Is a cheetah the fastest animal over 100 meters?

There were a few types of Cheetah formerly living in NA that almost certainly explain the speed of the pronghorn.

I believe the NA cheetah was a larger animal and possibly either faster or more enduring than the African/Asiatic variety.

Speculative of course but not too many animals seem to evolve a speed level that isn't necessary.

The Indian Blackbuck is considered an extremely fast animal and yet there is a record of an Asiatic Cheetah giving one a 200 yard start and catching it within a quarter mile.

A cheetah is likely always going faster than any prey it chases. It's always starting with a significant deficit and rapidly gains ground the moment the chase is on.

Easy Answer! - Peregrine Falcon

They can fly at speeds of up to 200 mph.

college kid wrote:

Easy Answer! - Peregrine Falcon

They can fly at speeds of up to 200 mph.

The peregrine isn't really flying at 200 mph. The top speeds are reached when diving for prey. The peregrine is very aerodynamic and very skilled at judging the effects of winds aloft on its dive.

White throated swifts cliff dive for prey and reach up to 200 mph. They are also very skilled at using the winds along cliffs to help them reach max speed on their dives. I was standing on a cliffside pulloff viewpoint in Big Bend once. White throated swifts were diving down the side of the cliff and past my car. You can hear them rip through the air like a golf ball hit with a driver. Pretty amazing.

college kid wrote:

Easy Answer! - Peregrine Falcon

They can fly at speeds of up to 200 mph.

Only from a moving start, but point taken.

As for pronghorn predators, Pronghorns are absolutely incredible, and will actually race you (and two step you). I've driven down many country roads for miles in Wyoming at 40+ MPH and the prong horn will maintain a step the entire time. The only predictor of Pronghorns (small/youth) that I have personally seen (and have a similar picture to this one) is Golden Eagles (hope this link works):

'However, that does not mean that there isn't another animal that can go from 0-40 faster, which has more to do with running a sub 6 100. The Elk, Cape Hunting dog, Quarter Horse, various large cats, Springbok and Thompson's Gazelle can all run at least 45. The last two actually have to escape from cheetah to survive sometimes, so it would not surprise me if they are more agile when healthy.'

The first lot you mentioned have no chance

On to Springbok and Thompson's Gazelle (they can run around 60 not the 45 you mentioned) the cheetah stalks the prey to get as close as possible. If it managed to get right next to them thay would have no chance. There main chance to get away is having a head start and swerving if the cheetah closes

While checking for info was shocked to find this

http://www.africanhuntingsafaris.com/cheetah_hunting.htm

Thought cheetah was an endangered species.

The real question is, if cheetahs can run so fast, what happens if they crash? If they trip and lose their balance at 70 mph, can they get seriously injured or killed, and if not, why not?

Humans jumping off a vehicle moving 70mph can be killed, but I've never heard of a cheetah wiping out and dying. When they catch their prey, that's a very sudden and fast deceleration, but it doesn't seem to harm them.

Harricane wrote:

The real question is, if cheetahs can run so fast, what happens if they crash? If they trip and lose their balance at 70 mph, can they get seriously injured or killed, and if not, why not?

Humans jumping off a vehicle moving 70mph can be killed, but I've never heard of a cheetah wiping out and dying. When they catch their prey, that's a very sudden and fast deceleration, but it doesn't seem to harm them.

Good point they tend to trip then slow a bit but still decelerate amazing. Notice how little the cheetah moves up and down when flat out and the muscle definition