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Cheetah (Acinoyx jubatus) |
Body Length:
Weight:
Litter Size:
Infant Mortality:
Life Span:
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5-6 Feet
90-125 lbs.
3-5
75%
12-14 years
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Status:
The cheetah is extinct outside of Africa, with the exception of
possible small populations in Iran. In Africa, the cheetah
population is shrinking at frightening rates. Experts believe
that there are less than 10,000 cheetahs left. Unlike many other
cats, the cheetah has a specialized behavior and habitat it must
have to survive, and does not take to change, especially at the
rate that humans are thrusting on them, very easily. The
destruction of it's habitat (as well as genetic aspects caused
by the small populations) could bring to an end to our fastest land animal on earth.
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Report by Catamount
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Physical Characteristics
The beautiful cheetah is the fastest animal on earth for short periods
of time, hitting speeds up to 70 mph. This big cat seems to
stand out from the rest; it is built for speed. It's paws are much
like a dogs, and are not retractable. The tail is like a rudder, helping
the cheetah to turn quickly at such high speeds. It's spine coils and
uncoils like a spring which thrusts the cat forward. When the cheetah runs, all of its feet come up at once during its strides of up to 25 feet. The
cheetah's legs are slender just like it's aerodynamic body, and has evolved to only
keep the muscles it needs to hit such amazing speeds. An easy way to distinct the cheetah
from other cats is by the "teardrops" on its face, which are the black lines coming down from its
eyes that follow a path like that of a teardrop.
Hunting
The cheetah hunts in the open. It watchs its prey, very often a Thompson's
Gazelle (or Tommy). Then, it runs after it, tripping it when it gets
close enough. If the cheetah succeeds, it will eat its catch, starting
from the hind legs where the muscule tissue is. Unlike other stronger
cats like the leopard, the cheetah can not drag its prey up a tree let
alone climb it. Soon vultures will find the cheetah eating and will create a lot
of noise and fuss. This is usually the beginning of the end of the cheetah's
meal. The vultures draw attention to lions, hyenas, and other scavengers
and the cheetah will not fight them off. If the cheetah was injured, it
could not catch its prey and would starve.
Reproduction and Cubs
Male cheetahs are often found in groups, usually consisting of brothers, and defend a territory
together. This territory will overlap several females territories. When females are in estrous,
the male cheetahs will attempt to force sex on the female. After a few days of the female fighting
the males of, at least one of the males will get its chance, and their effort will be a success. Their
genes will continue onto another generation. There is a gestation period of 90 to 95 days. Litter
size ranges from 3 to 6 cubs. They are born helpless and blind, and weight about one half pound.
After about a week, they open their eyes, and they begin walking by two weeks. At around
three weeks, the mother begins to ween the cubs to meat. While the
mother goes off to hunt, cheetah cubs often fall prey to lions or hyenas. 75% of the cubs will die
before reaching adult hood, despite the efforts of the mother who hides them in different places
nearly every day. By the eight month they will have grown adult teeth and by eighteen months,
they separate from their mother to roam about their now limited habitat.
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