Active during the day, cheetahs reside in the same areas as the nighttime hunters, lions and leopards. While the cubs live with their mother, adult males live together in small groups. The secret of the cheetah's speed is in its backbone, nostrils, tail and claws. Long and flexible, this bone stretches and contracts like a spring as it sprints across the savannah. Its large nostrils allow for more oxygen intake. Helping steer, its long tail serves as a rudder, and its claws act as cleats. Preying on gazelles and antelope, the mother cheetah has to make a kill every day to feed her young. Used to blend in with tall grasses, the cheetah has black spots on its tan body, but its tail is covered with stripes.

Fun Facts: Faster than most sports cars, the cheetah can reach speeds of almost seventy miles per hour from a dead stop in three seconds.

Zoological Name: Acinonyx jubatus

Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Primary Habitat: Grassland

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