Million Whys Press logo
Million Whys PressToronto
← Book 33 videos

Book 33, Question 92 · Video

How fast is the fastest land mammal?

Video · 1:53 · Crafty Clover explains, from A Million Whys Book 33

The cheetah is the fastest, with bursts of about 60 to 70 miles per hour. A cheetah’s long legs, flexible spine, and big lungs help it. It can only keep that speed for a short time, and then it needs to rest. The pronghorn antelope can run fast for longer, at about 35 miles per hour. Fast animals have different kinds of speed.

Read the full answer →

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How fast is the fastest land mammal?

The Big Idea

Which land mammal is the fastest? It's a big spotted cat! How fast is a cheetah?

Super Speed

Step one: Super Speed. The cheetah is the fastest land mammal, with bursts of about 60 to 70 miles per hour. It can go from standing still to very fast in just a few seconds.

Built for Speed

Step two: Built for Speed. A cheetah's long legs, flexible spine, and big lungs help it run fast. It can only keep that speed for a short time, and then it needs to rest.

Long-Distance Runner

Step three: Long-Distance Runner. The pronghorn antelope can run fast for longer, at about 35 miles per hour. Fast animals have different kinds of speed.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Fastest burst. Long runner. Long. Big.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A cheetah can go from standing still to very fast in just a few seconds. Cheetahs tire quickly. Pronghorns run far. Their spines bend and stretch.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, measure 100 feet outdoors. Time yourself running it. Write down your time. A cheetah at top speed could cover it in about one second. How many seconds did you take?

Outro

The cheetah is the fastest land mammal, bursting to 60 to 70 miles per hour with long legs, a flexible spine, and big lungs, but it tires fast. The pronghorn runs about 35 miles per hour for much longer. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!

Why I wrote this