A cheetah is the fastest land animal, capable of reaching speeds of up to 114 km/h (71 mph). It can accelerate from 0 to 96.5 km/h (60 mph) in less than three seconds, which is faster than many sports cars. However, cheetahs can only maintain these top speeds for short distances, typically less than 200 to 300 meters. Their stride length at top speed can reach about seven meters, and they take about four strides per second. The physical adaptations of the cheetah, such as a flexible spine, long legs, nonretractable claws for traction, and a long tail for balance, help it achieve these remarkable speeds and rapid acceleration during hunts.