5.牛羚：时速50英里
Wildebeests can run as fast as 50 mph, especially if they feel threatened. There are two types of wildebeests: black and blue. They are members of the Bovidae family along with cows, goats and antelopes. Both the black and blue species are native to Africa and adapted to the grassy lands in the southern areas. The species are different mostly because they live in different regions and eat different foods, and the distinction can be made based on body colors and the orientations of the horns.
牛羚在遇到危险时，最快时速可以达到50英里。牛羚分为两种，黑色牛羚和蓝色牛羚，他们和奶牛、山羊、羚羊同属于牛科动物。两种牛羚都是非洲本土物种，适宜在南部草原地区生活。黑色和蓝色牛羚生活在不同的区域，吃不同的食物，可以通过颜色和其触角的方向来辨别他们。
The black wildebeests migrate more often, but the blue wildebeests are more abundant in number. Despite the fact that they are hunted by animals and humans, their populations remain high and stable. Wildebeests are found in the southern and eastern parts of Africa from South Africa to Zimbabwe. Even though they used to roam lands freely, they are now confined to nature reserves and national parks due to excessive hunting. In East Africa, large groups of blue wildebeests prepare to migrate as the season changes from dry to rainy. They migrate to find more food and water and to avoid predators. Along the way, many of them drown in rivers or get eaten by predators like lions, crocodiles and cheetahs. There are many ways that wildebeests work to reduce predation, which is fascinating to attempt to understand. In general, they are strong, fast creatures that can attack their predators singly or in large groups. They usually move as one in a swarm, and the strongest members herd around the youngest ones to protect them from harm. Zebras commonly travel with wildebeest to keep the numbers of predators down, too. Whenever there are calls of distress from other animals, the wildebeest stay on alert.
黑色牛羚迁徙更加频繁，蓝色牛羚数量更多一些。虽然牛羚不断被动物和人类猎杀，它们的数量却一直趋于稳定，居高不下。牛羚生活在非洲的东部和南部的津巴布韦。由于人类的过度捕猎，牛羚在非洲大陆驰骋的景象已经不复存在，它们现在只能在国家公园和自然保护区内活动。在东非地区，大群的蓝色牛羚正准备在干湿季节更替时大规模的迁移。它们要迁移到水草肥美的地方，还要在途中避免肉食动物的攻击。许多牛羚在迁移途中溺死在河水中，或者是沦为狮子、鳄鱼或猎豹的盘中餐。牛羚有很多有趣的方法来减少被猎食的机会。大多数牛羚比较强壮且速度极快，理论上讲，他们可以单独或成群结对去攻击他们的天敌。牛羚通常聚群飞奔，成年强壮的牛羚把幼崽团团围住，免受肉食动物的攻击。斑马群通常会和牛羚一同迁徙，保护自己，减少食肉动物的攻击。牛羚在听到其他动物的凄惨叫声时会时刻保持警惕，避免天敌的突袭。
4.鸵鸟：时速60英里
Ostriches are the earth's largest, tallest birds and are known for being flightless. What many people may not know is that these animals run really fast – up to 60 mph. In Africa, humans even hop on their backs and use them in races, as they can maintain a 60 mph speed for half an hour and cover many miles of ground. With their powerful legs and wings, they can take 3.5 meter strides through the air, and even when not provoked by other animals or humans, they are often seen running.
尽管不会飞，鸵鸟却是这个世界上最大、最高的鸟类。但是，不为人们所知得是，鸵鸟奔跑时的最高时速可达到60英里。在非洲，人们甚至会举办骑鸵鸟比赛。鸵鸟可以以60英里/小时的速度跑上半个小时，这是一段非常长的距离了。靠着强有力的大长腿和翅膀，他们一步就可以跨3.5米，而且，即使没有其他动物或者人类的挑衅，它们也经常狂奔不息。
Ostriches are located throughout the southern and eastern regions of Africa. Their omnivorous diet allows them to eat plants and smaller animals, but they mostly eat plants. They do not require water like humans do because they derive this moisture from plant matter, and in captivity, they can consume over 3 kg of plants per day. When they reproduce, they lay eggs that weigh as much as 1.5 kg, and these eggs are some of the largest and most prominent in the world. For centuries, ostriches have been hunted for their large eggs, meat and very large feathers. Their feathers are used for decorations along with fashion accessories. In the past, these birds were found all over most of Africa and in some parts of southern Asia. These days, however, their numbers have been drastically reduced. There was a subspecies of ostrich that roamed near the Syrian desert, but they have become extinct since 1941, but some humans have tried to reintroduce the ostrich populations in the Middle East. Despite these facts, the ostriches are not on the lists of highly endangered species.
鸵鸟广泛分布于非洲南部和东部地区。鸵鸟是杂食动物，它们主要吃植物，也吃小型的动物。鸵鸟获取水分的方式与人类不同，它们能够从植物体内获得所需的水分。在旅行过程中，他们每天要消耗超过3KG的植物。提到繁衍后代，单个鸵鸟蛋的重量能达到1.5KG，世界上最大、最显眼的蛋自然也少不了他们的踪影。几个世纪以来，人们为了鸵鸟蛋、鸵鸟肉和鸵鸟大大的羽毛而猎杀它们。它们的羽毛被用于时尚配饰。过去，这种动物在非洲随处可见，在南亚的一些地方也可以找到他们的踪影。然而，现在鸵鸟数量锐减。在靠近叙利亚的沙漠地区，曾经生活着一种鸵鸟亚种，但是它们已经在1941年灭绝，人们尝试着从中东地区重新引进鸵鸟。尽管这样，鸵鸟其实并算濒危动物。
3.跳羚：时速60英里
Like pronghorns, springbok are very agile with sharp senses. When very agitated, these animals can run up to 60 mph, making them some of the fastest mammals in the world. Springbok get the "spring" in their name because they leapt as high as 9 feet in the air.
和叉角羚一样，敏锐的感官使得跳羚十分机警。一旦受刺激，跳羚奔跑时的速度可以达到60英里每小时。这也使得他们成为这个世界上跑的最快的哺乳动物。跳羚因其可以腾空起跳达到9英尺而得名。
Along with their leaps, springbok are recognizable by the soft white fur on their faces and bellies. The rest of their bodies are covered in light reddish brown fur. They are extremely lightweight with an average of 60 to 100 pounds and consume mostly plant foods. During the hot summers, they dine on grasses, but during the dry winters, they look for shrubs. Springbok are some of the most commonly found types of antelope in southern Africa. They live in dry, open plains where they are hunted by both animals and humans. For humans, they are the most desired species to hunt because of their venison meat. In a feat called pronking, springbok jump as high as 13 feet in the air. They curve their bodies, stiffen their legs and point their heads down toward the ground. They continue to repeat these series of landings and leaps. The Springbok used to exist in large numbers in the southern parts of Africa, and they roamed lands covered in bushes, shrubs and grasses. They used to migrate in large herds known as treckbokken, but these treks have discontinued. Extreme hunting practices have reduced the populations significantly, and throughout the late 1800s, the springbok was almost eliminated due to hunting, but the numbers have since been reintroduced. People are continuing to manage the populations effectively, and there is currently not a long-term threat to their survival.
除了它们强大的跳跃能力，人们也可以通过他们脸上和肚子上柔软的白色皮毛辨认出跳羚来。跳羚身体的其他部位是明亮的棕红色。跳羚体态轻盈，体重仅有60至100磅，一般来说，跳羚以植物为主食。在炎热的夏天，它们主要吃草，到了干燥的冬季，它们则需要寻找矮灌木丛。跳羚是非洲南部最常见的羚羊。它们生活在干燥、广袤的平原上。在这里，人类和其他肉食动物竞相捕杀着这种可爱的小生灵。对人们来说，鲜美的野味使得跳羚成为理想的猎物。跳羚可以实现腾空跳跃13英尺的壮举。屈体、绷紧四肢、头抵地，起跳、落地，跳羚不断重复着这一系列的动作。过去，成群的跳羚居住在非洲的南部地区，它们在长满灌木、矮树和草坪的平原上漫步。它们曾经的长途大规模迁移，但现如今由于极端的狩猎行为导致跳羚数量锐减，不能再现大规模迁徙景象。无休止的狩猎行为持续到19世纪末期，使得跳羚几近灭绝，但是，还好它们数量重新开始增长了。人们一直致力于保护着跳羚的种群数量，因此，对于跳羚来说，现在并不存在长期威胁他们生存的因素。
2.叉角羚：时速100英里
These animals evolved their superior running abilities to escape from predators like cheetahs along with coyotes and cougars. Unlike their predators, they can maintain their high speeds for longer periods of time. Pronghorns have adapted to their conditions, and they have large eyes for easier seeing across large areas. In addition, they have hearts, lungs and tracheas that make it easier to consume colossal amounts of oxygen for long periods of time. Pronghorns also have hooves that have cushions underneath that work as shock absorbers as they run. Their bone structure is light, making them very flexible, and they have minimal hair to reduce profuse sweating. Pronghorns are designed for running, but sometimes they can accomplish amazing jumps, especially under immense pressure.
叉角羚是北美地区奔跑速度最快的陆地动物，跑起来时速可达60公里到100公里不等。第一次在北美发现并识别出这种动物的，是刘易斯和克拉克的探险队。正是凭借跑步优势，叉角羚们能够躲开美洲狮还有狼这些天敌的追捕。尽管猎豹奔跑速度是世界第一，但其耐力远不如叉角羚。叉角羚视觉敏锐，能看到数千米以外的物体。其敦实的体形、细长的四肢都适于奔跑，发达的心肺和气管有利于吸收大量氧气，能保证他们能长时间奔跑。同时，蹄子下面的软垫如减震器一般起保护作用，避免运动受伤。此外叉角羚的骨架十分轻盈，运动灵活，体表的毛发也不多，这样在奔跑时就不会大量出汗消耗能量。叉角羚卓越的奔跑能力与生俱来，它们的弹跳能力也十分惊人，尤其身处巨大压力时。
The Lewis and Clark exploration group were the first ones to find and recognize pronghorns in North America. Today, they are found in specific regions in the U.S., including Yellowstone National Park, along with Canada and northern Mexico. Pronghorns belong to a whole species that is not located anywhere else on the planet. Pronghorns live in wide, open areas, usually in high elevations, and they are known to migrate for very long distances across North America – up to 150 miles. They eat mostly plants, such as grass and cacti, and their natural curiosity gets them into trouble at times, as this can make them quite easy prey for predators.
叉角羚生活在宽阔的草原和荒漠地带，海拔多在900-2400米之间。主要以草、灌木、仙人掌为食。叉角羚生性好奇，喜欢靠近一些没有明显威胁特征的新东西。猎人常常利用这一点，静坐一处挥动白手帕，来引诱隐藏的叉角羚现身。如今叉角羚分布于北美洲西部的开阔地带，北起加拿大南部，南到墨西哥北部，中间美国的黄石公园都有不少叉角羚的身影。而在世界其他地区几乎见不到叉角羚的踪迹，他们已是北美洲的特色物种。
1.猎豹：时速112英里
Cheetahs are known for its beautiful spots and fur along with its amazing speed and agility. They are the fastest animals known on land. They can go from 0 to 112 mph in just a few seconds. However, they can only maintain this speed for about 1,500 feet. The main reason why cheetahs are so fast is because they have evolved over time to chase animals such as gazelles and antelopes.
猎豹以珍贵的皮毛、美丽的斑点和行动极其敏捷而闻名，是目前世界上奔跑最快的陆地动物，从起跑到时速112公里仅需几秒钟。然而猎豹的最高时速，通常只能维持在400到500米之间。猎豹速度如此之快和长期追捕瞪羚、羚羊这些猎物有关。
Cheetahs try to stalk prey that moves individually or in packs, but the animals are likely to notice the cheetah's movements and take off running as fast as they can. When this happens, however, the cheetah springs into action, and as they can run faster than their prey, often catch up. Cheetahs mostly live in grassy or open areas like savannas, but sometimes they are found in deserts and mountains. Over many years, cheetahs have evolved into becoming the earth's fastest land animals through a series of adaptations. They have large lungs and hearts that are capable of consuming and circulating large amounts of oxygen. Their nostrils are large, their bodies are long and lean and their legs are strong. The tail works like a rudder built on a ship, and the claws are retractable to help the animals run on the ground. Overall, their bodies are more evolved for running than most other land animals.
猎豹常常只是悄悄地跟在猎物后面，一旦前面的猎物发现它们的天敌就开始逃命狂奔。这时，猎豹迅速行动起来进行捕捉。由于猎豹敏捷的弹跳能力和快速奔跑能力，猎物们往往只能束手就擒。不过当它们奔跑一段距离后，体温悔快速升高，必须停下来一段时间散掉身上的热量，恢复体力。如果天气过热或者海拔过高，再进行这种极速运动追捕猎物就相当危险了。猎豹通常栖息在草地或者其他开阔的环境中，人们经常在热带草原上看见猎豹，在沙漠和崎岖的山地中有时也能发现它们的踪迹。经过数万年时间的积累，猎豹不断适应环境，逐渐成为地球上运动最快的陆地动物。强有力的心脏、超大的肺、遒劲有力的动脉系统可以吸收大量氧气，为高速运动提供能量。此外，猎豹体型细长、姿态优美、动作灵活，拥有较大的鼻孔和鼻腔，细长的尾巴充满肌肉，如同船舵，能够维持身体平衡，同时厚实硬挺的肉掌近似胎纹，在快速奔跑中帮助它们急转弯。总之，猎豹各项生理特征，似乎都是为其成为陆地上奔跑最快的动物而造。
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