These are the fastest animals on Earth

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) are famous for their giant sword-like noses. They live in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and they use their swords to cut through water and swim at high speeds.

Following closely behind their sailfish cousins, swordfish can swim at 97 kilometres per hour (60 miles per hour). Swordfish use their impressive speed to catch food and avoid predators like orcas.

Swordfish are slightly lighter and longer than sailfish. Swordfish weigh an average of 22.67 to 90.71 kilograms (50 to 200 pounds) and measure 455 centimetres (14.75 feet) long. Meanwhile, sailfish weigh up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) and measure up to 300 centimetres (10 feet) in length.

The swordfish population is decreasing, and the IUCN lists them as near threatened. A prominent threat to swordfish is overfishing -though there are limits on the size of swordfish that can be caught to prevent juveniles from being taken, swordfish have a high mortality rate when caught on pelagic longline gear-which means many juvenile swordfish die before they can be returned to the ocean. Fishing with driftnets also causes a high rate of juvenile mortality among swordfish.

10. Mexican free-tailed bats

The Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) can be found in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. They are small mammals, weighing only around 12 grams (0.42 ounces). But these tiny animals are incredibly fast fliers, usually averaging around 96.5 kilometres per hour (60 miles per hour).

Mexican free-tailed bats are capable of flying even faster in short bursts. Their maximum recorded speed is just under 160 kilometres per hour (100 miles per hour), which means they can sometimes move faster than cheetahs.

Mexican free-tailed bats have a stable population and are classified as least concern by the IUCN.

11. Anna's hummingbirds

Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) is an incredibly abundant hummingbird species that lives along the West Coast of the US, Canada, and Mexico. They are one of the larger species of hummingbird and also the fastest.

Anna's hummingbirds can fly at around 96 kilometres per hour (60 miles per hour), and unlike the other animals on this list, they use this speed during courtship displays to attract mates. It also helps them zoom away from predators when they find themselves in a dangerous situation.

Their population consists of about 9,600,000 mature individuals and is currently increasing, leading to their classification as least concern.

12. Springboks