The ten fastest land animals ranked by their maximum reliably recorded running speed, from the cheetah down to the ostrich.
This list ranks the fastest terrestrial animals by the highest sprint speed each species has been documented reaching on land, measured in kilometres per hour. The cheetah sits far out in front, followed by a cluster of hoofed sprinters — pronghorn, gazelles, wildebeest and antelope — with a hare, a dog breed and a flightless bird rounding out the ten. It is written for the curious reader who wants the real numbers and the caveats behind them. Several headline speeds are single-run maxima measured by vehicle odometer, radar or GPS rather than sustained cruising speeds, so each entry notes how the figure was captured and how it compares to what the animal can hold over distance.
The fastest land animal by a wide margin, widely cited at a maximum of 120.7 km/h (75 mph). The highest reliably recorded straight-line speed is about 104 km/h (65 mph) over 201 m, and the zoo cheetah 'Sarah' clocked 98 km/h on a certified 100 m course in 2012 for a Guinness record.
The fastest land animal in the Americas and the best distance runner, reaching about 88.5 km/h (55 mph) and sustaining roughly 72 km/h (45 mph) for miles. Its speed far exceeds that of any living North American predator, which has led biologists such as John Byers to hypothesise it evolved to outrun the now-extinct American cheetah.
This African gazelle was recorded at about 88 km/h (55 mph) by odometer during maximum-speed runs. It is also famous for 'pronking' — explosive, near-vertical leaps taken mid-run.
Reaches about 80.5 km/h (50 mph) in short bursts, measured by vehicle odometer. It relies on both speed and stamina to escape big cats during the great migration.
This small African gazelle was clocked at about 80.5 km/h (50 mph) by odometer. Its speed and agility make it a frequent survivor of cheetah chases.
This Indian antelope reaches about 80 km/h (50 mph) and can sustain high speed for over 1.5 km, giving it an exceptional combination of speed and endurance.
Reaches about 80 km/h (50 mph) in short hunting bursts, making it the fastest big cat after the cheetah — but only over very short distances.
North American hares — the black-tailed and white-tailed jackrabbits — reach up to about 72 km/h (45 mph) in evasive zig-zag sprints over short distances.
The fastest dog breed, reaching about 70 km/h (43 mph). Its double-suspension gallop makes it the quickest domesticated land runner over a straight sprint.
The fastest running bird and the fastest two-legged land animal, reliably clocked at about 61-70 km/h (38-43 mph) in a straight-line vehicle chase. It can also sustain fast running over long distances.
| # | Name | Top speed (mph) | Type | Native region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheetah | 75 | Big cat (mammal) | Africa, Iran |
| 2 | Pronghorn | 55 | Antelope-like ungulate (mammal) | North America |
| 3 | Springbok | 55 | Gazelle (mammal) | Southern Africa |
| 4 | Blue wildebeest | 50 | Antelope (mammal) | Eastern & Southern Africa |
| 5 | Thomson's gazelle | 50 | Gazelle (mammal) | East Africa |
| 6 | Blackbuck | 50 | Antelope (mammal) | Indian subcontinent |
| 7 | Lion | 50 | Big cat (mammal) | Sub-Saharan Africa, India |
| 8 | Jackrabbit | 45 | Hare (mammal) | North America |
| 9 | Greyhound | 43 | Domestic dog (mammal) | Domesticated (Europe) |
| 10 | Ostrich | 43 | Flightless bird | Africa |
Animals are ranked by their maximum reliably recorded running speed on land, in kilometres per hour (rank 1 = fastest). Figures are taken from Wikipedia's cross-referenced "Fastest animals" record and corroborating primary sources — zoo and field measurements captured by radar, vehicle odometer or GPS. Inclusion is limited to wild terrestrial species ranked by their highest documented sprint speed; one entry per species. Domesticated breeds are noted where relevant, but domesticated racing breeds such as the American Quarter Horse (also recorded at about 88.5 km/h) are excluded from the ranking of wild species, with the greyhound included as the representative domestic-dog sprinter. Where a widely cited maximum (such as the cheetah's 120.7 km/h) differs from the highest independently verified figure, both are stated in the entry so the reader can judge the order. Burst maxima are used for the ranking rather than sustained-distance speeds, since the question is peak running speed; entries note where an animal also sustains high speed over distance.
The cheetah. It is widely cited at a maximum of 120.7 km/h (75 mph), though the highest speed reliably recorded in a straight line is about 104 km/h (65 mph) over 201 m. On a certified 100 m course, the zoo cheetah 'Sarah' clocked 98 km/h (61 mph) in 2012 for a Guinness record.
The pronghorn, which reaches about 88.5 km/h (55 mph). It is also the best distance runner of any land animal, sustaining roughly 72 km/h (45 mph) for miles — a capability biologists have linked to the hypothesis that it evolved to outrun the now-extinct American cheetah.
The ostrich, the fastest running bird, reliably clocked at about 61-70 km/h (38-43 mph) in a straight-line vehicle chase. Unlike most fast runners on this list, it can also sustain that pace over long distances.
The famous 120.7 km/h (75 mph) figure is a widely repeated maximum, but the highest independently verified straight-line speed is about 104 km/h (65 mph), and the Guinness record set on a measured 100 m course is 98 km/h (61 mph). All three are stated here so the ranking can be judged against the source of each number.