பூமியின் விரைவான விலங்குகள்.[IMAGES]

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Found worldwide, peregrine falcons are efficient
hunting machines, and among the fastest creatures on
Earth. They can reach speeds of 200 miles per
hour when on the trail of another bird – and they’re
large enough to prey on rooks, magpies, hooded crows and jackdaws.


Mantis shrimp



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This colourful crustacean possesses an extremely specialised
pair of front limbs known as ‘raptorial claws’. Though they’re designed for
catching prey, they can move with such a devastatingly quick ‘punch’ that they
have been known to shatter glass
aquariums.


Giant Palm Salamander



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This Central American amphibian can produce the most powerful
burst of muscular power known in the animal kingdom – using its
tongue. The giant palm salamander releases over 18,000
watts of power per kilogram of muscle as it flicks
its tongue at incredible speed to catch fast-moving insects. Some species
possess tongues that are as much as 80% of the animal’s entire body
length.


Anna's Hummingbird



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Like most hummingbirds, Anna’s
hummingbirds flap their wings at an incredible 50
times a second. This is quick enough that the human eye cannot perceive
the individual beats. This is made possible because of their small body size,
fast heart rate and high body temperature. But the downside to this specialised
lifestyle is that they must consequently feed once every ten minutes or so
throughout the day.

Dragonfly


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Dragonflies are among the fastest insects known, with
the common green Darner dragonfly clocking in at an astonishing 100 kilometres
per hour. Even more common members of the order Odonata, the most ancient group
of flying insects, tend to reach speeds of about 50 kilometres per hour. All
four of their wings can move semi-independently, allowing them levels of agility
unknown to other insects – they can reverse, hover in place or change direction
in midair. This suits their natural history, as their niche is that of an
extremely specialised predator.

Frogfish



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Nature buffs are probably familiar with certain members of the
order Lophiiformes – they’re the famous anglerfish. But the frogfish is an even
more bizarre member of this distinguished family. Covered in vegetation-like
‘spinules’, the frogfish is designed not to blend in with the background to
escape detection, but to actively resemble the food of potential prey. When
smaller fish approach to take a bite, they instead become swallowed up by the
frogfish in a movement so quick that it often cannot be seen by human eyes. The
frogfish moves its jaws with such swiftness that suction pressure is created,
pulling water and prey into the gaping maw.


Spiny-Tailed Iguana



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Though ‘cold-blooded’ creatures such as lizards aren’t famous
for their speed, the spiny-tailed iguana of Central America can reach over
twenty miles per hour – a record for reptiles. Their active nature extends to
their temperament, as they are notoriously aggressive towards humans. This
relationship extends both ways, however, as the iguanas are heavily hunted as a
source of food throughout their home ranges, though they are not yet thought to
be endangered.