The cheetah is the fastest land animal. A cheetah can run very fast, but only for a short way.
A cheetah's claws work like cleats. They help it grip the ground when it runs.
A cheetah is covered in black spots. Each cheetah has its own pattern of spots, like a fingerprint.
A cheetah has a black line from each eye down to its mouth. It is called a tear mark.
Cheetahs hunt by sight. They eat small antelope such as springbok, impala and gazelles.
About half of a cheetah's chases end with a catch.
Cheetahs cannot roar like lions do. But cheetahs can purr.
The chirp is the call a cheetah makes most. It sounds a little like a small dog's bark.
Cheetah cubs have a stripe of long, silvery fur down their backs. It is called a mantle. Cubs stay with their mother for about 18 months.
Cheetahs live on open plains. Most cheetahs live in Africa.
Words to know
- cleats: grip bumps
- chirp: a short call
- mantle: long fur
- gazelles: small antelope
