Fastest mammal on land – over short distances

At least over short distances, the fastest mammal on land is the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). At full pelt, typically while hunting, this wild cat can maintain a peak speed of approximately 100 km/h (62 mph) on level ground, but only up to around 500 m (1,640 ft). Research completed by Professor Craig Sharp of Brunel University, London, UK, in 1965 recorded accurate speeds of 64.3 mph (28.7 m/s or 103.5 km/h) – an average over three runs – for a 35-kg (77-lb) adult female over a measured distance of 201.2 m (220 yards; 660 ft). Cheetahs are native to the open plains of sub-Saharan Africa, Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

The cheetah in Sharp's timed run was called Pritchelou.

For the first time, on 24 February 1999 in Cape Town, South Africa, a cheetah was raced on a track and officially timed. Nyana Spier, 17 months old and owned by Annie Beckhelling, ran the 100 m in 6.19 sec (average 36.8 mph) with an acceleration of 0 to 50 mph in 3.6 sec. His stride length was 7.3 m (24 ft).

The fastest mammal over longer distances is the pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) of North America. These antelope-like ungulates have been observed to travel continuously at 56 km/h (35 mph) for as far as 6.6 km (4.1 mi). They are found in western USA, south-western Canada and parts of northern Mexico.