Faster at what?

In terms of running speed, mammals hold the title. Their stance, with legs positioned under their bodies, provides better leverage, making them the fastest land animals. No reptiles come close in this regard.

But what about overall movement speed?

When it comes to striking speed, reptiles take the lead. A rattlesnake can strike at an impressive rate of 279 meters per second squared. No mammal can match that level of acceleration.

In swimming, mammals triumph. Leatherback sea turtles can swim at a speed of 35 km/h, but common dolphins outpace them with a speed of 60 km/h.

Now, let’s delve into some technicalities and take it up a notch.

Technically speaking, birds are reptiles. In phylogenetic taxonomy, Reptilia is synonymous with Sauropsida. Birds, being a type of dinosaur, fall under the category of Diapsid reptiles.

Now, let’s tackle the final challenge: air speed.

In terms of pure air speed achieved, reptiles come out on top. Peregrine falcons can reach incredible speeds of 240 mph (386 km/h) during a dive, surpassing any known diving bats.

However, when it comes to level flight, a surprising winner emerges from the mammal group. The common swift has been recorded at an impressive speed of up to 111.6 km/h. But the Brazilian free-tailed bat recently shattered expectations, reaching speeds over 160 km/h while flying parallel to the ground!

In this case, the mammal takes the victory in level flight.