Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on Earth. From a standing start, a sprinting cheetah can hit 60 miles per hour in about three seconds - faster than most sports cars - and reach top speeds of around 70 mph.
Their bodies are basically built around running. Long, flexible spines work like a spring, stretching and snapping to add length to each stride. Big nostrils gulp in oxygen. Non-retractable claws give them grip like soccer cleats. And their long tail swings as a counterweight, helping them turn corners at full speed without flipping over.
But all that speed costs a lot. A cheetah’s body heats up so fast during a sprint that it has to stop after about 20 to 30 seconds, or it could overheat. Even when a hunt is successful, the cheetah usually pants for ten minutes before it can do anything else - which is one of the reasons other predators can sometimes steal its kill.
