This is a list of the fastest animals in the world, by types of animal.
The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird, and the fastest member of the animal kingdom, with a diving speed of over 300 km/h (190 mph). [1] The fastest land animal is the cheetah. Among the fastest animals in the sea is the black marlin, with uncertain and conflicting reports of recorded speeds. [2] [3]
When drawing comparisons between different classes of animals, an alternative unit is sometimes used for organisms: body length per second. On this basis the 'fastest' organism on earth, relative to its body length, is the Southern Californian mite, Paratarsotomus macropalpis , which has a speed of 322 body lengths per second. [4] The equivalent speed for a human, running as fast as this mite, would be 1,300 mph (2,092 km/h), [5] or approximately Mach 1.7. The speed of the P. macropalpis is far in excess of the previous record holder, the Australian tiger beetle Rivacindela hudsoni , which is the fastest insect in the world relative to body size, with a recorded speed of 1.86 metres per second (6.7 km/h; 4.2 mph), or 171 body lengths per second. [6] The cheetah, the fastest land mammal, scores at only 16 body lengths per second. [4]
Rank | Animal | Maximum speed | Class | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Peregrine falcon | 389 km/h (242 mph) 108 m/s (354 ft/s) [1] [7] | Flight-diving | The peregrine falcon is the fastest aerial animal, fastest animal in flight, fastest bird, and the overall fastest member of the animal kingdom. The peregrine achieves its highest velocity not in horizontal level flight, but during its characteristic hunting stoop (vertical flight). While stooping, the peregrine falcon soars to a great height, then dives steeply at speed of over 320 km/h (200 mph). [1] Assuming the maximum size at 58 cm (23 in), its relative speed clocks at 186 body lengths per second during its hunting swoop, the equivalent of a human running at 170 m/s (560 ft/s). |
2 | Golden eagle | 240–320 km/h (150–200 mph) 67–89 m/s (220–293 ft/s) [8] | Flight-diving | Assuming the maximum size at 1.02 m (3 ft 4 in), its relative speed clocks at 66–87 body lengths per second, the equivalent of a human running at 60–80 m/s (197–262 ft/s). |
3 | Gyrfalcon | 209 km/h (130 mph) [9] | Flight-diving | |
4 | White-throated needletail swift | 169 km/h (105 mph) [10] [11] [12] | Flight | |
5 | Eurasian hobby | 160 km/h (100 mph) [13] | Flight | Can sometimes outfly the swift. |
6 | Mexican free-tailed bat | 160 km/h (100 mph) [14] | Flight | It has been claimed to have the fastest horizontal speed (as opposed to stoop diving speed) of any animal. |
7 | Frigatebird | 153 km/h (95 mph) | Flight | The frigatebird's high speed is helped by its having the largest wing-area-to-body-weight ratio of any bird. |
8 | Rock dove (pigeon) | 148.9 km/h (92.5 mph) [15] | Flight | Pigeons have been clocked flying 92.5 mph (148.9 km/h) average speed on a 400-mile (640 km) race. |
9 | Spur-winged goose | 142 km/h (88 mph) [16] | Flight | |
10 | Grey-headed albatross | 127 km/h (79 mph) [17] [18] [note 1] | Flight | |
11 | Cheetah | 109.4–120.7 km/h (68.0–75.0 mph) [a] | Land | Fastest land animal, fastest feline, the cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 96.6 km/h (60.0 mph) in under three seconds, though endurance is limited. [19] |
12 | Sailfish | 109.19 km/h (67.85 mph) [ citation needed ] | Flight-swimming | |
13 | Anna's hummingbird | 98.27 km/h (61.06 mph) [25] | Flight | |
14 | Swordfish | 97 km/h (60 mph)[ citation needed ] | Swimming | |
15 | Ostrich | 97 km/h (60 mph) [26] | Land | |
16 | Pronghorn | 88.5 km/h (55.0 mph) [b] | Land | |
17 | Springbok | 88 km/h (55 mph) [31] [32] | Land | |
18 | Quarter Horse | 88.5 km/h (55.0 mph) | Land | The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at speeds up to 88.5 km/h (55.0 mph). |
19 | Blue wildebeest | 80.5 km/h (50.0 mph) [c] | Land | |
20 | Thomson's gazelle | 80.5 km/h (50.0 mph) [36] | Land |
Animal | Maximum recorded speed | Notes |
---|---|---|
Horsefly | 145 km/h (90 mph) [37] [ unreliable source? ][ dubious – discuss ] | The pursuit maneuver used by male Hybomitra hinei wrighti, measured by interpolation of slow-motion cinematography. |
Members of Loliginidae and Ommastrephidae | 36 km/h (22 mph) | Many of these species "fly" out of the water to escape danger. The Japanese flying squid can glide for 3 seconds over 30 metres. |
Tiger beetle | 6.8 km/h (4.2 mph) [6] | The Australian tiger beetle, Rivacindela hudsoni, is one of the fastest running insects in the world relative to body size, which has been recorded at 6.8 km/h (4.2 mph) or 171 body lengths per second. It can fly at 43 km/h (27 mph). |
Paratarsotomus macropalpis | 22 cm/s (8.7 in/s) 0.8 km/h (0.5 mph) | 0.7 mm long mite endemic to Southern California, tracked running up to 322 body lengths per second, equivalent to a human running at around 2,092 km/h (1,300 mph). Because of this feat, it is ranked the fastest animal on the planet relative to its body size. It can also achieve this speed across a concrete surface at a temperature of 60 °C (140 °F), which is lethal to many animals. [5] [38] |
Due to physical constraints, fish may be incapable of exceeding swim speeds of 36 km/h (22 mph). [2] [3] The larger reported figures below are therefore highly questionable:
Animal | Maximum recorded speed | Notes |
---|---|---|
Black marlin | 132 km/h (82 mph)[ citation needed ][ dubious – discuss ] | A hooked black marlin has been recorded stripping line off a fishing reel at 120 feet per second (82 mph; 132 km/h). |
Sailfish | 109.19 km/h (67.85 mph)[ citation needed ][ dubious – discuss ] | In a series of tests carried out in a fishing cam at Long Key, Florida, United States, sailfish swam and leapt 91 meters (300 ft) in 3 seconds, equivalent to a speed of 109 km/h (68 mph), although this speed includes leaps out of the water, which do not strictly qualify as swimming speed. |
Swordfish | 97 km/h (60 mph)[ citation needed ][ dubious – discuss ] | The 60 mph (97 km/h) figure listed for the swordfish is based on a corrupted version of calculations made by Sir James Gray to estimate the impact speed necessary for a hypothetical 600-pound (270 kg) swordfish to embed its sword 3 feet in the timbers of ships, as has been known to occur; the figure seems to have entered the literature without question as though someone had actually timed a swordfish at that speed. |
Yellowfin tuna | 76 km/h (47 mph) [39] [ dubious – discuss ] | Many tuna species are capable of swimming at fast speeds colloquially cited at around 80 km/h (50 mph). The tails of tuna move fast enough to cause cavitation, which slows them down as vapour accumulates. [3] Tuna have bony fins without nerve endings, which prevents the fish from feeling the pain of cavitation but does not fully protect them from the implosive damage. |
Shortfin mako shark | 72 km/h (45 mph)[ citation needed ][ dubious – discuss ] | Underwater and unimpeded by a fishing line, the Shortfin mako has been reliably clocked at 50 km/h (31 mph), and there is a claim that one individual of this species achieved a burst speed of 74 km/h (46 mph). But it is extremely difficult to get a fish in the wild to swim in a straight line over a measured course. Laboratory measurements of numerous kinds of fishes — representing a wide range of body sizes — swimming against an artificial current have revealed a surprisingly uniform maximum burst speed of about 10 times the body length per second. Thus, for an average-sized, 2 m (6.5 ft) shortfin, its theoretical maximum speed might be something on the order of 72 km/h (45 mph). Yet some estimates of the top-speed of a shortfin mako are considerably higher. |
Animal | Maximum recorded speed | Notes |
---|---|---|
Nauta salamander | 24.14 km/h (15.00 mph) | Also known as the Andean Salamander, it is the fastest amphibian recorded. [40] [41] |
Animal | Maximum recorded speed | Notes |
---|---|---|
Perentie | 40.23 km/h (25.00 mph) | Generally considered the fastest recorded reptile. |
Green Iguana | 35.41 km/h (22.00 mph) [42] | Green Iguanas are large arboreal lizards capable of running at high speed on the ground. |
Leatherback sea turtle | 35.28 km/h (21.92 mph) [43] | These turtles have the most hydrodynamic body design of any sea turtle, with a large, teardrop-shaped body. |
Costa Rican spiny-tailed iguana | 34.6 km/h (21.5 mph) [44] | Often cited as the world's fastest lizard in older sources. |
Six-lined racerunner | 28.97 km/h (18.00 mph) | A small lizard found throughout the Southern United States and Mexico. |
Black mamba | 22.53 km/h (14.00 mph) [45] | |
Komodo dragon | 20.92 km/h (13.00 mph) [46] | Komodo dragons can run briefly up to 21 km/h (13 mph) but prefer to hunt by stealth. [46] |
Animal | Maximum recorded speed | Notes |
---|---|---|
Peregrine falcon | 389 km/h (242 mph) [1] [7] | The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird, and the fastest member of the animal kingdom. While not the fastest bird at level (horizontal) flight, its great speed is achieved in its hunting dive (vertical flight), the stoop, wherein it soars to a great height, then dives steeply at speeds of over 200 mph (320 km/h). |
Golden eagle | 240–320 km/h (150–200 mph) [47] | In full stoop, a golden eagle can reach spectacular speeds of up to 240 to 320 km/h (150 to 200 mph) when diving after prey. Although less agile and maneuverable, the golden eagle is apparently quite the equal and possibly even the superior of the peregrine falcon's stooping and gliding speed. |
Gyrfalcon | 187–209 km/h (116–130 mph) [48] | |
White-throated needletail | 169 km/h (105 mph) [10] [11] [12] | The fastest flying bird in flapping flight. |
Eurasian hobby | 160 km/h (100 mph) [13] | It can sometimes even outfly birds such as the swift when hunting. |
Frigatebird | 153 km/h (95 mph) | The frigatebird's high speed is helped by its having the largest wing-area-to-body-weight ratio of any bird. |
Rock dove (pigeon) | 148.9 km/h (92.5 mph) [15] | Pigeons have been clocked flying 92.5 mph (148.9 km/h) average speed on a 400-mile (640 km) race. |
Spur-winged goose | 142 km/h (88 mph) | |
Red-breasted merganser | 129 km/h (80 mph) [49] | |
Grey-headed albatross | 127 km/h (79 mph) [17] [18] | |
Anna's hummingbird | 98.27 km/h (61.06 mph) [25] | The stated speed equals 276 body lengths per second, the highest known length-specific velocity attained by any vertebrate. |
Ostrich (on land) | 80–97 km/h (50–60 mph) [50] | The ostrich is the fastest bird on land, as well as the fastest running animal on two legs. [51] [52] The highest reliably measured running speed for ostriches is 61 km/h (38 mph), obtained by speedometer reading when a car was chasing an ostrich in a straight line chase to force it to move as fast as it could. [53] Although there are reports of speeds of 72–97 km/h (45–60 mph) for ostriches, none are confirmed. [54] |
Emu (on land) | 46–50 km/h (29–31 mph) [55] | |
Cassowary (on land) | 46–50 km/h (29–31 mph) [56] | |
Roadrunner (running) | 32–43 km/h (20–27 mph) [57] |
Animal | Maximum speed | Notes |
---|---|---|
Mexican free-tailed bat (in flight) | 160 km/h (99 mph) [14] | They are the fastest mammal in the world and one of the fastest flying animals on level flight. |
Cheetah | 109.4–120.7 km/h (68.0–75.0 mph) [d] | The cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 96.6 km/h (60.0 mph) in under three seconds, [58] though endurance is limited: most cheetahs run for only 60 seconds at a time. [19] When sprinting, cheetahs spend more time in the air than on the ground. [59] See Sarah , the fastest cheetah. A widely quoted top speed figure of 71 mph (114 km/h) has been discredited due to lax and questionable methodology. [60] The highest speed reliably and rigorously measured in cheetahs in a straight line is 29 m/s (104 km/h), as an average of 3 runs over a 201.2-meter (220 yards) course (starting from start line already running). [61] [62] Top speed data is result of dividing distance by time spent. |
Pronghorn | 80–96 km/h (50–60 mph) [19] [27] [22] | The pronghorn (American antelope) is the fastest animal over long distances; it can run at 56 km/h (35 mph) for 6 km (3.7 mi), 67 km/h (42 mph) for 1.6 km (0.99 mi), and 88.5 km/h (55.0 mph) for 0.8 km (0.50 mi). [19] Its top speed is estimated at up to 96–98 km/h (60–61 mph) an "alleged top speed of 60 mph (96.6 km/h)" (emphasis added), [28] and 98 km/h (61 mph) [29] [30] Pronghorns can reach a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) in good conditions, and a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) normally. [60] They can reach speeds of 72 km/h (45 mph) in a 2-3 km course. [63] Estimated by observing the odometer when the animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle. [60] [63] |
Springbok | 88 km/h (55 mph) [31] [32] | The springbok, an antelope of the gazelle tribe in southern Africa, [32] can make long jumps and sharp turns while running. [19] |
Tsessebe | 70–90 km/h (43–56 mph) [64] [65] [66] | Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. |
Domestic Horse | 70.76–88.5 km/h (43.97–54.99 mph) [67] | The fastest horse speed was achieved by a thoroughbred. |
Thomson's gazelle | 81 km/h (50 mph) [66] [e] | Thomson's gazelles, being long-distance runners, can escape cheetahs by sheer endurance. [69] Their speed is partially due to their "stotting", or bounding leaps. [68] Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. [66] |
Wildebeest | 80.5 km/h (50.0 mph) [66] [f] | The wildebeest, an antelope, exists as two species: the blue wildebeest and the black wildebeest. Both are extremely fast runners, which allows them to flee from predators. [35] They are better at maintaining endurance for long distances than at sprinting. [34] Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. [66] |
Blackbuck | 80 km/h (50 mph) [31] [70] | The blackbuck antelope can sustain speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph) for over 1.5 km (0.93 mi) at a time. [70] Each of its strides (i.e., the distance between its hoofprints) is 5.8–6.7 m (19–22 ft). [31] |
Grant's gazelle | 64–80 km/h (40–50 mph) [66] | Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. |
Hartebeest | 70–80 km/h (43–50 mph) [66] | Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. |
Impala | 60–80 km/h (37–50 mph) [66] | Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. |
Lion | 80 km/h (50 mph) [66] [71] | While hunting, a lioness can generate top speed up to 80 km/h in short bursts. [71] |
Hare | 57–80 km/h (35–50 mph) | Hares can reach maximum speeds of 35 mph (56 km/h) [72] in short distances of approximately 90 meters, and a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) for about 20 meters. [73] |
Jackrabbit | 58–72 km/h (36–45 mph) [g] | The jackrabbit's strong hind legs allow it to leap 3 m (9.8 ft) in one bound; some can even reach 6 m (20 ft). [82] Jackrabbits use a combination of leaps and zig-zags to outrun predators. [75] |
African wild dog | 60–71 km/h (37–44 mph) [h] | When hunting, African wild dogs can sprint at 66 km/h (41 mph) in bursts, and they can maintain speeds of 56–60 km/h (35–37 mph) for up to 4.8 km (3 mi). [86] [87] Their targeted prey rarely escapes. [84] |
Kangaroo | 50–71 km/h (31–44 mph) [i] | The comfortable hopping speed for a kangaroo is about 21–26 km/h (13–16 mph), but speeds of up to 71 km/h (44 mph) can be attained over short distances, while it can sustain a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) for nearly 2 km (1.2 mi). [89] The faster a kangaroo hops, the less energy it consumes (up to its cruising speed). [88] |
Greyhound (Domestic dog) | 60–70 km/h (37–43 mph) [j] | Greyhounds are the fastest dogs, and have primarily been bred for coursing game and racing. |
Onager | 60–70 km/h (37–43 mph) [k] | The onager consists of several subspecies, which most likely share the same ability to run at high speeds. [94] |
Zebra | 56–70 km/h (35–43 mph) [66] [l] | Zebras have a home range anywhere between 11 and 232 sq mi (28 and 601 km2) and they can travel 10 mi (16 km) a day while grazing. [97] Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. [66] |
Eland | 55–70 km/h (34–43 mph) [66] | Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. |
Coyote | 60–65 km/h (37–40 mph) [m] | Coyotes can easily reach 48 km/h (30 mph), and can sprint at 65 km/h (40 mph) when hunting. [99] Even without a front foot, a coyote can still run at around 32 km/h (20 mph). [98] |
Big brown bat (flight) | 56–64 km/h (35–40 mph) | Big brown bats are reported to be one of the fastest bats reaching speeds of up to 40 mph. [101] |
Common dolphin (swimming) | 55–64 km/h (34–40 mph) [n] | Common dolphins are the fastest marine mammals. When reaching their top speed, they take very short breaths. As an example, fin whales, which are much larger, can empty and refill their lungs in 2 seconds |
Tiger | 56–64 km/h (35–40 mph) [o] | Tigers live in jungles, and have been recorded going anywhere from 30 mph (48 km/h) to 40 mph (64 km/h); much like the cheetah and lion, however, they only maintain this for a short burst. |
Hyena | 50–60 km/h (31–37 mph) [p] | The hyena can run up to 60 km/h (37 mph); some attribute this performance specifically to the spotted hyena. [106] They use their speed to chase their prey, sometimes traveling 15 mi (24 km) in a single chase. |
Giraffe | 52–60 km/h (32–37 mph) [66] | Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. |
African buffalo | 50–56 km/h (31–35 mph) [66] | Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. |
Brown bear (Grizzly bear) | 48–56 km/h (30–35 mph) [107] [108] | Although it has been said anecdotally that grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) can run at 56 km/h, the maximum speed reliably recorded at Yellowstone is 48 km/h. [107] [108] It has been speculated that American black bears (Ursus americanus) can run at the same speed. [108] |
Warthog | 48–55 km/h (30–34 mph) [66] | Estimated by observing the odometer when an animal ran at its maximum speed, alongside a vehicle on a road. |
Human | Instantaneous: 44.244 km/h (27.492 mph) Sprinting (100 m): 37.58 km/h (23.35 mph) Long distance (marathon): 20.99 km/h (13.04 mph) | Usain Bolt holds the 100 metre world record at 9.58 seconds. His absolute fastest speed during that sprint was 12.29 m/s (44.2 km/h; 27.5 mph) at 67.90 metres. The average speed of this race, including the brief reaction time immediately after the commencement of the race, was 10.44 m/s (37.6 km/h; 23.4 mph). [109] At distances greater than 400 metres, the human body requires oxygen to sustain such paces, and speed significantly tapers at this point. The mile run world record is held by Hicham El Guerrouj with a time of 3:43.13, corresponding to 26.25 km/h (16.31 mph). The marathon world record is held by Kelvin Kiptum with a time of 2:00:35, corresponding to 20.99 km/h (13.04 mph). The world record for longest distance run continuously is held by Dean Karnazes, who ran 563 km (350 miles) in 80 hours 44 minutes without stopping. In the absence of significant external factors, non-athletic humans tend to walk at about 1.4 m/s (5.0 km/h; 3.1 mph) and run at about 5.1 m/s (18 km/h; 11 mph). [110] [111] [112] Although humans are capable of walking at speeds from nearly 0 m/s to upwards of 2.5 m/s (9.0 km/h; 5.6 mph) and running one mile (1.6 kilometers) in anywhere between 4–15 minutes, humans typically choose to use only a small range within these speeds. [113] Compared to other land animals, humans are exceptionally capable of endurance—over very long distances, able to outrun every other species on land except certain dogs. |
Wombat | 40 km/h (25 mph) [114] | Wombats can maintain that speed for 150 metres (490 ft). [114] |
The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region in Africa, spanning the Mara and Arusha Regions of Tanzania. The protected area within the region includes approximately 30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi) of land, including the Serengeti National Park and several game reserves. The Serengeti hosts the world's most massive land animal migration, which helps secure it as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.
Wildebeest, also called gnu, are antelopes of the genus Connochaetes and native to Eastern and Southern Africa. They belong to the family Bovidae, which includes true antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep, and other even-toed horned ungulates. There are two species of wildebeest: the black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu, and the blue wildebeest or brindled gnu.
The lion is a large cat of the genus Panthera, native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the tip of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions are larger than females and have a prominent mane. It is a social species, forming groups called prides. A lion's pride consists of a few adult males, related females, and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on medium-sized and large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator; although some lions scavenge when opportunities occur and have been known to hunt humans, lions typically do not actively seek out and prey on humans.
The cheetah is a large cat and the fastest land animal. It has a tawny to creamy white or pale buff fur that is marked with evenly spaced, solid black spots. The head is small and rounded, with a short snout and black tear-like facial streaks. It reaches 67–94 cm (26–37 in) at the shoulder, and the head-and-body length is between 1.1 and 1.5 m. Adults weigh between 21 and 72 kg. The cheetah is capable of running at 93 to 104 km/h ; it has evolved specialized adaptations for speed, including a light build, long thin legs and a long tail.
Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus Lepus. They are herbivores, and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The genus includes the largest lagomorphs. Most are fast runners with long, powerful hind legs, and large ears that dissipate body heat. Hare species are native to Africa, Eurasia and North America. A hare less than one year old is called a "leveret". A group of hares is called a "husk", a "down", or a "drove".
In ethology, animal locomotion is any of a variety of methods that animals use to move from one place to another. Some modes of locomotion are (initially) self-propelled, e.g., running, swimming, jumping, flying, hopping, soaring and gliding. There are also many animal species that depend on their environment for transportation, a type of mobility called passive locomotion, e.g., sailing, kiting (spiders), rolling or riding other animals (phoresis).
Miracinonyx is an extinct genus of felids belonging to the subfamily Felinae that was endemic to North America from the Pleistocene epoch and morphologically similar to the modern cheetah, although its apparent similar ecological niches have been considered questionable due to anatomical morphologies of the former that would have limited the ability to act as a specialized pursuit predator. The genus was originally known from fragments of skeletons, but nearly complete skeletons have been recovered from Natural Trap Cave in northern Wyoming.
Thomson's gazelle is one of the best known species of gazelles. It is named after explorer Joseph Thomson and is sometimes referred to as a "tommie". It is considered by some to be a subspecies of the red-fronted gazelle and was formerly considered a member of the genus Gazella within the subgenus Eudorcas, before Eudorcas was elevated to genus status.
The black wildebeest or white-tailed gnu is one of the two closely related wildebeest species. It is a member of the genus Connochaetes and family Bovidae. It was first described in 1780 by Eberhard August Wilhelm von Zimmermann. The black wildebeest is typically 170–220 cm (67–87 in) in head-and-body length, and the typical weight is 110–180 kg (240–400 lb). Males stand about 111–121 cm (44–48 in) at the shoulder, while the height of the females is 106–116 cm (42–46 in). The black wildebeest is characterised by its white, long, horse-like tail. It also has a dark brown to black coat and long, dark-coloured hair between its forelegs and under its belly.
A cursorial organism is one that is adapted specifically to run. An animal can be considered cursorial if it has the ability to run fast or if it can keep a constant speed for a long distance. "Cursorial" is often used to categorize a certain locomotor mode, which is helpful for biologists who examine behaviors of different animals and the way they move in their environment. Cursorial adaptations can be identified by morphological characteristics, physiological characteristics, maximum speed, and how often running is used in life. There is much debate over how to define a cursorial animal specifically. The most accepted definitions include that a cursorial organism could be considered adapted to long-distance running at high speeds or has the ability to accelerate quickly over short distances. Among vertebrates, animals under 1 kg of mass are rarely considered cursorial, and cursorial behaviors and morphology are thought to only occur at relatively large body masses in mammals. There are a few mammals that have been termed "micro-cursors" that are less than 1 kg in mass and have the ability to run faster than other small animals of similar sizes.
Bovine malignant catarrhal fever (BMCF) is a fatal lymphoproliferative disease caused by a group of ruminant gamma herpes viruses including Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1) and Ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) These viruses cause unapparent infection in their reservoir hosts, but are usually fatal in cattle and other ungulates such as deer, antelope, and buffalo. In Southern Africa the disease is known as snotsiekte, from the Afrikaans.
The blue wildebeest, also called the common wildebeest, white-bearded gnu or brindled gnu, is a large antelope and one of the two species of wildebeest. It is placed in the genus Connochaetes and family Bovidae, and has a close taxonomic relationship with the black wildebeest. The blue wildebeest is known to have five subspecies. This broad-shouldered antelope has a muscular, front-heavy appearance, with a distinctive, robust muzzle. Young blue wildebeest are born tawny brown, and begin to take on their adult coloration at the age of 2 months. The adults' hues range from a deep slate or bluish-gray to light gray or even grayish-brown. Both sexes possess a pair of large curved horns.
The Asiatic cheetah is a critically endangered cheetah subspecies currently only surviving in Iran. Its range once spread from the Arabian Peninsula and the Near East to the Caspian region, Transcaucasus, Kyzylkum Desert and northern South Asia, but was extirpated in these regions during the 20th century. The Asiatic cheetah diverged from the cheetah population in Africa between 32,000 and 67,000 years ago.
Arboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some animals may scale trees only occasionally, but others are exclusively arboreal. The habitats pose numerous mechanical challenges to animals moving through them and lead to a variety of anatomical, behavioral and ecological consequences as well as variations throughout different species. Furthermore, many of these same principles may be applied to climbing without trees, such as on rock piles or mountains.
The pronghorn is a species of artiodactyl mammal indigenous to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is known colloquially in North America as the American antelope, prong buck, pronghorn antelope and prairie antelope, because it closely resembles the antelopes of the Old World and fills a similar ecological niche due to parallel evolution. It is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae.
Theodore Garland Jr. is a biologist specializing in evolutionary physiology at the University of California, Riverside.
Robert McNeill (Neill) Alexander, CBE FRS was a British zoologist and a leading authority in the field of biomechanics. For thirty years he was Professor of Zoology at the University of Leeds.
Paratarsotomus macropalpis is a species of mite belonging to the family Erythracaridae. The mite is endemic to Southern California and is usually observed darting amongst sidewalks and in rocky areas. Earlier classified as belonging to genus Tarsotomus, it was reclassified in 1999, along with four other species, to genus Paratarsotomus. It is quite small—0.7 mm—but has been recorded as the world's fastest land animal relative to body length.
Pursuit predation is a form of predation in which predators actively give chase to their prey, either solitarily or as a group. It is an alternate predation strategy to ambush predation — pursuit predators rely on superior speed, endurance and/or teamwork to seize the prey, while ambush predators use concealment, luring, exploiting of surroundings and the element of surprise to capture the prey. While the two patterns of predation are not mutually exclusive, morphological differences in an organism's body plan can create an evolutionary bias favoring either type of predation.