Ever wondered if you could beat a bear or a horse in a race? What about a rat or a rhino? The answers may surprise you.

When wildlife travelers (particularly safari fans) discuss the fastest animals in the world, a particular cat from the small cat lineage (Felinae) almost always enters the conversation: the cheetah.

It will surprise very few to hear that the fastest animal on land is the cheetah, which can accelerate from 0 to 50 mph in just three strides and reach a jaw-dropping top speed of 68 mph soon after.

A new Imperial College London study has answered a long-held question about why medium-sized land animals like cheetahs tend to be fastest. There's a discrepancy in the animal kingdom. While many key ...