Almost everything about a cheetah is built for speed. Their long legs work like springs. Their tail acts like a steering wheel, swinging side to side to help them turn at high speed. Their claws stick out a little, even when they're not chasing, to grip the ground like running spikes.
Cheetahs can only sprint at top speed for about 20 seconds before they have to stop and cool down. So they get as close as they can to their meal first by sneaking through the long grass, and only then do they sprint. After a chase, they need to rest for about half an hour, panting like a dog.
If you look at a cheetah's face, you'll see two dark lines running from the inside of each eye down to the side of its mouth. These are called 'tear lines'. Scientists think they help the cheetah see in bright sunshine, like a footballer's eye-black stripe.
Cheetahs are smaller and lighter than other big cats. They don't roar like lions — they make a chirping sound a bit like a bird. Mother cheetahs raise their cubs alone, teaching them how to run, hunt and hide from bigger animals.