In order from slowest to fastest, these are the 5 fastest land animals:<\/p>\n
How fast? 50 miles per hour (80 kilometers per hour)<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Thompson\u2019s Gazelles are native to eastern Africa and live in the open plains and grassland where their food is plentiful. Named for the explorer Joseph Thompson who discovered them, the \u201cTommie\u201d is one of the best-known species of gazelle.<\/p>\n Relatively small, they average 22 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 35 to 55 pounds full grown. Gazelle live to be 10 to 15 years old in the wild and travel in herds. Gazelles are hunted by lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and humans. Unfortunately, the gazelle population is decreasing as humans move into their grasslands to farm and create settlements and roads. It is estimated that there are around 550,000 in the wild today.<\/p>\n How fast? 55 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The Quarter Horse is an American breed known for its speed over short sprints. These horses are characterized by their compact bodies that give them agility and speed. They are used for racing as well as ranch work and rodeos. Originally bred from English Thoroughbreds, the American Quarter Horse breed eventually merged in American native species such as the Chickasaw horse.<\/p>\n Quarter Horses typically stand between 56 and 64 inches at the shoulder (142-163 cm) and weigh over 1,200 pounds (540 kg). They are divided into racing and hunter types, depending on their bodies and their ultimate purpose. The racing types have longer legs and leaner bodies than the hunter types, for example.<\/p>\n How fast? 56 miles per hour (90 kilometers per hour)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Maybe you have never heard of the agile, leaping Springbok, but it comes in number three on our list of the world\u2019s fastest land animals. Also a native of the African plains, the Springbok is typically found in the southwestern part of the continent. Once found in herds, their numbers have been reduced to 670,000 it has been recently estimated.<\/p>\n A species of Antelope, the Springbok has long legs and a slim neck and typically reaches 28 to 34 inches at the shoulder (71-86 cm) and weighs a lean 60 to 93 pounds (27 -42 kg) in adulthood. The Springbok eats grass and small shrubs. They need little water and have no problem surviving during the dry season on what moisture is found in their food.<\/p>\n How fast? 61 miles per hour (98 kilometers per hour)<\/p>\n\n
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