Cheetahs are one of the most successful hunters in Africa. They can reach a top speed of 70 M.P.H.! That's about the same speed limit on the freeway! That makes them the fastest land animal discovered. Cheetahs can run fast for short distances, so when they hunt, the cheetahs have to sneak up as close as they can to their prey. When the prey senses the cheetah it begins to run away. At the same the cheetah launches into action, running up to 70 miles per hour and having strides up to 20 feet long. The cheetah is catching up with the prey. Then the prey goes in zig zags, trying to throw the cheetah off coarse. But the cheetah has a long tail that balances the body and steers the cheetah. Then the cheetah leaps onto the prey and bites the neck and the hunt is over. How did the cheetah run so fast? It has a light weight body and powerful muscles for speed. And that's not all, the cheetah has a flexible body and spine to twist and turn easily. The cheetah is one good hunter!