Cheetah

The fastest animal on land

A cheetah reaches 100 km/h in 3 seconds — faster than a sports car! But it can only run like that for 30 seconds before it tires. A cheetah has black 'tear' lines from its eyes to its mouth — they cut the sun's glare. A cheetah doesn't roar — it meows and purrs like a cat. Once, cheetahs lived in Uzbekistan too.

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the fastest land animal: 110–120 km/h, 0 to 100 in 3 seconds. Its whole body is built for speed: a flexible spine (7 m stride), semi-retractable claws (like running spikes), a long tail (rudder), large nostrils and heart. But a chase lasts only 20–30 seconds before it overheats. Unlike other big cats, it can't roar. The Asiatic cheetah once ranged from India to the Ustyurt and Kyzylkum of Uzbekistan; today about 20 survive, only in Iran. Africa has about 7,000; in 1900 there were 100,000. Its genetic diversity is extremely low.

Fun facts

• A cheetah hits 100 km/h in 3 seconds — quicker than many sports cars.
• A running cheetah's stride is 7 metres — and it spends half the time in the air.
• Cheetahs once lived in Uzbekistan's deserts — the last was seen in the 1980s.