The cheetah is the fastest land animal. A cheetah can run very fast, but only for a short distance. It cannot keep that speed up for long. The cheetah runs fast for a short time, not a long one.
A cheetah has claws that grip. Its claws work like cleats. Cleats grip the ground. A cheetah's claws help it grip the ground when it runs.
A cheetah has a long tail. The tail is 26 to 33 inches (66 to 84 centimeters) long. The long tail helps a cheetah steer and balance. It helps during sharp turns.
A stride is one long step. A cheetah runs with long strides. At top speed, a cheetah's stride is about 7 meters (23 feet) long.
A cheetah is covered in black spots. Each cheetah has its own pattern of spots, like a fingerprint. A black line, called a tear mark, runs from each eye down to its mouth.
Cheetahs hunt by sight. They eat small antelope such as springbok, impala and gazelles. Cheetahs eat gazelles. About half of a cheetah's chases end with a catch, so about half do not.
Cheetahs make sounds. Cheetahs cannot roar like lions do, but they can purr. The chirp is the cheetah's most common call. It sounds a little like a small dog's bark.
Some male cheetahs live in groups. Related male cheetahs live together in a small group. The males are usually brothers. A group like this is called a coalition.
Cheetah cubs have a stripe of long, silvery fur down their backs. This stripe of fur is called a mantle. Cubs stay with their mother for about 18 months.
Cheetahs live on grasslands and open plains. Most cheetahs live in Africa. Grasslands and open plains are the places where cheetahs live. Africa is where most cheetahs live.
Words to know
- cleats: grip bumps
- stride: one long step
- coalition: male cheetah group
- chirp: a short call
- mantle: long fur
The short version
The cheetah is the fastest land animal. It can run very fast, but only for a short distance. Its long tail helps it steer during sharp turns, and its claws help it grip the ground. Most cheetahs live in Africa, on grasslands and open plains.
Quick facts
- The cheetah is the fastest land animal.
- At top speed a cheetah's stride is about 7 meters (23 feet) long.
- A cheetah's long tail helps it steer and balance during sharp turns.
- About half of a cheetah's chases end with a catch.
How does a cheetah run so fast?
A cheetah's long tail helps it steer and balance during sharp turns. Its claws work like cleats and help it grip the ground when it runs. At top speed, its stride is about 7 meters (23 feet) long. It can run very fast, but only for a short distance.
What does a cheetah eat?
Cheetahs eat small antelope such as springbok, impala and gazelles. Cheetahs hunt by sight, and about half of a cheetah's chases end with a catch.
