TOP-3: the fastest animals on earth

Each of its inhabitants adapts to the conditions of life on Earth in different ways. There are thousands of thousands around us, people, animals, birds and insects. Each of these divine creations is unique and interesting in its own way. Some of the animals are herbivorous, peaceful, others are very dangerous creatures belonging to the category of "mammals" (this is the majority of animals, since not all mammals eat meat). Some animals are forced to run away all their lives, while others, on the contrary, catch up with their prey. To survive in this world, most have to move very fast. That is why many land, water and sky flying animals have become speed record holders. The maximum speed of some species was once recorded by observers, and based on such data, the TOP-3 rating was compiled.

TOP-3: the fastest animals on earth

Do you know the fastest living creatures in the world that live on land? It is clear that this is not a person. Let's remember our favorite program from our distant childhood, "In the Animal World", when a swift-footed predatory feline is chasing a herbivorous antelope. This is an incredible speed of both! Let's get acquainted with the three fastest land animals in the world.

Almost everyone has heard about the predatory cat, the cheetah, as the fastest living creature on land. It's amazing how this graceful predator can set speed records! The maximum speed of this animal, which has ever been recorded by researchers, is on average 95 kilometers per hour for four hundred meters, and for a hundred kilometers a cheetah can reach speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. However, despite this, for a very long time these predators cannot maintain their speed, as they are not very hardy and risk losing their lives. With a low speed (up to 90 km∕h), the cheetah moves for only a few minutes. But this time is enough for him to catch up with his prey and feed himself.

pronghorn antelope

The second place in the list of the fastest land animals on Earth is rightfully occupied by the pronghorn. Its speed is 85.5 kilometers per hour. On average, a pronghorn antelope can reach speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour, overcoming a six-kilometer distance. Unlike the cheetah, the pronghorn does not need long rest periods. This antelope can jump two meters high and cover a distance of six meters in length. Although the pronghorn is an intelligent animal, it rarely takes such risks, preferring to bypass any obstacles.

Gazelle Grant

Grant's gazelle to the pronghorn antelope lost second place only because there is still no official record of this animal's speed record. Although the gazelle could compete with the pronghorn in speed, as it is able to develop a truly stunning speed - up to 90 kilometers per hour. That is why the cheetah itself cannot cope with the gazelle the first time, except that on the 5th attempt the cheetah manages to overwhelm this swift herbivore. Grant's gazelle, unlike the cheetah, is very hardy, it keeps up to 50 kilometers per hour when moving.

TOP-3: the fastest animals in the water

If you think that representatives of the aquatic world, well, in any way, cannot compete in speed with land animals, then you are deeply mistaken. Yes, the water habitat is viscous and dense, in such water it is very difficult for any animal to move quickly. But, as it turned out, the animals of the aquatic world still managed to reach the fast representatives of the land. Here they are, the TOP 3 fastest waterfowl on our Earth.

sailfish

You will probably be surprised, but it is the sailfish, and not the whale, that is the fastest fish in the water world. This fish is found in the waters of the seas and oceans, but only in the tropics and subtropics. There are a lot of sailboats in the Black Sea, where it most often gets there from the Indian Ocean. It was not for nothing that the sailboat was listed in the Guinness Book of Records, as it has a truly unique, interesting structure, thanks to the fin. This predatory fish can develop phenomenal speed. Do not believe it, but the fact is 109 kilometers per hour, which was once proven by scientists who conducted tests in the US state of Florida.

marlin

Marlin in terms of speed in water is the second record holder. Interestingly, marlins are the closest relatives of the sailboat. Marlins do not have such a fin on their backs as their relatives, however, they are practically not inferior in size and speed. Some types of marlin, mainly black marlin, grow up to 5 meters in length and can still weigh eight hundred kilograms. With such a weight, the fish manage to develop their speed up to 80 km / h. And all because, just like a sailboat, they have an interesting body structure - the shape of the body is elongated, the muzzle of the fish is in the shape of a spear, and the marlin's fin is hard and very long.

Atlantic mackerel

Many do not know that fish - mackerel, which is the most beloved fish in our latitudes in terms of taste, in the depths of the sea can develop such a speed that even one can dream of. The fish develops especially high speed when it rushes to the victim or spawns. At this time, mackerel swims at a speed of 77 kilometers per hour. Mackerel is a fish that never swims alone, but prefers to move only in flocks. All fish are almost the same size. Mackerel lives only in warm seas - these are the Black, Mediterranean and Marmara seas.

TOP-3: the fastest animals in the air

The most agile, nimble and fastest living creatures on our planet are undoubtedly birds. In speed, birds are significantly ahead of land and aquatic animals. The difficulty lies in the fact that it is difficult to determine which bird is the fastest, if we proceed only from the characteristics of the flight of birds. After all, some birds develop maximum speed when they “picket”, some fly quickly if they simply hover horizontally in the sky. But, be that as it may, in the TOP-3 birds are selected that are capable of reaching phenomenal speeds in the air.

Peregrine falcon is the king of pickets. So only this falcon can hunt any flying bird. It rises high above the flying victim, folds its wings and, from above, like a “fighter plane”, rushes at it, at the same time striking the victim with its paws pressed to the body. Scientists have accurately calculated that the peregrine falcon, when it flies down for prey, falls at a 25-degree angle. And this beautiful bird flies at a frantic speed, reaching 75 m / s. When the peregrine falcon falls down at a right angle, the flight speed develops significantly - up to 100 m / s (this is about 360 kilometers per hour). According to some reports, such a figure is not the limit; a peregrine falcon, diving, can develop speed and up to 380 km / h.

In the sky, all 24 hours - the element of black swifts. So much is in the sky, swifts can for 3 years. At the same time, they sleep, eat and even mate in the sky, doing all this on the fly. These beautiful, small birds reach a length of 25 centimeters, and can reach a flight speed of up to 180 kilometers per hour. Thanks to this speed, the birds skillfully and quickly escape from predators. Despite this, black swifts are less nimble than swallows, with which ornithologists often confuse them. Strizh has to lay large turns in order to be able to turn around properly.

Grey-headed albatross

Unlike the peregrine falcon, it cannot dive during high-speed flight. Just like the black swift, in flight, it cannot sleep and eat at a height of three meters. But, the huge wingspan of these birds allows almost up to three and a half meters to maintain a stunning flight speed - up to 8 hours 130 kilometers per hour. The researchers figured this out thanks to instruments mounted on albatrosses that were specially selected for the study. Albatrosses spend most of their time in the ocean, where they hunt squid, crayfish, fish, even carrion.