The cheetah is the fastest land animal. A cheetah can run very fast, but it can only run that fast for a short distance.

A cheetah's spine is very flexible, which helps it take long strides. At top speed, its stride is about 7 meters (23 feet) long.

A cheetah's tail is 26 to 33 inches (66 to 84 centimeters) long, and the long tail helps it steer and balance during sharp turns.

A cheetah's claws work like cleats and help it grip the ground when it runs. It also has large nostrils that let it take in more air while it runs.

Cheetahs hunt by sight, and a cheetah's eyes face forward.

Cheetahs eat small antelope such as springbok, impala and gazelles. About half of a cheetah's chases end with a catch.

A cheetah is covered in black spots, and 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 cannot roar like lions do, but they can purr. The chirp is the cheetah's most common call, and it sounds a little like a small dog's bark. A mother cheetah makes a stuttering sound to call her cubs to follow her.

Cheetah cubs have a stripe of long, silvery fur down their backs, called a mantle, and they stay with their mother for about 18 months.

Cheetahs live on grasslands and open plains, and most cheetahs live in Africa.

Words to know

• spine: backbone
• stride: one long step
• nostrils: nose holes
• cleats: grip bumps
• mantle: long fur
• chirp: a short call