What is the fastest swimmer in the ocean?

Billfish built like spears against sharks, dolphins and a penguin. Measured top speeds are disputed, so the argument is half the fun.

1. 1
   Sailfish

   A billfish with a towering dorsal fin, often cited as the fastest fish in the sea.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Great White Shark

   An ambush hunter that rockets up from below fast enough to leap fully out of the water.
   666pts
3. 3
   Common Dolphin

   A fast, acrobatic dolphin that travels in pods of hundreds or thousands.
   642pts
4. 4
   Swordfish

   A flat-billed predator that heats its eyes and brain to hunt in cold, deep water.
   577pts
5. 5
   Wahoo

   A sleek, striped mackerel relative prized for its speed on the line.
   500pts
6. 6
   Orca

   The fastest large marine mammal, able to sprint after seals, dolphins and sharks.
   500pts
7. 7
   Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

   A warm-bodied giant that crosses the Atlantic and can top 600 kilograms.
   500pts
8. 8
   Leatherback Sea Turtle

   The largest and fastest sea turtle, built to cross entire oceans.
   500pts
9. 9
   Black Marlin

   A huge Indo-Pacific billfish famous among anglers for blistering runs.
   409pts
10. 10
    Yellowfin Tuna

    A torpedo-shaped tuna built for sustained high-speed cruising.
    409pts
11. 11
    Blue Shark

    A slender, long-finned ocean wanderer that covers huge distances.
    409pts
12. 12
    Gentoo Penguin

    The fastest swimming bird, darting through Antarctic waters after krill and fish.
    409pts
13. 13
    Shortfin Mako Shark

    The fastest shark, capable of sudden bursts and leaps clear of the water.
    300pts
14. 14
    California Sea Lion

    An agile, playful pinniped that swims with its powerful front flippers.
    300pts
15. 15
    Fin Whale

    The second-largest animal alive, nicknamed the greyhound of the sea.
    300pts
16. 16
    Dall's Porpoise

    A stocky North Pacific porpoise that throws up a distinctive rooster-tail spray at speed.
    0pts

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