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The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) holds the title of the fastest land animal on Earth. One of its most remarkable abilities is its acceleration. A cheetah can go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3 seconds, a performance that rivals and even surpasses many modern sports cars. This incredible speed and acceleration are essential adaptations for survival in the wild, especially for hunting prey.
Several biological adaptations make this possible:
Muscular Build: Cheetahs have powerful, lean muscles that provide explosive bursts of energy.
Flexible Spine: Their spine acts like a spring, allowing long strides of up to 7–8 meters per step.
Large Nasal Passages & Lungs: These allow quick oxygen intake to fuel rapid movements.
Non-retractable Claws: Unlike other cats, cheetahs have claws that act like spikes, improving grip on the ground.
Long Tail: Works as a rudder, helping in sharp turns while chasing prey.
Top Speed: A cheetah can reach 100–120 km/h (60–75 mph).
Duration: They can only maintain this speed for about 20–30 seconds before overheating.
Distance: During a chase, they typically cover around 200–300 meters.
Cheetahs rely on stealth and proximity. They quietly stalk prey such as gazelles or impalas until they are close enough (within 60–100 meters). Then, they launch a high-speed sprint, often bringing down prey within 30 seconds.
A sports car like a Ferrari or Bugatti may take 2.5–3 seconds to reach 100 km/h, meaning the cheetah competes with machines built for speed.
The fastest human sprinter (Usain Bolt) reaches top speed of ~37 km/h, far slower than a cheetah.
Cheetah = fastest land animal.
Accelerates 0–100 km/h in 3 seconds.
Can maintain speed only for 20–30 seconds.
Adaptations: flexible spine, strong muscles, long tail, large lungs, non-retractable claws.
👉 Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1: 3 seconds.
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