Fastest Land Animals
Number one is the cheetah at 93–104 km/h (58–65 mph), followed by the pronghorn at 88 km/h (55 mph) and the springbok at 88 km/h (55 mph).
| # | Animal | Top speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheetah Mammal |
93–104 km/h (58–65 mph) | reliably measured top speeds over short sprints; often-quoted figures of 112–120 km/h are estimates |
| 2 | Pronghorn Mammal |
88 km/h (55 mph) | top sprint; can hold about 55 km/h for several kilometers |
| 3 | Springbok Mammal |
88 km/h (55 mph) | top sprint |
| 4 | Blue Wildebeest Mammal |
80 km/h (50 mph) | top speed when fleeing predators |
| 5 | Cougar Mammal |
64–80 km/h (40–50 mph) | short sprints |
| 6 | Jaguar Mammal |
up to about 80 km/h (50 mph) | commonly cited top speed for a very short dash; it has not been precisely measured |
| 7 | Lion Mammal |
80 km/h (50 mph) | short bursts of 100–200 m |
| 8 | Reindeer Mammal |
60–80 km/h (37–50 mph) | top speed when fleeing |
| 9 | Thomson's Gazelle Mammal |
80 km/h (50 mph) | top sprint; some sources give up to 90 km/h |
| 10 | Dog Mammal |
24–72 km/h (15–45 mph) | most breeds 24–48 km/h; racing greyhounds reach about 72 km/h |
| 11 | Elk Mammal |
64–72 km/h (40–45 mph) | top speed in short bursts |
| 12 | Common Ostrich Bird |
70 km/h (43 mph) | short sprints; about 50 km/h can be sustained over longer distances |
| 13 | European Hare Mammal |
70 km/h (43 mph) | top speed when fleeing |
| 14 | Horse Mammal |
40–70 km/h (25–44 mph) | typical gallop 40–48 km/h; the fastest racehorses reach about 70 km/h over short distances |
| 15 | Red Kangaroo Mammal |
56–70 km/h (35–43 mph) | hopping in short bursts; cruising speed is 20–25 km/h |
| 16 | African Wild Dog Mammal |
66 km/h (41 mph) | top speed during a chase; can hold about 50 km/h for several kilometers |
| 17 | Bactrian Camel Mammal |
up to 65 km/h (40 mph) | short bursts; they rarely run |
| 18 | Dromedary Camel Mammal |
40–65 km/h (25–40 mph) | about 65 km/h in short bursts, around 40 km/h sustained in races |
| 19 | Plains Zebra Mammal |
65 km/h (40 mph) | top speed when fleeing predators |
| 20 | Tiger Mammal |
49–65 km/h (30–40 mph) | short bursts |
| 21 | Coyote Mammal |
56–64 km/h (35–40 mph) | top speed when chasing prey or fleeing |
| 22 | Giraffe Mammal |
60 km/h (37 mph) | short sprints; about 50 km/h sustained |
| 23 | Gray Wolf Mammal |
50–60 km/h (31–37 mph) | short chases; trots at 8–10 km/h for hours |
| 24 | Spotted Hyena Mammal |
60 km/h (37 mph) | top speed; can hold 40–50 km/h for several kilometers |
| 25 | Leopard Mammal |
58 km/h (36 mph) | short bursts |
About this ranking
On land the cheetah is the undisputed sprint champion, but it can hold top speed for only a few hundred meters. Several hoofed animals are nearly as fast and can keep going far longer, which is why pronghorn and antelope regularly outrun the predators that chase them. This ranking covers running speed only.
How it is ranked: Animals whose top speed is achieved by running. Figures are short-burst maximums, not cruising speeds. The list covers the 214 animals in the AnimalStats database, not every species on Earth.
The top five in detail
1. Cheetah — 93–104 km/h (58–65 mph)
The highest reliably measured cheetah speeds are 93–104 km/h (58–65 mph). Figures of 112–120 km/h (70–75 mph) are widely quoted but are estimates. A cheetah can reach about 97 km/h in roughly three seconds, yet most chases last under a minute and cover only a few hundred meters.
2. Pronghorn — 88 km/h (55 mph)
Pronghorn can sprint at about 88 km/h (55 mph), making them the second-fastest land animal after the cheetah. Unlike a cheetah they can sustain speed, holding roughly 55 km/h for several kilometers thanks to an oversized heart, lungs and windpipe. Some sources quote higher top speeds, but those are less well documented.
3. Springbok — 88 km/h (55 mph)
Springbok can run at about 88 km/h (55 mph), which puts them among the fastest antelopes. They combine that speed with sharp turns and leaps, an effective defense on open plains where there is nowhere to hide from a cheetah.
4. Blue Wildebeest — 80 km/h (50 mph)
Blue wildebeest can run at about 80 km/h (50 mph). That makes them one of the fastest antelopes, and they can also keep up a steady canter for long distances, which matters as much as sprinting during migrations of hundreds of kilometers.
5. Cougar — 64–80 km/h (40–50 mph)
Cougars can sprint at 64–80 km/h (40–50 mph) over short distances. They are built for ambush and leaping rather than long pursuit: a cougar can jump about 5.5 m (18 ft) vertically and as much as 12 m (40 ft) horizontally.