Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)

The Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is a species of artiodactyl (even-toed, hoofed) mammal indigenous to interior western and central North America. The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, with running speeds of up to 55 miles per hour (89 km/h). It is the symbol of the American Society of Mammalogists. Not only do grasslands provide them with free, open land for running, but they offer these herbivores key ingredients for their diet: sage, forbs, and other prairie plants.

Since the pronghorn runs faster than any other North American predator, it is possible that it developed this capacity to avoid extinct predators like the American cheetah. The pronghorn can breathe in a lot of air while sprinting because its windpipe, heart, and lungs are larger than its body size. Pronghorns also have two long, cushioned, pointed toes on their hooves that help with shock absorption when galloping quickly. They also have hollow hair and exceedingly light bones.