The is one bird that most people will likely never lay eyes on in real life. Golden eagles feed primarily on rabbits, squirrels and prairie dogs but aren't afraid to attack larger mammals in defense of their young or their prey. These large, yet lithe winged creatures glide up to 120 mph (193 kph), but really flex when they dive for prey at speeds between 150 to 200 mph (241 to 322 kph). These countries include Germany, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Austria and Albania. These large raptors are most often seen in the western United States, although they've actually been named the "official national animal" by more countries than any other living creature. This falcon, not too surprisingly, is closely related to the peregrine falcon. It is the national bird of both Hungary and Mongolia. The rest of the time, it prefers to glide around in the air. The Saker falcon, which calls Europe, Asia and Africa home, is a hunting superstar, thanks to the fact that it can fly up to 200 mph (320 kph) when in pursuit of prey. Standards set in a 1940 meeting of the American Quarter Horse Association actually require that legit quarter horses need to be able to do a quarter-mile (402-meter) run in 23 seconds or less (if they can't do that, they must demonstrate other quarter horse ranching skills to qualify). The world's most popular horse breed, the quarter horse can run up to 55 mph (88 kph), which is undoubtedly why they're so popular in ranching and horse racing circles. In fact, the name directly refers to the breed's speed, as it describes its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less, according to the American Quarter Horse Association. Quarter horses were specifically bred over time to be fast. This mid-sized antelope is also known for its maneuvering capabilities, like turning sharply while being chased and making incredibly long leaps to throw off pursuers, like cheetahs. The springbok is native to Southern Africa, and can run 55 mph (88 kph) in short bursts. Currently, this land animal holds the Guinness World Record for "fastest antelope." Goitered gazelles can achieve a high speed of 60 mph (97 kph), which is fortunate since they are popular targets for hunters. These beauties get their name thanks to an enlargement on the larynx that resembles a goiter. Next on our list is a mid-sized gazelle found in many parts of Asia, particularly northwest China, southern Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The pronghorn's speed and endurance could very well have been an evolutionary adaptation to help them evade hunters. ![]() These deer-like mammals can maintain such speeds for up to a half-mile, longer than most other fast land animals who sprint primarily to hunt. Pronghorns are by far the fastest animals on land in North America, and the second-fastest animals in the world, topping out at speeds of around 60 mph (98 kph). Though it is sometimes called the "pronghorn antelope," this hoofed beauty is not an antelope, but rather a cousin of antelopes and goats. The next time you visit the Wyoming area, it's entirely possible that you could lay eyes on a pronghorn or two. For instance, the blue wildebeest can reach speeds of 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour. ![]() They use their incredible speeds to take down smaller prey, some of which are pretty speedy themselves. These cats are found across Africa, although their dwindling numbers mostly hang out in the southern and eastern areas of the continent. ![]() Cheetahs are naturally outfitted with several physical characteristics that help to make them so fast, including claws that don't retract (which helps them with traction on the ground), as well as unique pads on their feet.
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