Fast animals.

We all probably know that the fastest animal on land is the cheetah. But there are other fast animals in the world. Here I want to tell you something about them, kingdom by kigndom:

Mammals: as you know, the fastest animal is the cheetah. It can reach 120 kilometres per hour. It lives in Africa. It hunts gazelles. It is orange and brown with many spots. It is possible to domesticate it, like a big cat.

Birds: peregrine falcon. It reaches over 320 km per hour (flying down on a prey) It is a very common animal. You can find them in natural areas; also in the cities. They make their nests on churches, towers, old buildings, cliffs, high rocks...

Reptiles: bearded dragon: 40 kilometres per hour. It lives in Australia, in the desert. It eats small insects and plants. It has got a lot of scales around its neck, like a "beard", for scaring predators.

Fish: black marlin. It reaches 129 kilometres per hour. It lives in tropical areas. It is a very big fish (it weighs 750 kg) Fishermen consider it as one of the most valuable captures they can get.

Invertebrates: the horsefly. It can fly very fast: 145 kilometres per hour. Its bite is very painful. They love to bite horses, cows, camels... and humans.



Teacher's story: when I was 17 years old a horsefly bit me on my leg. I was fishing, and I still remember my skin burning, and the big wheal which appeared on my calf. If you see one of these horseflies, scare away them... or run away.