Top Ten Fastest Land Animals

Top Ten Fastest Land Animals

10. Gray Fox (Speed in mph :42 )

The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is a mammal,monogamous of the order Carnivora.The gray fox is a solitary hunter that will eat meat and greens frequently. They use their speed and stealth to hunt rabbits, however also catch voles, mice, shrews and birds. The fox rounds out its diet with a generous helping of whatever fruits they find as well as vegetables.

9. Coyote (Speed in mph :43 )

The coyote ( Canis latrans), also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada.Its scientific name, Canis latrans, means "barking dog" in Latin.Coyotes use their speed to hunt small mammals such as rabbits, mice, squirrels, deer and live stock. The animal is highly carnivorous, however very versatile and will eat whatever is available depending on the season.

8. Cape Hunting Dog (Speed in mph :45 )

Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas.The scientific name "Lycaon pictus" is derived from the Greek for "wolf" and the Latin for "painted". It is the only canid species to lack dewclaws on the forelimbs.These dogs use their cunning abilities and speed, while hunting in packs to focus on medium sized prey such as the impala. Sometimes, however these packs will bring down wildebeests and zebras. Their attack is coordinated and often starts with a stampede towards the pack. One dog will grab the victims tail, another the upper lip and the the remainder will disembowel the animal leaving it immobilized.

7. Elk (Speed in mph :45 )

Source:http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/elk.htm
The elk is frequently considered to be the second largest species of deer in the world. It is also one of the largest mammals in North America and Easter Asia. The moose is the only animal larger. This is another animal that will use its speed to avoid predators, however due to its large size, many predators would rather not bother the animal.

6. Quarterhorse (Speed in mph :47.5 )

The Quarter Horse (Equus ferus caballus) is an exceptional sprinter deriving its name from its ability to out distance other horses in races of a quarter mile or less. The horse can achieve speeds upwards of 47 mph. This horse is the most popular breed with the United States with nearly 5 million horses registered worldwide.

5. Thomson's Gazelle (Speed in mph :50 )

The Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) is one of the best-known gazelles. It is named after explorer Joseph Thomson and, as a result, is sometimes referred to as a "tommie".Thomson's gazelle is one of the most abundant species of gazelle in Africa. Herding and Speed is all the Thomson’s Gazelle needs to live a long and satisfying life. In fact, their average life span in the wild is between 10 and 12 years, which is pretty impressive if you think about where they spend the majority of their time.The Thompson's Gazelle is one of the best known gazelles. In order to evade its main enemy, the cheetah, wild dogs these animals can reach speeds of 50 mph, and can sustain longer bursts than their mortal enemy.


4. Lion (Speed in mph :50 )

The lion (Panthera leo) is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger.Known as the “King of the Beasts” lions have roamed African plains and woodlands for many thousands of years.  They are feared by most animals, with the exception of  elephants and rhino’s who don’t normally fear anything!Lions live in large family groups called “prides”.A male lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away.A lion's eyesight is five times better than a human's, and it can hear prey that is more then a mile away. Lions commonly live up to 16 years of age.The king of beasts doesn't often use his speed when hunting because the lioness does the majority of the hunting. Those Lions without a pride use clever stealth and speed to catch their prey. Males can exceed 550lbs, making it the second largest living cat after the tiger. Wild lions can only be found in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and a small population in northwest India.

3. Wildebeest (Speed in mph :50 )

The wildebeest (plural wildebeest or wildebeests), also called the gnu is an antelope of the genus Connochaetes and belongs to Bovidae. It is a hooved (ungulate) mammal..The Wildebeest is another animal that relies on its speed to evade predators. These animals are favorites of the big cats as they inhabit the plains and open woodlands of Africa. They are most plentiful in the Serengeti and can live more than 20 years.

2. Pronghorn Antelope (Speed in mph :61 )

The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is a species of artiodactyl mammal endemic to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in North America as the prong buck, pronghorn antelope, or simply antelope, as it closely resembles the true antelopes of the Old World and fills a similar ecological niche due to convergent evolution.The Pronghorn Antelope's exceptional speed is necessary in order to evade predators by outrunning them. The animal is considered to be the fastest animal in the new world. The top speed is very hard to measure accurately and it varies between individuals, however the animal has been clocked at 61mph. It is often cited as the second-fastest land animal with the Cheetah being the fastest. The animal can sustain these speeds much longer than a cheetah due to its larger heart and lungs. these animals are poor jumpers.

1. Cheetah (Speed in mph :70 )

The cheetah is the fastest member of the cat family and is unique because what it lacks in climbing abilities it makes up for in speed and stealth. The cheetah is the fastest of all land animals and can reach speeds between 112 kilometres per hour (70 mph) and 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph) in short bursts up to 460 metres (500 yd). The cheetah's ability to accelerate is unmatched. The animal can easily accelerate from 0 to 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph) in three seconds, faster than most supercars.