Let's meet the cheetah. The cheetah is the fastest land animal. Let's find out more about it.

A cheetah can run very fast. But it can only run that fast for a short distance. Fast, but not for long.

A cheetah's claws work like cleats. They help it grip the ground when it runs. Look at those claws.

A cheetah is covered in black spots. Each cheetah has its own pattern of spots. It is like a fingerprint.

A black line goes down from each eye to the mouth. It is called a tear mark. Look at its face.

Cheetahs cannot roar like lions do. But cheetahs can purr. Listen for the sounds they make.

The chirp is the cheetah's most common call. It sounds a little like a small dog's bark. Listen for it.

Cheetah cubs have long, silvery fur down their backs. This stripe of fur is called a mantle. Look for it on a cub.

Cheetahs eat gazelles. Now let's see where cheetahs live.

Cheetahs live on grasslands and open plains. Most cheetahs live in Africa. That is where the cheetah runs.

Words to know

• cleats: grip bumps
• chirp: a short call
• mantle: long fur
• gazelles: small antelope