Humans can be quite fast, but we’re nothing compared to the speed some animals can reach. The following ranking shows you which land species (which excludes birds) are the fastest on our planet sorted by the maximum speed they’re able to reach.
The 10 Fastest Land Animals in the World:
1. Cheetah
With a maximum speed of 114 km/h or 71 mph, the cheetah is by far the fastest known land animal on Earth. Cheetahs are large cats that naturally live in Africa and some parts of Western and Southern Asia (although their presence there is endangered these days). Their maximum speed can match that of an average car driving on the highway….
2. Pronghorn
Pronghorns may not look like it, but they are indeed the second fastest land animals in the world with a maximum speed of 89 km/h or 55 mph. Pronghorns are native to North America and can naturally be found in the Midwest and Southwest of the USA as well as in the central parts of Canada.
3. Springbok
Closely following the Pronghorn comes the springbok, with a maximum speed around 88 km/h or 55mph. The Springbok is an antelope native to Southwestern Africa. Springboks have to be fast considering the many predator threats they’re facing in their natural habitat.
4. Wildebeest
With the Wildebeest, yet another antelope belongs to the fastest animals in the world. The big and robust appearance may not make it apparent on first glance, but the Wildebeest does indeed reach maximum speeds up to 82 km/h or 51 mph. The Wildebeest is native to several regions in the Southern half of Africa.
5. Lion
Oftentimes referred to as the “king of the animal kingdom”, the lion also belongs to the fastest animals in the world. With a maximum speed of around 81 km/h or 50 mph lions are practically as fast as wildebeests. Lions are cats and native to most parts of sub-Saharan Africa and an small area in Western India.
6. (tied) Blackbuck & Hare & Jaguar
7. Greyhound
8. African Wild Dog
9. Kangaroo
10. Horse
The 10 Fastest Land Animals in the World
(at a glance)
| Top 10 Fastest Animals in the World: |
|---|
| 1. CHEETAH 114 km/h or 71 mph |
| 2. PRONGHORN 89 km/h or 55 mph |
| 3. SPRINGBOK 88 km/h or 55 mph |
| 4. WILDEBEEST 82 km/h or 51 mph |
| 5. LION 81 km/h or 50 mph |
| 6. (tied) BLACKBUCK & HARE & JAGUAR 80 km/h or 50 mph each |
| 7. GREYHOUND 74 km/h or 46 mph |
| 8. AFRICAN WILD DOG 72 km/h or 45 mph |
| 9. KANGAROO 71 km/h or 44 mph |
| 10. HORSE 70 km/h or 44 mph |
Top 10 Fastest Animals Ranking based on the measured maximum speeds of land animals (excluding fish, water animals and birds)