WORLD'S FASTEST ANIMALS

Marine mammal: On October 12, 1958 a bull killer whale (Orcinus Ocra) measuring an estimated 6.1-7.6m [20-25ft] in length was timed at 55.5km/h [34.5mph] in the east pacific. However, some say that the common dolphin is the fastest animal clocking amazing speeds of up to 64km/h [39.8mph].

Land mammal: The cheetah can reach speeds of 70 mph (yes miles per hour) to 75 mph, there main downfall is their stamina. They can only maintain this speed for short period of bursts up to 460 m (500 yards). For example many antelope species can easily outrun a cheetah over a long distance. The cheetah must catch an antelope in the first minute or less of the chase; after that the cheetah has to slow down but the antelope does not. In comparison to cars a cheetah has the ability to accelerate from 0 to 110 km/h [68 mph] in three seconds, faster than most super cars.

Fish: The fastest fish is the Indo-Pacific sailfish which can grow to over 3.4 m in total length and 100 kg in weight. They have clocked speeds of up to 110km/h [ 68 mph] over short periods.

Bird: Fastest in this category is the peregrine. "The peregrine is most completely adapted to long distance hunting on the wing. In horizontal swoop dives, it reaches extraordinary speeds. The swooping speed of one which wintered on the tower of Cologne Cathedral and hunted pigeons from there was measured accurately at 70-90 meters per second." On average they reach speeds of up to 241.4 km/h [150 mph].

Insect: The fastest airborne insect is the dragonfly at speeds of up to 57.9 km/h [36 miles per hour]. The fastest land based insect is yes, you might have guessed it is the tropical cockroach [no wonder they are so hard to catch]. With speeds of up to 5.4 km/h [3.36 mph] or 50 body lengths per second.

Reptile: Turtles may move very slowly on land, but in the water the Pacific leathferback turtle is the fastest reptile of all. It is more streamlined than other turtles and can swim at 35 km/h [21.7 mph].