Acinonyx jubatus
A mother stays with her young cubs for 18 months. When she leaves them, the cubs stay together for 6 more months. Male siblings stay together for life, while females separate.
|
|
|
|
Acinonyx jubatus |
|
|
|
The cheetah is the fastest of the cats. The cheetah is also the fastest land animal. They can run up to 70mph. |
| For a cheetah to move quickly they have a slender body, a small head, and long legs. Their long legs let them travel about 24ft when running. They weigh 90-140 pounds. Their spine can flex very well when running, and they don't have retractable claws, The cheetah's tail helps them keep their balance. They have tan fur with round black dots, and they have black tear-shaped marks around the eyes. |
|
|
|
Cheetahs stalk their prey until they're 30 to 90ft away. They eat gazelles, warthogs, young antelope, young calves, game birds, and horses. Cheetahs chase their prey, this chase will last for 20 seconds. They catch their prey about half of the time. |
| Cheetahs used to roam in Africa, in grasslands in India, southern Russia, Iran, and Pakistan. Now they roam only in eastern and southern Africa. Almost all cheetahs are raised on commercial farms. |
|
|
|
Cheetahs have the least strength of all the big cats. The cubs are killed by large predators like lions and hyenas. As a result, cheetahs have many offspring. For the cubs that survive, their life span is up to 12 years. |
|
Male cheetahs form groups of 2-4 members while females live alone and are
not territorial. The male groups help them defend territories for
hunting and mating. Vicious fights occur between different groups. A mother stays with her young cubs for 18 months. When she leaves them, the cubs stay together for 6 more months. Male siblings stay together for life, while females separate. |
|
|
|
Cheetahs breed throughout the year. A litter of 1 to 8 cubs is born after a period of 90 to 95 days. Four or five cubs are the average litter. Cubs weigh about half of a pound, have no teeth, their eyes are closed, and have they have a blue-gray mane on their backs. Females raise cubs on their own, males don't help at all. |
| Cheetahs make chirping sounds and hiss when angered or threatened. They don't roar like lions or tigers. When cheetahs are alarmed, they growl or whine. When they are content, they purr loudly. Cheetahs have a good sense of smell and communicate by scenting tree trunks, bushes, and termite mounds with their waste. |
|