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Mammals · Ranked by top speed

Fastest African Mammals (2026)

Mammals whose native range includes Africa, ranked by the same figures as the full list. Species that also live in Asia, like the cheetah and the lion, appear on both regional lists.

10 rankedA source on every row
Post on X (opens in a new tab)
A view of Fastest MammalsNative toAfrica
Diet

10 mammals, ties share a rank.

  1. 1
    Cheetah

    Acinonyx jubatus

    104km/h64.9mph29m/s56.4kn2.8× Bolt
    VerifiedJournal of Zoology (opens source in a new tab)
  2. 2
    Springbok

    Antidorcas marsupialis

    97km/h60.3mph26.9m/s52.4kn2.6× Bolt
    EstimatedJournal of Zoology (opens source in a new tab)
  3. 3
    Black wildebeest

    Connochaetes gnou

    90km/h55.9mph25.0m/s48.6kn2.4× Bolt
    EstimatedJournal of Zoology (opens source in a new tab)
  4. Tied for 4th
    Grant's gazelle

    Gazella granti

    81km/h50.3mph22.5m/s43.7kn2.2× Bolt
    EstimatedJournal of Zoology (opens source in a new tab)
  5. Tied for 4th
    Thomson's gazelle

    Gazella thomsonii

    81km/h50.3mph22.5m/s43.7kn2.2× Bolt
    EstimatedJournal of Zoology (opens source in a new tab)
  6. Tied for 6th
    Blue wildebeest

    Connochaetes taurinus

    80km/h49.7mph22.2m/s43.2kn2.1× Bolt
    EstimatedJournal of Zoology (opens source in a new tab)
  7. Tied for 6th
    Hartebeest

    Alcelaphus buselaphus

    80km/h49.7mph22.2m/s43.2kn2.1× Bolt
    EstimatedJournal of Zoology (opens source in a new tab)
  8. 8
    African wild dog

    Lycaon pictus

    70km/h43.5mph19.4m/s37.8kn1.9× Bolt
    EstimatedJournal of Zoology (opens source in a new tab)
  9. 9
    Lion

    Panthera leo

    59km/h36.7mph16.4m/s31.9kn1.6× Bolt
    EstimatedJournal of Zoology (opens source in a new tab)
  10. 10
    Impala

    Aepyceros melampus

    47km/h29.2mph13.1m/s25.4kn1.3× Bolt
    VerifiedJournal of Zoology (opens source in a new tab)

Top speed · sourced

Mammals, sliced

Family, range and diet, with the same figures as the full ranking.

  • Mammals · Top speed

    Sourced

    Fastest predators

    Hunters only: the cheetah, wild dogs, wolves and lions.

    1. 1Cheetah104km/h64.9mph29m/s56.4kn
    2. 2African wild dog70km/h43.5mph19.4m/s37.8kn
    3. 3Wolf64km/h39.8mph17.8m/s34.6kn

    4 predators

  • Mammals · Top speed

    Sourced

    Fastest antelope & gazelles

    True antelope and gazelles, family Bovidae. The pronghorn isn't one, so it isn't here.

    1. 1Blackbuck105km/h65.2mph29.2m/s56.7kn
    2. Tied for 2ndGoitered gazelle97km/h60.3mph26.9m/s52.4kn
    3. Tied for 2ndSpringbok97km/h60.3mph26.9m/s52.4kn

    11 bovids

  • Mammals · Top speed

    Sourced

    Fastest Asian mammals

    Mammals whose native range includes Asia.

    1. 1Blackbuck105km/h65.2mph29.2m/s56.7kn
    2. 2Cheetah104km/h64.9mph29m/s56.4kn
    3. 3Goitered gazelle97km/h60.3mph26.9m/s52.4kn

    8 mammals

  • Mammals · Top speed

    Sourced

    Fastest European mammals

    Mammals whose native range includes Europe.

    1. 1Brown hare72km/h44.7mph20.0m/s38.9kn
    2. 2Wolf64km/h39.8mph17.8m/s34.6kn

    2 mammals

  • Mammals · Top speed

    Sourced

    Fastest North American mammals

    The pronghorn, a desert jackrabbit and the grey wolf.

    1. 1Pronghorn100km/h62.1mph27.8m/s54.0kn
    2. 2Antelope jackrabbit72km/h44.7mph20.0m/s38.9kn
    3. 3Wolf64km/h39.8mph17.8m/s34.6kn

    3 mammals

  • Dogs · Top speed

    Sourced

    Wild dogs vs greyhounds

    The African wild dog, the grey wolf and the greyhound record on one list.

    1. 1African wild dog70km/h43.5mph19.4m/s37.8kn
    2. 2Greyhound67.32km/h41.8mph18.7m/s36.3kn
    3. 3Wolf64km/h39.8mph17.8m/s34.6kn

    3 canids

Head to head

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