Cheetah

Cheetah ( fastest land animal)

The cheetah is a big cat in the subfamily Felinae that inhabits most of Africa and parts of Iran. It is the only extant member of the genus Acinonyx. The cheetah can run as fast as 109.4 to 120.7 km/h, faster than any other land animal. 

The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of up to 113km/h. They can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 3 seconds.

Scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus
Speed: 110 – 120 km/h (In Short Bursts, Running)
Conservation status: Vulnerable (Population decreasing)
Mass: 21 – 72 kg (Adult)
Trophic level: Carnivorous
Height: 66 – 94 cm (Adult, At Shoulder)

Status: Vulnerable
Type: Mammal
Diet:Carnivore
Average life span in the wild: 10 to 12 years
Size: 3.5 to 4.5 ft (1.1 to 1.4 m); Tail, 25.5 to 31.5 in (65 to 80 cm) 
Weight: 77 to 143 lbs (35 to 65 kg)

Speed and Hunting

                              Before unleashing their speed, cheetahs use exceptionally keen eyesight to scan their grassland environment for signs of prey—especially antelope and hares. This big cat is a daylight hunter that benefits from stealthy movement and a distinctive spotted coat that allows it to blend easily into high, dry grasses.

When the moment is right a cheetah will sprint after its quarry and attempt to knock it down. Such chases cost the hunter a tremendous amount of energy and are usually over in less than a minute. If successful, the cheetah will often drag its kill to a shady hiding place to protect it from opportunistic animals that sometimes steal a kill before the cheetah can eat. Cheetahs need only drink once every three to four days.

Breeding and Population
                                                                Female cheetahs typically have a litter of three cubs and live with them for one and a half to two years. Young cubs spend their first year learning from their mother and practicing hunting techniques with playful games. Male cheetahs live alone or in small groups, often with their littermates.

Most wild cheetahs are found in eastern and southwestern Africa. Perhaps only 7,000 to 10,000 of these big cats remain, and those are under pressure as the wide-open grasslands they favor are disappearing at the hands of human settlers.

acts about cheetahs

* The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of up to 113km/h. They can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 3 seconds. 

* When running, cheetahs use their tail to steer, like a rudder for a boat.

* Cheetahs are the only big cat that can turn in mid-air while sprinting.

* Cheetahs do not roar like lions, however they do have a range of other meaningful vocalisations such as purring, growling and a variety of contact calls which resemble bird-like chirping sounds.

* Female cheetahs select a lair, either a rocky outcrop or marshy area with tall grass, before giving birth to their cubs. Mothers only leave the cubs to hunt, before returning to nurse the young. Males do not help with the rearing of young.

* Females are solitary, whereas males tend to live in small groups of 2-3 individuals, usually brothers. 

* Cheetahs make distinct facial expressions to signal their mood.

* In Native American symbology, the cheetah represents swiftness, insight and focus.

* The cheetah originated over 4 million years ago. That’s long before any of the other big cats of today.

* Cheetahs are caring, affectionate and dedicated mothers. They spend a long time caring for their cubs and teaching them essential survival skills like hunting. Cubs typically stay with their mothers for one and a half to two years.

* Cheetah are the only one of the big cats that has semi-retractable claws.

* They prefer to live in open areas like savanna because its easier for them to hunt.

* The mother cheetah will teach her cubs how to hunt by bringing back small prey that is still alive so the cubs can case and catch it.