Did You Know? The Cheetah

The Cheetah – Built for Speed!

This spotted cat is able to outrace any land animal, accelerating from 0 to 40 miles per hour in just three strides! Its build is more like that of a greyhound than that of a leopard or lion, and it can achieve short burst speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. What makes this possible? To start with, its nostrils are very large compared to other cats, which allows for maximum air to enter its “super-sized” lungs, which makes its blood oxygen-rich, which is then pumped by its “super-sized” heart. Its liver and adrenals are also relatively bigger and with all these organs working in harmony, the cheetah can achieve these amazing bursts of energy.

Other adaptations that have made the cheetah built for speed include semi-retractable claws and hard footpads, which allow them to get better traction. It also has a long muscular tail which acts as a rudder for making sharp turns and helps to keep it balanced while sprinting or rather propelling itself through the air between very long strides. These long strides are also facilitated by its strong spring-like spine which gives added reach to the cheetah’s already long legs. In fact, a single stride (the measured distance between successive imprints of the same paw) can stretch as far as 22 feet (6.7 meters) —again, beating all other land animals!

Even its distinctive dark “tear” lines, which run from its eyes to its mouth, help reduce glare from the sun, giving it another advantage when chasing prey. The chances of seeing a cheetah on safari in East and Southern Africa are relatively high, but only the lucky few will be in the right place at the right time to see it reach the speeds it’s capable of!