Passenger pigeon, (
Ectopistes migratorius), migratory birdhunted to extinction by humans. Billions of these birds inhabited eastern North America in the early 1800s; migrating flocks darkened the skies for days. As settlers pressed westward, however, passenger pigeons were slaughtered by the millions yearly and shipped by railway carloads for sale in city markets. From 1870 the decline of the species became precipitous, and it was officially classified as extinct when the last known representative died on September 1, 1914, in the Cincinnati (Ohio) Zoo.
Alan And Elaine Wilson
Whereas the cheetah is the fastest sprinter, the pronghorn, also known as the American antelope, is the fastest long-distance runner of the animal kingdom. It is capable of maintaining a speed of nearly 35 miles per hour over several miles and is even faster over shorter distances. During sprints to elude predators, pronghorns can hit top speeds of about 55 miles per hour thanks to special cushions on their hooves and the ability to take in large quantities of oxygen as they run.
Fastest Fish
Black marlin (Makaira indica)
Painted especially for Encyclopaedia Britannica by Tom Dolan, under the supervision of Loren P. Woods, T, Chicago Natural History Museum