Cheetahs Are Impossibly Fast... Here's Why

The cheetah is the fastest animal on land, but its real weapon isn't top speed. This video looks at what a cheetah is built from: a spring-like spine, claws that grip like running spikes, a tail that steers, an inner ear that keeps its eyes locked on prey, and brakes that let it out-turn its prey. It also covers the price of all that speed, and why the cheetah's future now depends on us. #cheetah #wildlife #animals Chapters 0:00 The Chase 0:31 The Three Seconds 1:35 Not Like the Other Big Cats 3:09 How Fast Is "Fast"? 4:26 The Engine 5:21 The Spring in the Back 7:05 Built-In Running Shoes 7:53 The Rudder 8:20 The Steady Head 9:57 Breathing Like a Racehorse 10:59 The Real Secret 12:58 The Price of Speed 14:14 The Hardest Start in Life 15:39 A Family of Near-Twins 16:39 Cheetahs and People 19:02 What Is a Cheetah Made Of?