The Cheetah

1. The Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus By Mr. Kibbe

2. General Description • The cheetah is the fastest land mammal and has a spotted coat, a small head, and claws that never fully retract. • Cheetahs usually weigh 75-150 pounds, are 4.3-4.9 feet long, and live up to 12 years. • Cheetahs, part of the cat family, are found in the savanna grasslands and semi-arid deserts of Africa. They live in flat, open spaces to take advantage of their speed.

3. Food & Feeding • Cheetahs hunt a wide variety of prey, including hares and gamebirds, but prefer larger herbivores such as gazelles and impalas. • If it can, the cheetah chooses a sick, young, or old animal, or one that has strayed from the herd. Sometimes 2 or 3 males hunt together. • Cheetahs will sprint after their prey for a few seconds and will then give up. They are probably successful in 1 out of 10 hunts.

4. Reproduction • Cheetahs are sexually mature between 20-24 months and can breed all year long. • After mating, the male leaves, and the female is responsible for raising the young. • The female is pregnant for 90-95 days and gives birth to 2 to 5 young. Females can have offspring every 17-20 months • Cubs are born blind, helpless and unusually small.

5. Lifestyle • Males live and hunt in all-male groups, usually with brothers from the same litter. • Males are very territorial and will fight an intruder to the death. • Females lead a solitary life, except for the 20 months that they spends looking after each litter of cubs. Females are not aggressive nor are they territorial.

6. Interesting Facts • The cheetah can sprint up to 70 miles per hour for a few seconds. • The cheetah can accelerate to top speed in about 3 seconds. • At full stretch in pursuit of prey, it can cover almost 33 feet in a single stride. • Female cheetahs catch live prey for their cubs to use as hunting practice. • Its 2-2.5 foot-long tail gives it balance while running and turning at high speeds.