How far can the fastest animal travel in one minute?

Answer 1

60 min = 1 hour

The fastest land animal is the cheetah which is estimated to run at speeds of up to 75 mph meaning it could travel 75 ÷ 60 = 1¼ miles = 1.250 miles if it could sustain that speed for 1 minute. It can only sustain that speed for a distance of a little under 1/3 mile.

However, the fastest animal is a bird: the peregrine falcon has been recorded at 242 mph, meaning it could travel 242 ÷ 60 = 4 1/30 miles ≈ 4.033 miles. However, as this speed is obtained in a hunting dive and it does not soar to over 4 1/30 miles (about 21,300 ft; as a comparison Everest is about 29,000 ft) before starting its dive, it is not going to be able to sustain that speed for 1 minute.

The White-throated needletail (also known as the needle-tailed or spine-tailed swift) is the fasted bird in flapped flight at 105 mph meaning it could travel 105 ÷ 60 = 1¾ miles = 1.750 miles (assuming it can sustain that speed). Its recorded speed of 69.3 mph gives a distance of 69.3 / 60 = 1 31/200 miles = 1.155 miles.

In the fish world a black marlin has been recorded at 82 mph (based on how fast it has removed the line from a fishing reel when caught), giving a distance of 82 ÷ 60 = 1 11/30 miles ≈ 1.367 miles (assuming it can sustain that speed for 1 minute).