On land, the cheetah is considered to be the fastest animal. On the other hand, the peregrine falcon has the highest diving speed among the birds....
Cheetah’s speed of 68.0 to 75.0m/h is the highest speed on land whereas, among the birds, peregrine falcon’s speed of 389km/h is the highest diving speed.
Among the reptiles, the central bearded dragon is the fastest, with a speed of 40km/h whereas the black marlin is the fastest fish. The Mexican free-tailed bat is the quickest mammal and horsefly is the fastest among the invertebrates.
The Fastest Fish In The World
Fish are aquatic animals having no limbs. They swim in water while moving from one point to another. However, the speed at which they swim varies from one type of fish to the other.Some fish swim faster as compared to others. Among the fastest fish include black marlin, sailfish, swordfish, yellowfin tuna, and the shortfin mako shark. Research has shown that these fish can swim at astonishing speeds. For example, the speed can be as high as 129km/h.
5. Shortfin Mako Shark
This type of fish is also among the fastest in the world. Among the
shark fish species, shortfin mako shark is the fastest, given an average
speed of 72km/h. This type of shark is enormous and has an accelerated
growth rate. An adult weighs about 60 to 135 kg with an average length
of approximately 3.2 meters.
The shortfin mako is cylindrically-shaped and has a vertically-elongated tail. This species inhabits the offshore tropical and temperate oceans and seas globally. The main diet of the shortfin shark include the bony fish as well as the cephalopods.
The swordfish, tunas, mackerels, and bonitos, are shortfin sharks’ preys. Besides, it feeds on seabirds, porpoises, and the sea turtles.
Their hunting entails vertical lunging and tearing of their prey’s fins and lungs. The speed helps them in hunting since the prey cannot easily notice them. Also, its speed has made it a highly sorted game fish globally.
The shortfin mako is cylindrically-shaped and has a vertically-elongated tail. This species inhabits the offshore tropical and temperate oceans and seas globally. The main diet of the shortfin shark include the bony fish as well as the cephalopods.
The swordfish, tunas, mackerels, and bonitos, are shortfin sharks’ preys. Besides, it feeds on seabirds, porpoises, and the sea turtles.
Their hunting entails vertical lunging and tearing of their prey’s fins and lungs. The speed helps them in hunting since the prey cannot easily notice them. Also, its speed has made it a highly sorted game fish globally.
4. Yellowfin Tuna
This is the fourth fastest fish, having recorded swimming speed of 76km/h. The average speed of the tuna fish is considered to be 80km/h; hence this species of fish swim at very high speeds.The high speed recorded among the tuna species is due to their tails which move at astonishing speeds. Besides, the tails lack nerve endings; thus they do not feel pain in case of injuries. Yellowfin tuna is one of the largest among the species of tuna; with its weigh being approximately 180 kg and length of about 2.4 meters. Yellowfin tuna are said to be epipelagic; they inhabit water above the thermocline levels.
However, some of the yellowfin found in the Indian Ocean could swim deep into the ocean and be also found almost on the surface. Yellow fish tuna are found mainly in the vast deep waters. However, under suitable conditions, they may move to the shores.
This species of fish is mostly found in the mid-ocean islands; examples include the Caribbean, the Hawaiian archipelago, and volcanic islands of the Atlantic Ocean, among many others.
The yellowfin tuna feed on squid, crustaceans, other fish, as well as pelagic. However, the yellowfin tuna is prey to other larger fish species especially when young. They are preyed upon by seabirds, shark, wahoo, and billfish, among others.
3. Swordfish
Swordfish is the third fastest fish on earth, with speed as high as 97km/h. The swordfish’s speed, 97km/h, is attributed to Sir James Gray’s estimation of the fish’s impact on embedding its sword on the ship’s timbers. Therefore, the speed may not have been experimentally studied; however, the fact remains that swordfish is one of the fastest fish species.Swordfish are considered to be highly predatory and can be found on the surface or deep in the sea. Areas inhabited by sailfish include the temperate as well as the tropical regions of the Indian, Atlantic, as well as the Pacific Oceans. The swordfish uses its “sword” for hunting. However, it is its speed which is essential in enabling it to capture the prey.
Swordfish lose scales as well as teeth when they reached adulthood. Among the billfish category, the swordfish is very widespread sportfish despite being very subtle. Besides, they are well-known for migration in that during the summer; they move towards the colder areas. They feed on smaller fish especially during the night when they move onto the surface of the water to hunt.
No comments: