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Fastest on Land — The Cheetah
The cheetah is the fastest land animal, reaching 70 miles per hour in short bursts! It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds — faster than most sports cars! Cheetahs have a flexible spine that acts like a spring, huge nasal passages for extra oxygen, and non-retractable claws that grip the ground like cleats. But cheetahs can only maintain top speed for about 30 seconds before they overheat. If they do not catch their prey in that time, they have to rest for 30 minutes!