THE CHEETAH The cheetah Acinonyx jubatus is a big spotted cat It is the fastest land animal known It can run for bursts of speed that reach 70 miles 112 kilometers an hour A cheetah runs to catch its prey But the creature can run at top speed for short distances only Sometimes the cheetah has to stop to rest without catching the animal An alert cheetah looking for prey 5
THE CHEETAH’S RELATIVES Cheetahs are related to all the cats known as felines But they are unlike most of the cat family Cheetah claws are not hidden nor are they sharply curved The pads on their feet are short and tough Their legs and paws are slim There are several different types of cheetahs They are all closely related 6 A cheetah’s claws are exposed The pads on its feet are more like a dog’s
