Society:Top Ten fastest Land animals

Shem’s Idle Notes’ As everybody knows, the cheetah is the fastest land animal on Earth. Animals that fill spots two and three don’t get much credit, but which exactly are they? This list shows 10 of the world’s fastest land animals. #10: Coyote Top speed: 43 miles per hourThe coyote, also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada. Coyotes can run at 43 mph, being slightly slower than the elk or cape hunting dog. Coyotes hunt small prey, such as rabbits and squirrels. Coyotes can be found almost everywhere in the world. Coyotes are famous for their yelping, howling, and barking. #9: Cape Hunting Dog Top speed: 45 miles per hour Lycaon pictus is a large canine found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf. This dog is the only canine without dewclaws which are the claws that are on the inside of the front feet.The cape hunting dog, or the African Wild Dog, has multiple colorations on its fur. Cape hunting dogs generally run at 45 mph. Cape hunting dogs are not domesticated animals, and eat the same way other predators of the savannah do. #8: Elk Top speed: 45 miles per hourThe elk or wapiti (Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest species of deer in the world and one of the largest land mammals in North America and eastern Asia. Elk can run at 45 mph. They have large antlers like a caribou or moose, spreading out to the side. Elk are mainly peaceful grazers, and most reside in the plains and forests of Washington. It is the second largest deer species in the world. #7: Greyhound Top speed: 45 miles per hourThe Greyhound is a breed of Sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed. A combination of long, powerful legs, deep chest, flexible spine, and slim build allows it to reach average race speeds in excess of 45mph. They are often used as racing dogs, and are widely popular for their sleekness. #6: Quarterhorse Top speed: 50 Miles per hour The American Quarterhorse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 50mph. The Quarterhorse is ideal for running short distances, thus being an enormously popular racehorse. #5: Lion Top speed: 50 Miles per hourThe lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. Wild lions currently exist in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia with an endangered remnant population in Gir Forest National Park in India, having disappeared from North Africa and Southwest Asia in historic times. The King of the Beasts can run at 50 mph, also tying with other animals for the highest speed. Lions are ferocious mammals whose male sports a big, furry and golden mane about his head. Some opinions on lions state it as an overgrown cat. It usually lives for 14 years, and can seem lazy to an innocent bystander. #4: Thomson’s Gazelle Top speed: 50 Miles per hourThomson’s gazelles are named after the explorer Joseph Thomson. Thomson’s gazelles can run at 50 mph, and are also called “tommies.” These gazelles are brown on the top, black in the midsection, and white on the underbelly. Thomson’s gazelles usually live for 15 years. Their major predators are cheetahs, which are able to attain higher speeds, but gazelles can outlast them in long chases and are able to make turns more speedily. This small antelope-gazelle can run very fast, up to 70 kph (43 mph), and zigzag, a peculiarity which often saves it from predators. They are also preyed on by lions, leopards, hyenas, baboons, and crocodiles. A noticeable behaviour of Thomsons gazelles is their bounding leap, known as stotting or pronking, used to startle predators and display strength. #3: Wildebeest Top speed: 50 miles per hourThe wildebeest is an antelope of the genus Connochaetes. It is a hoofed (ungulate) mammal. Wildebeest is Dutch for wild beast or wild cattle in Afrikaans (beest = cattle), while Connochaetes derives from the Greek words konnos (beard) and khaite (flowing hair).The name gnu originates from the Khoikhoi name for these animals, gnou. Wildebeests run at a speeding 50 mph, despite their size. They weigh an average of 475 pounds, and, despite all doubts, are actually antelopes. Their natural predators are the other predators of the savannah, such as the cheetah, lion, and hyena. Newborn wildebeests are a yellow-brownish colour, but change to the adult colour in about 2 months. #2: Pronghorn Antelope Top speed: 61 Miles per hourPronghorn antelopes, another animal of the savannah, can reach speeds of up to 61 mph. They can travel for great distances without getting tired at about half this speed. Pronghorns are named for their large horns that tend to lean backward. It can run exceptionally fast, being built for maximum predator evasion through running, and is generally accepted to be the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. The top speed is very hard to measure accurately and varies between individuals; it is variously cited as up to 86 km/h (53 mph). It is often cited as the second-fastest land animal, second only to the cheetah. It can, however, sustain high speeds longer than cheetahs. #1: Cheetah Top speed: 75 miles per hourThe cheetah is a large-sized feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. It is the only felid with non-retractable claws and pads that, by their scope, disallow gripping (therefore cheetahs cannot climb vertical trees, although they are generally capable of reaching easily accessible branches). The cheetah, however, achieves by far the fastest land speed of any living animal—between 112 and 120 km/h (70 and 75 mph) in short bursts covering distances up to 500 m (1,600 ft), and has the ability to accelerate from 0 to over 100 km/h (62 mph) in three seconds. The cheetah can generally only run this fast for short bursts, so it needs to be close enough to its prey before leaping out and startling the unsuspecting animal. The cheetah has a leaner body than most other predators in the savannah, but does not have the natural ability to fight. Against other predators such as the lion, the cheetah prefers to run away, even when trying to defend its kill or young. shemmugisha@gmail.com

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Society:Top Ten fastest Land animals