The cheetah, the fastest mammal, can accelerate from zero to 45 miles (64 kilometers) per hour in two seconds; it has been timed at speeds of 70 miles (112 kilometers) per hour over short distances. In most chases, cheetahs average around 40 miles (63 kilometers) per hour. Humans can run very short distances at almost 28 miles (45 kilometers) per hour maximum. Most of the speeds given in the table below are for distances of one-quarter mile (0.4 kilometer).
| Animal |
Maximum Speed (mph/kph) |
| Cheetah |
70/112.6 |
| Pronghorn antelope |
61/98.1 |
| Wildebeest |
50/80.5 |
| Lion |
50/80.5 |
| Thomson’s gazelle |
50/80.5 |
| Quarter horse |
47.5/76.4 |
| Elk |
45/72.4 |
| Cape hunting dog |
45/72.4 |
| Coyote |
43/69.2 |
| Gray fox |
42/67.6 |
| Hyena |
40/64.4 |
| Zebra |
40/64.4 |
| Mongolian wild ass |
40/64.4 |
| Greyhound |
39.4/63.3 |
| Whippet |
35.5/57.1 |
| Rabbit (domestic) |
35/56.3 |
| Mule deer |
35/56.3 |
| Jackal |
35/56.3 |
| Reindeer |
32/51.3 |
| Giraffe |
32/51.3 |
| White-tailed deer |
30/48.3 |
| Wart hog |
30/48.3 |
| Grizzly bear |
30/48.3 |
| Cat (domestic) |
30/48.3 |
| Human |
27.9/44.9 |
