Tanzania
Cheetah
Meet the cheetah! Built like a living race car, this spotted cat can sprint faster than any other land animal on the planet, chasing prey across the wide-open Serengeti grasslands.
Why is it special?
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals alive, able to sprint up to 70 miles per hour.
They can go from standing still to full speed in just a few giant strides — faster than most sports cars!
How does it live?
A cheetah's flexible spine works like a spring, stretching and curling with every stride to cover huge distances.
Black "tear mark" stripes under their eyes act like a built-in sun visor, helping them spot prey far across the grass.
Amazing facts
A cheetah can run up to 70 miles per hour — faster than a car on a highway!
It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 3 seconds.
Quick facts
- A cheetah can run up to 70 miles per hour — faster than a car on a highway!
- It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 3 seconds.
- Unlike other big cats, a cheetah cannot fully retract its claws — they act like sprinter's cleats for extra grip.
- A cheetah's long tail works like a rudder, helping it make sharp turns at top speed.