It is common knowledge that the bird is the fastest flying animal on Earth yet a new study reveals that the Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat is a better flyer.

This new study was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

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The Brazilian free tailed-bat sets a breaking record with a flying speed of up to 161 km per hour. The time is faster than the current record holder, the Swifts (peregrine falcons ) that can fly at the speeds of about 68 mph at horizontal flight and around 190 mph when diving.

The scientific name of the Brazilian free tailed-bat now considered to be the fastest flying mammal in the world is Tadarida brasiliensis.

What makes them fly so fast?

The Brazillian free tailed-bat's aerodynamic body, projectile-like body shape and their low weight enable them to reach such vast speeds.

The researchers observed that bats fly exactly how airplanes and birds fly yet the tail winds did not assist the flight speed of bats

"When they have a headwind, they fly faster. When they have a tailwind, they slow up," McCracken said.

"This is exactly what has been demonstrated in other flight machines, from airplanes to birds," he noted.

How do they track the bat's speed?

Using an airplane tracking record, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Radolfzell able to conduct the study to post-lactating female bats with a weight of 11-12 grams. They caught seven Brazilian free-tailed bats, and track the flying speed of one bat per night.

A 0.45g radio transmitter was attached to the back of the bats using surgical glue. The transmitter emitted a continuous signal that detects wingbeat frequency as well as the position of the bat.

TagsBrazilian Free-Tailed Bat, Fastest Flying Animal, bats, Birds, World