The cheetah (or Acinonyx jubatus) lives in the savannahs and dry woodlands of Central and Southern Africa. They can be recognised by their slim body, deep chest, thin legs and tail, as well as dark ‘tear marks’ on the face. Not to mention their most distinctive feature – their spots. Cheetahs are famous for being the fastest land animal, reaching up to 70mph when pursuing their prey. This is generally medium-sized mammals such as gazelle and impala.
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Acinonyx jubatus
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Animal Facts
The cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in under 3 seconds.
Cheetahs cannot climb trees.
Unlike most cat species, the cheetah cannot retract its claws; an adaptation to give it better traction on the ground when running at speed.
Cheetahs have evolved light bones and large lungs to enable them to run faster.
The cheetah has a long, muscular tail that it uses to steer and balance itself when running very fast.