Animal BehaviorBehavior of Animals in Motion |
Which animals can run faster than a human? |
The cheetah, the fastest mammal, can accelerate from 0 to 45 miles per hour (mph; 0–64 kilometers per hour [kph]) in 2 seconds; it has been timed at speeds of 70 mph (112 kph) over short distances. In most chases, cheetahs average around 40 mph (63 kph); although they have been clocked at up to about 68 mph (110 kph). Humans can run very short distances at almost 28 mph (45 kph) maximum. Most of the speeds given in the table below are for distances of .25 miles (0.4 kilometers). The following lists animals and their estimated maximum speeds in miles and kilometers per hour:
Animal |
Maximum speed (miles per hour) |
Maximum speed (kilometers per hour) |
Cheetah |
68 |
110 |
Pronghorn antelope |
61 |
98.1 |
Wildebeest |
50 |
80.5 |
Lion |
50 |
80.5 |
Thomson’s gazelle |
50 |
80.5 |
Quarter horse |
47.5 |
76.4 |
Elk |
45 |
72.4 |
Cape hunting dog |
45 |
72.4 |
Coyote |
43 |
69.2 |
Gray fox |
42 |
67.6 |
Hyena |
40 |
64.4 |
Zebra |
40 |
64.4 |
Mongolian wild ass |
40 |
64.4 |
Greyhound |
39.4 |
63.3 |
Whippet |
35.5 |
57.1 |
Rabbit (domestic) |
35 |
56.3 |
Mule deer |
35 |
56.3 |
Jackal |
35 |
56.3 |
Reindeer |
32 |
51.3 |
Giraffe |
32 |
51.3 |
White-tailed deer |
30 |
48.3 |
Wart hog |
30 |
48.3 |
Grizzly bear |
30 |
48.3 |
Cat (domestic) |
30 |
48.3 |
Human |
27.9 |
44.9 |
The cheetah has been clocked running over 70 mph (112 kph) over short distances.