# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/41 "2009-07-15T18:44:12Z")
[Pups and all manner of monkeys](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animals_in_space) have achieved escape velocity! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/42 "2009-07-15T18:53:41Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > I suspect greyhounds and whippets would do poorly in the wild because they’re so stupid. Their narrow heads have tiny little brains, and are considered among the stupidest of the domesticated dogs. They may be fast, but they’re dumb as a post. Not a desirable trait in a predator. I respectfully suggest you’re being too hard on the muscle dogs. On the track, you don’t see their intelligence or their predatory nature. However, lots of owners of rescued pet greyhounds know that they are four-legged death on small prey. Out in the country, it’s said that a farmer with a couple of greyhounds will never need to worry about rabbits or groundhogs. A predator need not be highly intelligent to be successful. Nature has provided plenty of prey that aren’t very bright. ---
**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, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/43 "2009-07-15T19:58:24Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > I respectfully suggest you’re being too hard on the muscle dogs. On the track, you don’t see their intelligence or their predatory nature. However, lots of owners of rescued pet greyhounds know that they are four-legged death on small prey. Out in the country, it’s said that a farmer with a couple of greyhounds will never need to worry about rabbits or groundhogs. A predator need not be highly intelligent to be successful. Nature has provided plenty of prey that aren’t very bright. Well, that is interesting to know! For some silly reason, I thought that perhaps greyhounds could only achieve such speeds on the very level ground, like in the racetrack, and could not handle rough terrain. My ignorance has been fought, and diminished slightly! Hooray! ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/44 "2009-07-15T20:21:42Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > Since when is the antelope considered a predator? 😉 Oh don’t be so naive, you better darn well believe it, a pronghorn would eat you if it had the chance. According to the US Wildlife and Fish foundation (top speeds over short distances) in MPH. Here are the ominvores and carnivores over 30mph \*from a stopped positon to a short direct charge Cape Hunting Dog = 45 Lion = 40 - 45 \* Coyote = 43 Gray Fox -= 42 Hyena = 40 Greyhound = 40 Whippet = 35 Jackal = 35 Warthog = 30\* Grizzly Bear 30\* Cat (domestic) 30 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/45 "2009-07-15T20:52:13Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Warthog = 30\* > Grizzly Bear 30\* I wouldn’t’ve guessed these guys could move so fast. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/46 "2009-07-15T20:56:30Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Cat (domestic) 30 Wouldn’t have guessed that, either, despite growing up with cats. I mean they have the acceleration no doubt, but never having been in an extended chase with one I always assumed I’d catch up to their speed once I get going. Hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/47 "2009-07-15T21:00:36Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Wouldn’t have guessed that, either, despite growing up with cats. I mean they have the acceleration no doubt, but never having been in an extended chase with one I always assumed I’d catch up to their speed once I get going. Hmmm. Well, you might, if you get to work right now - Donovan Bailey holds the record for the fastest speed (running) ever recorded by a human, at 27.1 mph (clocked on a radar gun). ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/48 "2009-07-15T21:03:14Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > 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. Really? YOU try flapping your wings! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/49 "2009-07-15T21:09:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s only a matter of time before somebody links to the YouTube video of that waterskiing squirrel. [You asked for it!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXcaFC1vF0Q&feature=related)😃 ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/50 "2009-07-15T21:13:34Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > Humans are the fiercest predators which have ever existed on this planet. We _eat_ sharks. I can walk into any supermarket and buy a tin of shark meat right off the shelf. Which supermarket do you go to? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/51 "2009-07-15T21:28:08Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Oh don’t be so naive, you better darn well believe it, a pronghorn would eat you if it had the chance. 😃 I think one of the pronghorn’s mantras must surely be _ **“RUN AWAY!!!”** _–they spook really easily. I paced one\* at about 40mph once and it looked like he could easily have shifted up a gear. \*I was in my truck, not on foot ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/52 "2009-07-15T23:01:13Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > I suspect greyhounds and whippets would do poorly in the wild because they’re so stupid. Their narrow heads have tiny little brains, and are considered among the stupidest of the domesticated dogs. They may be fast, but they’re dumb as a post. Not a desirable trait in a predator. Respectfully, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve raised and rescued and worked with greyhounds for almost 20 years now and, while some are dumb (as all species) most are reasonably intelligent and a damn few are ferociously smart…almost past the point of being a bother to work with. In _The Intelligence of Dogs_ by Stanley Coren greyhounds get an ‘average’ ranking for dogs. So I’d say the assertion that they’re stupid is unfounded. I believe, but can’t verify, that the top greyhound hit 46 mph. Wikipedia puts them as running up to 43 mph. And yes, for squirrels, groundhogs, rats, rabbits, small-mammal-of-your-choice…an off-lead greyhound is near instant death. I’ve seen them explode from a resting position to full flight almost immediately to catch and kill small prey animals. Hell, these dogs predecessors were once used to bring down deer in forests. They might not be the fastest, but not including them in the mix is foolish. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/53 "2009-07-15T23:42:39Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > And yes, for squirrels, groundhogs, rats, rabbits, small-mammal-of-your-choice…an off-lead greyhound is near instant death. I guess you don’t have to be smart as long as your prey is dumber than you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115/54 "2009-07-16T00:10:44Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Cats are [getting clos](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x5-38LJ8N4)e, though. [Even](http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/ModernMechanix/9-1930/auto_lion_carrier.jpg) [lions](http://blog.lib.umn.edu/snackeru/greet/images/0walldeathblog.jpg) don’t seem to be content on foot, which is forcing [prey](http://collegecandy.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/sc_cow.jpg) to keep pace. Yeah, but the prey is [upping the ante](http://www.digitaldesktopwallpaper.com/wallpapers/wallpaper.tv/1024x768/zebra-on-motorcycle-1024x768.jpg). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-fastest-mammalian-predator/503115.md?page=2)