New Fastest Animal on Land

New Fastest Animal on Land

Sorry, Mr. Cheetah, but you've been outrun – by a creature the size of a sesame seed.

Paratarsotomus macropalpis, a species of mite that’s endemic to Southern California, was recently found to be the world’s fastest land animal. Paratarsotomus macropalpis is capable of running up to 322 body lengths per second, compared to roughly 16 for cheetahs. If humans raced at the same speed, runners would travel more than 1,300 miles per hour. This is faster than the speed of sound at sea level.

These tiny creatures are only about the size of a sesame seed, and were recorded under both laboratory and field conditions. Smaller animals travel faster as a measure of body length than larger organisms, as a general rule. The tiny runners are also capable of making a greater number of strides per second. Biologists believe there is an upper limit to how quickly legs, and the tiny creatures, can move.

Amazingly, the tiny mites were seen running on concrete in temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The creatures performed quick stops and turns as they sped along surfaces hot enough to kill most living. Other species are also known to be speedier than a cheetah. The Australian tiger beetle can run at 171 body lengths every second.

The combination of sucking in its stomach and making a motion of lateral undulation in the air makes it possible for the snake to glide in the air, where it also manages to save energy compared to travel on the ground and dodge terrestrial bounded predators. Now take a look at some more photos of this stunning snakes.