Did you ever wonder which land animal is the fastest on earth?

By David McClelland

I heard that the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the fastest land animal and my research confirmed that fact. A cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 45 mph in two seconds. Wow! And, they can reach speeds of 70 to 75 mph for distances of about 1,500 feet. They are, in fact, the fastest land animal. They are also considered to be the most elegant of all the cats because of their long legs, slender bodies and beautiful spots. Adults weigh between 79 and 140 pounds and are 26 to 37 inches in height.

Scientists classify cheetahs in the "big cats" animal group along with lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars. The big cats are carnivores and meat is the major item in their diets. However, cheetahs are different from the other big cats in three important ways: First, cheetahs are not nearly as powerful as the others. Lions and tigers have extremely strong bodies and powerful jaws. These traits help them fend off enemies and catch prey. The cheetah must rely on its speed for survival. Second, cheetahs are the only big cats that can't roar. Instead, they purr like house cats, but at a much greater volume. They usually purr the loudest when grooming one another or when resting together. Third, cheetahs are the most gentle of the big cats. They rarely squabble, even among themselves. They would rather flee than fight. The problem with this trait is that it makes it hard for them to survive in the wild. Because, by nature, they are not fighters, other predators steal their food, eat their cubs and attack the adults. As a result, the adults tend to live for only four or five years, but a few have attained the age of 12. However, in captivity where they are safe from predators, they often live to be 15 years of age.

Scientists say that the cheetah's ancestors lived one million years ago all over Europe, Asia, North America and Africa. Today, they can be found only in Africa and, in small numbers, in Asia. They prefer to live and hunt in dry grasslands on the open plains.

The first cheetahs to be born in captivity were in the Philadelphia Zoo, but didn't survive. The first two cheetahs to be born and survive in captivity were born in 1960 at the Krefeld Zoo in Germany. They were hand-raised. Then, in 1965, a cheetah cub was born to a pet cheetah in Rome and it was the first pet cheetah to raise its own young. The next year, the same cheetah had a three-cub liter and they all survived and people learned more about cheetahs. By the 1980's, several zoos were breeding cheetahs with increasing success. Scientists learned to give them vitamins to help them avoid diseases.

The other fast land animal in order are:
Pronghorn Antelope - 61 mph Elk – 45 mph
Wildebeest – 50 mph Cape Hunting Dog – 45 mph
Lion – 50 mph Coyote – 43 mph
Thomson's Gazelle – 50 mph Grey Fox – 42 mph
Quarterhorse – 47.5 mph Hyena & Zebra – 40 mph

Clearly, the cheetahs can outdistance all others with ease.