1982
Search results
The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat and the fastest land animal. It has a tawny to creamy white or pale buff fur that is marked with evenly spaced, solid black spots. The head is small and rounded, with a short snout and black tear-like facial streaks. It reaches 67–94 cm (26–37 in) at the shoulder, and the head-and-body length ...
- Overview
- Natural history
Nearly all the cheetahs remaining in the wild live in Africa. In Asia they are almost extinct, with the largest confirmed population (a few dozen) inhabiting northeastern Iran.
What do cheetahs eat?
Cheetahs eat a variety of small animals, including game birds, rabbits, small antelopes (including the springbok, impala, and gazelle), young warthogs, and larger antelopes (such as the kudu, hartebeest, oryx, and roan).
What is the gestation period in a cheetah?
The gestation period in cheetahs is three months. The female gives birth to two to eight cubs.
What is the lifespan of a cheetah?
Cheetahs have evolved many adaptations that enhance their ability to sprint. Their legs are proportionally longer than those of other big cats; an elongated spine increases stride length at high speeds; they have unretractable claws, special paw pads for extra traction, and a long tail for balance. Internally, the liver, adrenal glands, lungs, bronchi, nasal passages, and heart are all large to allow intense physiological activity. During a chase, cheetahs take about 31/2 strides per second and 60 to 150 breaths per minute. Chases are usually limited to sprints of less than 200–300 metres, however, because the increased physiological activity associated with running creates heat faster than it can be released through evaporative cooling (sweating through their paws and panting).
Unlike most carnivores, cheetahs are active mainly during the day, hunting in the early morning and late afternoon. A cheetah eats a variety of small animals, including game birds, rabbits, small antelopes (including the springbok, impala, and gazelle), young warthogs, and larger antelopes (such as the kudu, hartebeest, oryx, and roan). Prey is generally consumed quickly to avoid losing it to competitors such as lions, leopards, jackals, and hyenas.
Britannica Quiz
Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz
Cheetahs inhabit a wide variety of habitats, including the dry, open country and grasslands where they are most often seen, as well as areas of denser vegetation and rocky upland terrain. Groups consist of a mother and her young or of coalitions made up of two or three males that are often brothers. Adult males and females rarely meet except to mate. Male coalitions live and hunt together for life and occupy an area that may overlap the range of several adult females. Female home ranges are generally much larger than those of male coalitions.
Following a gestation period of three months, the female gives birth to two to eight cubs, usually in an isolated spot hidden in the cover of tall grass or thicker vegetation. At birth, cubs weigh about 250 to 300 grams (slightly more than half a pound). Their fur is dark and includes a thick yellowish gray mane along the back, a trait that presumably offers better camouflage and increased protection from high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night during the first few months of life. Mortality among young cubs can be as high as 90 percent in the wild, often because of other predators. The mother leaves her offspring when they are 16–24 months old. Young males are chased away by the resident male coalition, traveling several hundred kilometres before establishing residence and becoming sexually active at 21/2 to 3 years of age. Female offspring will generally inhabit the same vicinity as their mother. Life expectancy of cheetahs is about 7 years in the wild and generally from 8 to 12 years in captivity.
About The Cheetah - Cheetah Conservation Fund. Watch on. Adult life for a cheetah in the wild is difficult. Cheetahs in the wild (both male and female combined) have an average age span of 10 – 12 years. The average lifespan of an adult male in the wild skews lower (8 years), due in part to territorial conflicts with competing groups of males.
Other articles from cheetah.org
- Cheetah Conservation Fund Co-Sponsors Somaliland Ministry of Environment and Rural Development’s Conference for Eastern Regions • Cheetah Conservation Fund
- With Fewer Than 500 Cheetahs Remaining in the Horn of Africa, Cheetah Conservation Fund Launches Campaign to END Cheetah Trafficking • Cheetah Conservation Fund
Known for their characteristic spotted fur and exceptional speed, Cheetahs are formidable predators. We have dug into the BBC Earth archive to bring you the ...
- 14 min
- 887.7K
- BBC Earth
The cheetah is the world's fastest land mammal. With acceleration that would leave most automobiles in the dust, a cheetah can go from zero to 60 miles an hour in only three seconds. Wild cheetahs ...
People also ask
How fast can a Cheetah Run for?
What does Cheetah stand for?
Is Cheetah the fastest animal?
Size. An adult cheetah weighs 75 to 140 pounds (34 to 64 kilograms), is about 30 inches (77 centimeters) tall at the shoulder and 44 to 56 inches (112 to 142 centimeters) long with another 26 to 33 inches (66 to 84 centimeters) in tail length. Males are slightly larger than females.
Jan 1, 2016 · A cheetah's spine allows it to stretch out and cover about 30 feet in one stride! Learn more amazing facts about the cheetah in this video from National Geog...
- 2 min
- 2.5M
- Nat Geo Kids
