What if we told you that a flying animal you’ve probably never heard of is capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h? Neither a bird nor a land animal, it is often invisible at night and holds the distinction of being the fastest mammal in the animal kingdom.
When we talk about speed in the animal kingdom, one name is often immediately obvious: the cheetah. It is true. The rocketThe rocket From the African savannah, this agile and graceful predator can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h in one fell swoop. And I the windthe windThe peregrine falcon’s dive makes it the fastest diving animal in the world, capable of reaching speeds of up to 400 km/h!
But there’s a lesser-known animal, one that nonetheless holds an impressive title: the fastest mammal on the planet. This animal is a Brazilian Mastiff. Tadarida brasiliensisa small American bat.
Unparalleled horizontal speed
The Brazilian Mastiff is a modest bat, measuring 10 to 12 cm and weighing only 13 grams. It is found on the American continent from Central America to South America.
A 2016 study was published in the journal Royal Society Open ScienceLed by the University of Tennessee and the Institute Max PlanckMax Planckdiscovered that the Brazilian Mastiff is capable of flying at a horizontal speed of 160 km/h. To put this into perspective, swifts and peregrine falcons, known for their speedspeedreach a speed of 110 km/h in horizontal flight.
To measure this speed, the researchers fitted the bats with radio transmitters, attached to surgical glue. These devices make it possible to accurately track and measure their speed.
The secret of their speed
What allowed this small mammal to defy the laws of nature? The bodyThe body And going so fast? Everything is within it. MorphologyMorphology. With an ultra-aerodynamic body and unusually long wings for its size, the Mastiff is a true model of flight performance.
But every scientific discovery has its detractors. Some researchers, such as the Swedish Anders Hedenström, have suggested that external factors may influence the results. However, the study’s authors defended the robustness of their findings by insisting on the consistency of weather conditions during the observations. ” External factors such as terrain and tailwinds cannot explain these results, as they had no effect on maximum speed. said Dina Deichmann of the Max Planck Institute.
As further evidence, said the study’s lead author, Gary McCracken, one of the world’s leading batting experts. Wired that ” When they have a strong wind, they fly faster. When they have a tailwind, they slow down. ».
Finally, if CheetahCheetah Undoubtedly the fastest land animal, this small winged mammal, the world’s fastest, is a speed champion that deserves its place among the most fascinating animals on our planet.
