Fastest antelope
Who
Goitered gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa
Where
Not Applicable ()

The world's fastest species of true antelope is Asia's goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), which has been clocked running at 97 kilometres (60 miles) per hour. Africa's springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), which attains speeds of up to 88 kilometres (55 miles) per hour in short bursts, is a close contender. The springbok performs long leaps and sharp turns while sprinting, in order to help it escape its even faster predator, the cheetah, which can reach speeds in excess of 101 kilometres (62 miles) per hour for short periods.


The goitered gazelle figure is from a vehicle speedometer and was first reported in Speed in Animals. Their Specialization for Running and Leaping (1944) by AB Howell (University of Chicago Press). The speed has since been endorsed by more recent research, such as Kingswood SC and Blank DA. 1996. Mammalian species no.518: Gazella subgutturosa. New York: The American Society of Mammalogists.

There are reports of blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) reputed to have run at 105 km/h (65.2 mph), but the source of this figure is untraceable and thus rather suspect.