General: The cheetah is easily distinguished from other spotted cats by its slim build, long legs and small head with characteristic black tear marks running from the eyes to the mouth. The name "cheetah" comes from a Hindi word meaning 'spotted one'.

Cheetahs are the fastest land mammal on earth, able to reach speeds of 60mph. They hunt mainly during the day to avoid competition with lions and hyenas.

It has several physical adaptations, which help to reach its top speed, such as special paw pads and non-retractable claws, allowing greater grip or traction on the ground. It also has large nostrils and lungs, which provide quick air intake. The cheetah's body is long and narrow like a greyhound, and this streamlining allows it to move quickly. It also has very light bones to reduce its weight load. Running at high speed consumes a lot of energy and so cannot be maintained for more than a few hundred metres.