacific, Atlantic Oceans
Habitat: Shallow waters; tropical or subtropical climates

8. Flying Fish

Latin Name: Genus: Exocoetidae
Top Speed: 37 mph (60 km/h)
Speed Type: Burst, gliding through the air
Use of Speed: Predator evasion
Location: Throughout all oceans
Habitat: Tropical, temperate areas, usually open oceans

7. Atlantic Bonito

Latin Name: Sarda sarda
Top Speed: 40 mph (64 km/h) (though there are several species of bonito)
Speed Type: Burst, can skip out of water
Use of Speed: Hunting, evasion
Location: Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea
Habitat: Shallow waters

6. Bonefish

Latin Name: Albula vulpes
Top Speed: 40 mph (64 km/h)
Speed Type: Burst speed
Use of Speed: Escape and evasion
Location: Throughout the coastlines North and South America, Hawaii
Habitat: Coastal areas

5. Shortfin Mako Shark

Latin Name: Isurus oxyrinchus
Top Speed: 45 mph (72 km/h)
Speed Type: Burst speed, lunging vertically
Use of Speed: Hunting
Location: Throughout all oceans
Habitat: Warm, temperate waters; depths of around 490 feet (150 m); usually no colder than 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius)

4. Yellowfin Tuna

Latin Name: Thunnus albacares
Top Speed: 47 mph (75 km/h)
Speed Type: Agility
Use of Speed: Hunting, evasion
Location: Throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans
Habitat: Tropical, subtropical areas; water depths of 820 feet (250 m)

3. Swordfish

Latin Name: Xiphias gladius
Top Speed: 60 mph (97 km/h)
Speed Type: Burst speed
Use of Speed: Hunting, evasion
Location: Throughout the world’s oceans
Habitat: Water of temperatures of 64 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 22 degrees Celsius)

2. Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Sailfish

Latin Name: Istiophorus albicans (Atlantic); Istiophorus platypterus (Indo-Pacific)
Top Speed: 68 mph (110 km/h)
Speed Type: Burst speed
Use of Speed: Hunting, evasion
Location: Atlantic, Indian, Pacific Oceans
Habitat: Temperate, tropical areas; open ocean

1. Black Marlin

Latin Name: Istiompax indica
Speed type: Burst speed
Top Speed: 82 mph (132 km/h)
Use of Speed: Hunting, evasion
Location: Indian, Pacific Oceans
Habitat: Shallow waters, close to shores, water temperatures of 59 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 30 degrees Celsius)