Elephants can run at speeds of about 10 to 25 miles per hour (16 to 40 kilometers per hour) depending on the species. African elephants can reach speeds up to around 25 mph (40 km/h), while Asian elephants are typically slower, running up to about 15 mph (24 km/h). Despite their speed, elephants do not run in the usual sense because they always keep at least one foot on the ground, using a gait sometimes called "groucho running." This unique movement means they do not have a phase where all feet are off the ground simultaneously, which is typical in running for other animals.
In summary:
- African elephants top speed: around 25 mph (40 km/h)
- Asian elephants top speed: around 15 mph (24 km/h)
- They move quickly by increasing stride length and step frequency but never fully lift all feet off the ground in a true running manner.
Hence, elephants are surprisingly fast for their size, but their "running" differs biomechanically from smaller, faster animals.
