Being the fastest at anything can put you on top, especially when it comes to the animal kingdom. Whether you’re on land or underwater, being fast helps you survive and excel. So what is the fastest fish in the ocean? Swimming away from predators is your best bet at surviving another day.
And while fish have many survival tactics, from camouflage to just hiding, swimming away from danger is crucial. So let’s learn about the fastest fish in the ocean, like how fast they can swim and why they have that particular skill.
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What’s the Slowest Fish in the Ocean?
Fish are known for their agility and speed in the water, but not all fish have that luxury. While some fish are capable of reaching intense speeds, others move at a snail’s pace. So what’s the slowest fish in the ocean to compare the fastest fish in the ocean?
The slowest is the Dwarf Seahorse, which moves five feet per hour. Seahorses in general are slow-moving creatures, but the Dwarf Seahorse in particular takes the win at being the slowest. While slightly endangered, the majority of the species is threatened by habitat loss. Thanks to their camouflage abilities, they can often outmaneuver their predators, which might be one of the many reasons why they move so slowly.
What’s the Fastest Animal in the World
From the slowest to the fastest, let’s first see what the fastest animal in the world is to compare it to our fastest fish in the ocean. When you think of the fastest animal, you might think of leopards or cheetahs, but the fastest animal is actually in the sky: the Peregrine Falcon.
The bird reaches speeds of around 242 miles per hour, and is known as “the living missile”. These falcons can live everywhere except in extreme polar areas. Their diving speeds can reach up to 200 miles per hour, and when they’re hunting, they coast between 40 to 60 miles per hour. To put that in perspective, humans can only run around 27 miles per hour, which means falcons hunt at almost three times that speed.
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Fastest Fish in the Ocean
6. Mako Shark
Starting the list of the fastest fish in the ocean we have the Mako Shark, also known as the Shortfin Mako, Blue Pointer, or Bonito Shark. The large Mackerel Shark is the fastest known shark species, and one of the fastest fish in the ocean, reaching speeds up to 46 miles per hour in short bursts.
The secret behind their speed is the flexible teeth-like structures called denticles on the sides of their body. Unlike other shark species, the Mako doesn’t have the same drag and turbulence against their body with this addition. Mako’s can reach sizes up to 13 feet long and weigh around 1,200 pounds. Even with their quick speed, the Mako Shark is considered endangered due to being hunted for sport and commercial fisheries.
5. Yellowfin Tuna
Not only are Tunas one of the many fish that you can eat, including some of the most expensive fish you can eat, but they’re also one of the fastest fish in the ocean. While Tuna enjoy cruising along the water slowly, they are also incredibly agile and fast when need to be.
Their sleek and streamlined body helps them reach amazing speeds in pursuit of prey, with the Yellowfin Tuna reaching speeds of 46 miles per hour, and the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna reaching around 43 miles per hour. Even with those speeds, Tuna usually reaches a weight of around 1,500 pounds and ranges close to 15 feet long.
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4. Wahoo
Wahoo is a slender tropical fish that is considered one of the fastest fish in the ocean, making it most well-known among sports fishermen, as its speed and high-quality flesh make it a prize and valued fish.
It’s considerably smaller than the previous entries, ranging around 8 feet long and weighing nearly 200 pounds, and features a blue sheen and sail-like dorsal fin. Their speeds can reach up to 50 miles per hour in short bursts when hunting for other fish and squid.
3. Swordfish
You might not have thought about the Swordfish when thinking of the fastest fish in the ocean. These large predatory fish are known for their long, flat, pointed bill, and are a popular sport fish, though they’re elusive. Interestingly enough, they’re the only living member of the Xiphiidae family but are distantly related to the Marlin and Sailfish (which we’ll learn about shortly).
These fish can grow up to 15 feet long and weigh around 1,400 pounds. But if their appearance and size aren’t impressive enough, then wait till you hear about how fast they can swim. In short periods, the Swordfish can manage speeds of around 60 miles per hour.
2. Black Marlin
Like mentioned, distantly related to the Swordfish, is the Marlin, who is also related to the Sailfish. The Marlin, specifically the Black Marlin, is one of the fastest fish in the ocean, and is also one of the largest bony fish in the world, measuring up to around 15 feet long and weighing around 1,600 pounds with a sword-like bill.
Black Marlin’s received it’s name as they’re more solid than their blue counterparts, and have a shorter bill and rounder dorsal fin. Marlins tend to travel around 30 miles per hour, but the Black Marlin has been recorded to reach speeds of around 82 miles per hour, making it one of the fastest fish in the ocean.
1. Sailfish
But what is the fastest fish in the ocean? That title belongs to the Sailfish. This fish features a large dorsal fin that can be similar to a sail, and often stretches the entire length of the back, helping them glide through the water at top speeds.
Similar to their distant relatives, the Swordfish and Marlin, they also have an elongated bill. These fish can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh only 200 points, which might be the reason why they can move so fast. Reaching speeds at nearly 70 miles per hour, the Sailfish is an impressive fish
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