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As the fastest animal on land, the incredible metabolisms and tightened muscles of the cheetah allow them to reach maximum speeds of at least 61 miles per hour and accelerate to that speed in just three seconds. Like the fastest animal in the sky, peregrine falcons can reach speeds of 240 miles per hour in the free-fall state they reach while diving behind prey.
In comparison, it can seem that aquatic animals struggle to compete. You might be surprised. The higher density of water is already a hindrance, but the animal kingdom continues to surprise. The fastest aquatic animals have spent millions of years developing aerodynamic and expertly designed bodies in a predator versus prey arms race. But whether the hunter or the supposed diner, these animals use a variety of different forms of mobility to navigate the water. Here’s everything you could ever want to know about the 8 fastest aquatic animals.
#8. Bluefin tuna: the most endangered fast fish
Top speed: 43 miles per hour
The typical bluefin tuna can weigh up to 1,500 pounds, but the exceptional technique that has gone into their bodies ensures that they get the most out of that weight. Their physiology resembles that of a submarine torpedo, with retractable fins that allow them to maximize their aerodynamics and forward-facing eyes that turn them into fearsome predators. This speed helps them to chase prey such as eel and mackerel, but unfortunately it did not protect them from predation itself. sharks and orcas are two of the few real threats to the bluefin tuna, but their biggest threat is easily humans. Aggressive fishing practices have reduced their population to about 1.6 million.
There are actually three different types of bluefin tuna, and you can discover more about them here.
#7. Flying Fish: a fast fish with great airtime
Top speed: 43 miles per hour
Considering that the flying fish predators are some of the fastest and deadliest in the water – including dolphins, marlins, and tuna – it makes sense that they would have to adjust their own power to reach high speeds. But their unique physiological design takes them one step further by allowing them to get out of the water completely for a while. The developed pectoral muscles of these fish and their unique wing shape allow them to glide over the surface of the water in much the same way as flying squirrels to do. With sufficient acceleration, flying fish can cover distances of more than 1000 meters. It is a tactic that is apparently successful, as there are currently more than 70 species of flying fish in existence.
Flying fish are mostly found in tropical and subtropical waters, and you can learn about their habits here.
#6. Mako Shark: the world’s fastest shark
Top speed: 46 miles per hour
jaws may have scared you to get into the water, but the shortfin shark may be even more terrifying than the titular great white shark. Their ability to reach top speeds of nearly 50 miles per hour is due to bodies designed quite similarly to tuna. bluefin tuna is actually a favorite meal for the shortfin mako, which has muscles near the shark’s spine that can act like a piston and allow this shark to achieve an incredibly fast acceleration. But they also have another secret weapon: uniquely designed shells that reduce water resistance while swimming.
You can discover more about makos and the various other shark species here.
#5. Pilot whale: the fastest marine mammal
Top speed: 47 miles per hour
As is the case with orcasPilot whales are actually a type of dolphin – and they are in fact directly behind the killer whale as the second largest dolphin species in existence. but while these aquatic mammals can reach a weight of nearly 2,000 pounds, they also use their strong sense of acceleration for deep water hunting. In the same way a falcon dives for its prey, pilot whales will plunge more than 3,000 feet below the surface of the sea in search of giant calamari. This is atypical for whales and dolphins that hunt in deep waters, because operating at lower speeds is usually a more efficient way to conserve oxygen.
Pilot whales aren’t the only big dolphins out there, and you can learn more about their brethren here.
#4. Mahi-Mahi: a delicious speedster
Top speed: 57 miles per hour
Found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, mahi-mahi can use their incredible speeds to cover nearly 2,000 miles in the course of a month. And while these fish are fast swimmers, they are also fast growers. The typical mahi-mahi can live for seven years, but they reach sexual maturity in just three months. During this time, they can grow between 1.5 and 3 inches per week. These social fish use their speed not only to evade prey, but also to complete their extensive mating migrations. Fortunately, these prodigious growth rates allow the mahi-mahi to maintain comfortable populations despite being one of the more prized fish to eat. Also known as the common mahi-mahi, the mahi-mahi can eventually weigh as much as 50 pounds.
#3. Swordfish: streamlined for speed
Top speed: 60 miles per hour
The pointed bill carried by the swordfish can make up almost half of its total body length, and it is also an effective hunting weapon. But instead of using its trademark sword to impale potential prey, the swordfish hunts and cuts its ocean prey to slow them down. Few species of fish can stay away from this fast fish even without that deadly weapon, but their exceptional sense of speed is achieved through an unusual evolutionary adaptation: natural oils.
A gland located on the swordfish’s face actually extracts a fatty substance that makes them more hydrodynamic and capable hunters. That’s not the only strange adjustment in their face, either. Organs placed near their eyes keep them warm and also improve their vision. The speed and ferocity of swordfish mean that they have few predators other than humans. Mako sharks and killer whales are functionally their only reliable threats in the ocean.
#2. Marlin: the contender for the fastest aquatic animal
Top speed: 68 miles per hour
The four species of marlin are recognized as some of the fastest swimmers on Earth, but they are also equipped for endurance. These fish typically swim at a steady 10 miles per hour, but they can reach speeds up to seven times faster than chasing prey. Like the swordfish, the marlin’s sharp bill helps it cut through both the water and smaller fish more easily. The fastest of all marlin species is the black marlin, thanks in part to their deeper bodies and wider beaks. Oddly enough, black marlins lack one speed-enhancing feature common to all other marlin species: retractable dorsal fins that help them minimize drag as they swim through the water. How natural selection bred this trait from the black marlin is an open mystery.
There are plenty of features of the black marlin that aren’t so mysterious, and you can dig deeper here.
#1. Sailfish: the defending champion for fastest aquatic animal
Top speed: 68 miles per hour
While the actual speed of the black marlin and sailfish are too close to determine a clear winner, both fastest aquatic creatures are sailfish with bodies designed to make their way through the water with the least resistance. But the addition of a huge dorsal fin resembling a ship’s sail could give the sailfish a slight advantage in terms of versatility. This sail plays an important role in regulating body temperature, but it would be a disadvantage in terms of speed as the sail is believed to increase the drag of this fish by as much as 18% when deployed. Fortunately, the sail can be extended and retracted at will. Stretching their dorsal fin allows sailfish to stop faster – so their speed isn’t an issue when chasing fish that may have a raw top speed, but have an abundance of maneuverability.
You can learn more about how the sailfish differs from the similarly designed swordfish here.
Next one: Discover the biggest Mastiff ever
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