Cheetah Cheetahs are feline chordates and are found in Africa's savannas. Cheetahs rely on their muscular system to enable it to be the world's fasted land animal running at speeds up to 70 miles per hour. Their bodies are extremely flexible and powerful and they weigh around 80 to 140 pounds. They are very aerodynamic as they have a small round head and narrow, elongated body. The cheetah needs a large amount of oxygen to fuel its muscles in order to run so fast. Their muscle systems include fast twitch muscle fibers. These muscle fibers specialize in giving power rather than endurance and work effectively for a short period of time. In addition, fast twitch fibers are important for allowing the cheetah's limbs to swing rapidly and reducing swing time.