99% of all known animal species are smaller than bumble bees. It is widely estimated that we have only identified 10% of living species. Further, we have a very strong inherent bias toward identifying larger species. Thus, roughly 99.9% of all animal species are smaller than bumble bees.
So, running, flying, swimming (as long as you don't count falling out of an airplane) way, WAY less than 0.1% of all animal species can move their butts fast enough to cover 1 mile in 4 minutes.
Well there is always this wrote:
99% of all known animal species are smaller than bumble bees. It is widely estimated that we have only identified 10% of living species. Further, we have a very strong inherent bias toward identifying larger species. Thus, roughly 99.9% of all animal species are smaller than bumble bees.
So, running, flying, swimming (as long as you don't count falling out of an airplane) way, WAY less than 0.1% of all animal species can move their butts fast enough to cover 1 mile in 4 minutes.
Don't worry, he's changed his criteria enough times to make himself right.
Here are some numbers wrote:
Mr. Clif wrote:quick question, how many monkeys do you know of that can run sub 4?
There are 5 baboon species and 2 drills/mandrills. These guys can run down rabbits easily and have a build that suggests that they could go the distance. No guarantee but I'd say all of them are a pretty good bet to have members capable of a 4 minute mile. Could also be a few other ground dwelling species (rhesus and so forth) with a shot.
I seriously doubt that.
anyway, props with the Lagat thing guys.....very clever, not to mention extremely offensive, but it's whatever I guess.
Mr. Clif wrote:
Here are some numbers wrote:There are 5 baboon species and 2 drills/mandrills. These guys can run down rabbits easily and have a build that suggests that they could go the distance. No guarantee but I'd say all of them are a pretty good bet to have members capable of a 4 minute mile. Could also be a few other ground dwelling species (rhesus and so forth) with a shot.
I seriously doubt that.
anyway, props with the Lagat thing guys.....very clever, not to mention extremely offensive, but it's whatever I guess.
You can seriously doubt anything you wish. But you would be wrong nonetheless.
We got some nerds up in here.
Well there is always this wrote:
99% of all known animal species are smaller than bumble bees. It is widely estimated that we have only identified 10% of living species. Further, we have a very strong inherent bias toward identifying larger species. Thus, roughly 99.9% of all animal species are smaller than bumble bees.
So, running, flying, swimming (as long as you don't count falling out of an airplane) way, WAY less than 0.1% of all animal species can move their butts fast enough to cover 1 mile in 4 minutes.
If you're going to include species we don't know of, then how do you know they can't run a 4 minute mile? Maybe every unidentified species can run a 4 minute mile That would mean over 90% of animals can run a 4 minute mile. Sound like I was closer with my first number than you.
Biologist wrote:
Well there is always this wrote:99% of all known animal species are smaller than bumble bees. It is widely estimated that we have only identified 10% of living species. Further, we have a very strong inherent bias toward identifying larger species. Thus, roughly 99.9% of all animal species are smaller than bumble bees.
So, running, flying, swimming (as long as you don't count falling out of an airplane) way, WAY less than 0.1% of all animal species can move their butts fast enough to cover 1 mile in 4 minutes.
If you're going to include species we don't know of, then how do you know they can't run a 4 minute mile? Maybe every unidentified species can run a 4 minute mile That would mean over 90% of animals can run a 4 minute mile. Sound like I was closer with my first number than you.
To answer your question:
Smaller than a bumble bee => unable to run a 4 minute mile.
To conclude:
WAY less than 0.1% of all species could do it.
You're PROBABLY right, but if you've never identified the species you can't know that for sure.
How about those big African grubs , they look faster than a beatle.
Biologist,
The only reason you're even close to right is that you keep changing your criteria to favor your original answer.
Biologist wrote:
Land animals only.
The answer is 27%
... and interestingly 87.3% of statistics are made up on the spot! :)
There is a huge gap between cruising at 5 min pace and running sub 4. Not to mention most mammals fall into that rat sized category.Lets just go with Vertebrates Vertebrates: 3% of all known species `--+--Reptiles: 7,984 species |--Amphibians: 5,400 species |--Birds: 9,000-10,000 species |--Mammals: 4,475-5,000 species `--Ray-Finned Fishes: 23,500 speciesPretty much zero reptiles, amphibians, or birds can run sub 4 (flying isn't running according to OP). So lets look at those 5k mammals1100 are bats. ~600 are Soricomorpha (Moles and shrews). T2200+ are rodentsMost of the antelopes and the can easily run sub 4. I doubt many of the canivores can (they are really high top end speeds but not for long). Similarly most of the rats and the like will not have the endurance.Now the question is if we put a cheetah on a lydiard program of 100mpw would he develop enough endurance to go with his speed? What about putting the elephants on a plymometric program to help get some leg speed?
zamboomba wrote:
I once ran a tempo run, 4 miles in 20:30. Someone's dog showed up in the first half-mile and started running with me, and he finished the whole thing and didn't look/act tired at the end at all. In fact, he just sort of turned around and bounded off in the direction from whence he came. I'm guessing that a lot of medium-sized (not rats, not elephants) four-legged animals could probably get under 4:00 if you could get them running.
I haven't really changed the criteria at all. I changed the question to flying and swimming, but that wasn't really changing the criteria to make me right so much as extending the topic to new categories to keep the debate alive.
That said, if 90% of animals are unknown, then it's possible that 90% of species are tiny, super-fast insects that run around the Amazon at 20mph for hours on end. You can't disprove it. Therefore, in theory, anyone who guessed between .1% and 90.1% is equally right. Boom, roasted.
Congrats. Are you actually a biologist/biology student?
"I doubt many of the canivores can (they are really high top end speeds but not for long). Similarly most of the rats and the like will not have the endurance.
Now the question is if we put a cheetah on a lydiard program of 100mpw would he develop enough endurance to go with his speed? "
Cheetahs could very easily go sub 4. These guys can lope along at 25 without even breaking into a run. All of the wild dogs could do it easily. Lots of the big cats as well. Rats, on the other hand, are just too slow, endurance or no endurance.
Yes, I work for google AND the World Wildlife Fund.
I like the idea of training cheetahs and elephants to be faster. Lets roll with that.
New question: If you trained wild animals, how much faster could they get?
Answer: 6% faster.
Rats can run 30+mph so it is an endurance question. They can also run for a couple hours at a time (but at much slower pace).As far a cheetahs, I have never heard of them (or any other cat) going out and running (any speed) for for more than about a min. Most references have the cheetah maintaing top speed for a 1500 ft. There is a reason why cats sneak up on prey rather than just chasing them down from far away. Sort of doubt bears, pigs, racoons, the weasals and seals (ok that is really unfair:)) are breaking 4.
OK OK Already wrote:
"I doubt many of the canivores can (they are really high top end speeds but not for long). Similarly most of the rats and the like will not have the endurance.
Now the question is if we put a cheetah on a lydiard program of 100mpw would he develop enough endurance to go with his speed? "
Cheetahs could very easily go sub 4. These guys can lope along at 25 without even breaking into a run. All of the wild dogs could do it easily. Lots of the big cats as well. Rats, on the other hand, are just too slow, endurance or no endurance.
Cheetahs cannot run 25mph for a mile.