# Second-fastest mammalian predator? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115 "2009-07-15T15:26:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/1 "2009-07-15T15:26:21Z")
Everyone knows that the Cheetah is the fastest mammalian predator, at least over a short distance. What species would come in second place? ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/2 "2009-07-15T15:36:52Z")
Lions can hit 40-50 mph over short distances, according to Wikipedia. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/3 "2009-07-15T15:37:45Z")
According to multiple Google results it’s the pronghorn antelope. eta: which can reach 57mph ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/4 "2009-07-15T15:39:56Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > According to multiple Google results it’s the pronghorn antelope. > > eta: which can reach 57mph Since when is the antelope considered a predator? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/5 "2009-07-15T15:40:27Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > Since when is the antelope considered a predator? 😉 Since I was a shrub :smack: ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/6 "2009-07-15T15:45:10Z")
I’d be tempted to say humans. We may not be fastest in a dead sprint, but [over a distance](http://alistairpott.com/2009/04/15/persistence-hunting-humans-running-antelope-to-death/) there are not many animals, mammal or not, which can outrun us. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/7 "2009-07-15T15:49:27Z")
Plus, we’re the only species that has mastered the use of motor vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/8 "2009-07-15T16:00:08Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > I’d be tempted to say humans. We may not be fastest in a dead sprint, but [over a distance](http://alistairpott.com/2009/04/15/persistence-hunting-humans-running-antelope-to-death/) there are not many animals, mammal or not, which can outrun us. The OP did not specify running so I feel obliged to point out that in the long run, there’s a whole bunch of birds that easily outstrip us puny humans when it comes to endurance. [QUOTE=Wikipedia article on terns] One Arctic Tern, ringed as a chick (not yet able to fly) on the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast in eastern Great Britain in summer 1982, reached Melbourne, Australia in October 1982, a sea journey of over 22,000 km (14,000 statute miles) in just three months from fledging—an average of over 240 km per day, and one of the longest journeys ever recorded for a bird. [/QUOTE] [Link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tern). I’d like to see the human who can cross 240 km. every day for 3 months straight, on foot. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/9 "2009-07-15T16:01:52Z")
Didn’t know they reclassified birds as mammals 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/10 "2009-07-15T16:10:12Z")
[QUOTE=IAmNotSpartacus] Didn’t know they reclassified birds as mammals [/QUOTE] :smack: Well, they didn’t, and the OP did ask for faster mammal (mammalian predator, to be exact, which I think would disqualify humans), but **SmashTheState** writes that > [@](#): > > there are not many animals, mammal or not, which can outrun us. So between what the OP did not specify (running) and what **SmashTheState** leaves open (mammal _or not_), I do feel that my little comment adds something 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/11 "2009-07-15T16:13:43Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > I’d be tempted to say humans. We may not be fastest Referring to the OP’s question re. “fastest”, do you know what “fastest” actually means? Anyway, what about bats in flight? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/12 "2009-07-15T16:14:47Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > :smack: > > Well, they didn’t, and the OP did ask for faster mammal (mammalian predator, to be exact, which I think would disqualify humans), but **SmashTheState** writes that So between what the OP did not specify (running) and what **SmashTheState** leaves open (mammal _or not_), I do feel that my little comment adds something 😃 Humans are mammals. Are you claiming they’re not predators? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/13 "2009-07-15T16:20:55Z")
Humans are the top of the food chain - coup de gras predator. Excluding humans I’d say the fasted mammalian predator would be of the feline variety… ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/14 "2009-07-15T16:21:38Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Plus, we’re the only species that has mastered the use of motor vehicles. Elvis FTW! Of course, if you count motor vehicles, that technically makes the Cheetah the 2nd fastest. Though, I did see a bear on a motorcycle once. I wonder if that counts? However, I suspect that the answer the OP is indeed looking for is the Lion. At least if [THIS SITE](http://www.petsdo.com/blog/top-twenty-20-fastest-land-animals-including-humans) can be trusted. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/15 "2009-07-15T16:21:42Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > I’d be tempted to say humans. We may not be fastest in a dead sprint, but [over a distance](http://alistairpott.com/2009/04/15/persistence-hunting-humans-running-antelope-to-death/) there are not many animals, mammal or not, which can outrun us. > [@jjimm](#): > > Referring to the OP’s question re. “fastest”, do you know what “fastest” actually means? > > Anyway, what about bats in flight? I’m quite aware what “fastest” means. Which is why I didn’t write what you so disingenuously quoted by selectively bobbiting the comment. You quoted me saying “We may not be fastest,” when what I said was, “We may not be fastest **in a dead sprint** , but [over a distance](http://alistairpott.com/2009/04/15/persistence-hunting-humans-running-antelope-to-death/) there are not many animals, mammal or not, which can outrun us.” You DID follow the link to the article (and video) on [persistence hunting](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistence_hunting), right? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/16 "2009-07-15T16:22:38Z")
Almost certainly it will be some wild canid. The [African Wild Dog](http://www.thewebsiteofeverything.com/weblog/pivot/entry.php?id=5) would be a good candidate, with an average hunting speed given as 50 kph/30 mph. Some sites give the speed of the Gray Wolf as 30-35 mph as well. The Cheetah is the only cat adapted for high speed running. Many canids are also adapted for cursorial hunting (pursuit by running), but are generally endurance runners rather than sprinters like the Cheetah. Hyenas are also runners, but I doubt any would exceed a canid. Other carnivores (bears, raccoons, civets, skunks, badgers, etc) are not generally built for speed. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/17 "2009-07-15T16:26:03Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > The OP did not specify running so I feel obliged to point out that in the long run, there’s a whole bunch of birds that easily outstrip us puny humans when it comes to endurance. > > [Link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tern). I’d like to see the human who can cross 240 km. every day for 3 months straight, on foot. There’s a huge difference between running and gliding. I don’t think the two can be compared. A cheetah can run about 40 mph while an Indian swift can fly about 120 mph. It’s obvious that flight requires considerably less strength and muscle than running. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/18 "2009-07-15T16:27:29Z")
[QUOTE=OldGuy] Humans are mammals. Are you claiming they’re not predators? [/QUOTE] Well, not in the same way a lion or a cheetah is, or a shark, for that matter. Right? I’m about as close to being a biologist as North-Korea is to being a prosperous liberal democracy, so I’m kind of out of my depth here 😉 > [@Phlosphr](#): > > Humans are the top of the food chain - coup de gras predator. I think what you’re looking for is a coup de grace (of grace), not de gras (of fat). But I could be wrong. I’ve been wrong before. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/19 "2009-07-15T16:27:50Z")
How fast does a killer whale swim? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/20 "2009-07-15T16:28:01Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Referring to the OP’s question re. “fastest”, do you know what “fastest” actually means? > [@SmashTheState](#): > > I’m quite aware what “fastest” means. Which is why I didn’t write what you so disingenuously quoted by selectively bobbiting the comment. [Moderator note] Both these comments are unnecessarily snarky for GQ. Let’s not squabble, and get back to answering the OP. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115.md?page=2)