Fastest mammal on land, the cheetah can reach speeds of 60 or perhaps even 70 miles (97 or 113 kilometers) an hour over
short distances. It usually chases its prey at only about half that speed, however.
The cheetah's excellent eyesight helps it find prey during the day. Sometimes it perches on high places and watches for
prey.
When it sights prey, the cheetah often begins to stalk. It creeps as close as possible before the attack. It may lift its
head high to keep the prey in sight. But it keeps its body hidden. The cheetah is hard to see because its spotted coat blends
with the tall, dry grass of the plains. Suddenly, the cheetah makes a lightning dash. With a paw it knocks its prey to the
ground and then bites its throat.
Once found throughout Asia and Africa, cheetahs today are racing toward extinction. Loss of habitat and declining numbers
of their prey combine to threaten the future of these cats.
