Page 62 - One Million Things: Animal Life - The Incredible Visual Guide

SPEED

0.03 The members of the animal kingdom move at widely
differing speeds. How fast an animal can move depends
mph on many factors, including its size, shape, and weight,
whether it lives in the air, on land, or in water, and the
(0.05 kph) way it moves. In general, larger animals move
fastest, especially those that live in open habitats
such as grasslands or the ocean. Here are the
6 mph
slowest, the fastest, and some in between.
(10 kph)

22 mph BUMBLEBEE
Despite their apparent bulkiness, these
(35 kph) flower-feeding insects can use their
GARDEN SNAIL wings to reach a good flying speed.
Making leisurely progress on a film of On cool days, they beat their wings to
slimy mucus, the garden snail is not built for warm up their bodies before taking off.
speed. It creeps forward as a result of waves
of contractions rippling down its single,
muscular foot. If threatened the snail cannot
flee, but retreats inside its protective shell.

25 mph

(40 kph)

3 mph GENTOO PENGUIN
With sleek, streamlined bodies, penguins
(5 kph) move with ease in the ocean, powered by
their flipperlike wings. The fastest, South
Atlantic gentoo penguins, dart and turn to
catch krill and fish, and to escape enemies.

BLACK RHINOCEROS
This heavily built, powerful African mammal browses
on shrubs and low trees and has no natural enemies,
COCKROACH aside from humans. Nonetheless, black rhinos have
The fastest running insect, an poor eyesight and will charge with speed and agility
American cockroach uses long if spooked by strange smells or sounds.
legs to dart out of sight. It
can conceal itself in the
narrowest crevice.
TIGER SHARK

The ferocious tiger shark eats anything, including
33 mph jellyfish, seals, turtles, dolphins, and even humans.
It lives in warm coastal waters, where it uses rapid
(53 kph) that pull its tail from side to side.
bursts of speed to catch its often fast-moving prey.
It has a streamlined shape and powerful muscles
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