The fastest animal on Earth is the cheetah, also known as the Indian cheetah. It belongs to the genus *Apanteles* in the family Felidae and is the only species in this genus. The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of up to 115 kilometers per hour. If a world champion sprinter were to compete in a 100-meter race against a cheetah, the cheetah would give the champion a 60-meter head start, and the cheetah, not the champion, would be the one to reach the finish line.
Cheetahs are covered in black spots. A black stripe runs from the corner of their mouth to the corner of their eye, and there are black rings on the last third of their tail. The fur on the back of their neck is relatively long, resembling a short mane. They have a slender body, long legs, and a small head. They inhabit temperate and tropical grasslands, deserts, and savannas with sparse trees.
Cheetahs are carnivores that stealthily approach their prey to within 10 to 30 meters before hunting. During a hunt, they can reach speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, with only one foot on the ground. However, they can only run for a maximum of 3 minutes. Beyond that, their physiology forces them to slow down, otherwise they will overheat and die. They typically catch their prey within one minute. If they fail to hunt, it's a waste of energy. Therefore, cheetahs generally only run a few hundred meters before slowing down. Otherwise, their bodies overheat and they will collapse. This kind of running is very energy-consuming. Sometimes, even after catching their prey, because they ran so fast, they cannot eat immediately and must rest or catch their breath before they can begin to eat.
Adulthood is a challenging experience for wild cheetahs. The average lifespan of wild cheetahs (males and females mating) is 10-12 years. Wild adult males have a shorter average lifespan (8 years), partly due to territorial conflicts with other males competing for populations. Adult mortality is one of the most significant limiting factors for the growth and survival of wild cheetah populations. Captive cheetahs can live for 17-20 years.
Fastest land mammal (short distance): The fastest land mammal is the cheetah. When measured over a short distance, the cheetah can maintain a top speed of approximately 100 km/h on flat ground. (Guinness World Records)
