Animals that are surprisingly faster than a cheetah

There’s no denying that the cheetah is the undisputed king of speed and is known for its astonishing capability to run at 120 km/h in just a matter of seconds. But despite being crowned as the fastest animal, you will be amazed to know that there are some animals and birds that are way faster than this big cat! Yes, you read that right; when you look beyond the deep forests and cast your eyes toward the open ocean and the infinite skies, the cheetah's world-record speed suddenly looks like a casual jog.Here’s all you need to know about the world’s fastest animals an birds.

The Speed Demons of the Deep
While water creates significantly more drag than air, evolution has engineered a few marine species with hyper-streamlined bodies and immense muscle power to slice through the ocean at terrifying speeds.

The Black Marlin (Up to 130 km/h)
If you pitted a cheetah against a Black Marlin in a flat-out sprint, the fish would actually win. Found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the Black Marlin is built like a living torpedo. Its elongated, spear-like bill cuts through water resistance, while its rigid, crescent-shaped tail provides immense forward propulsion. They use this blistering speed to tear through schools of tuna and mackerel, leaving predators and prey alike completely helpless.

The Sailfish (Up to 110 km/h)
While a hair slower than the marlin on paper, the sailfish is easily capable of matching a cheetah's top speed in short, violent bursts. Named for the massive, sail-like dorsal fin running down its back, this fish folds its "sail" completely flat against its body when it needs to tap into maximum velocity. This makes the sailfish fast underwater almost like a speeding bullet.


The Peregrine Falcon (Over 320 km/h)
The Peregrine Falcon is really really way faster than a cheetah. It gets its speed by folding its wings and diving down from high up. This trick is called a hunting stoop. When it sees a bird from away it tucks its wings in tight and becomes a super-sleek teardrop shape. Then it zooms down going over 320 km/h. To handle the air pressure, the falcon has special nostrils that help it breathe easily.

The Golden Eagle (Over 240 km/h)
The Golden Eagle is almost as fast as the falcon. It uses the trick to dive really fast. Over 240 km/h. With its claws and speed it can catch big animals like foxes and deer.

The Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat (Over 160 km/h)
People think cheetahs are the mammals but actually a tiny bat called the Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat is. It flies fast. Over 160 km/h. Just by flapping its wings. Its long skinny wings help it zoom through the air and catch insects.

The Spur-Winged Goose (Up to 140 km/h)
You wouldn't think a big heavy bird, like the Spur-Winged Goose could be fast. It is. It weighs a lot. Up to 15 pounds.. Has really strong chest muscles and big wings. This helps it fly fast. Up to 140 km/h. When it migrates. That shows that being strong can sometimes mean being fast.