Cheetah

Categories: Animals
    • Average height: 2.5 to 3 feet at the shoulder
    • Weight: 100 to 140 pounds
    • Tan with black spots
    • Average life span: 10 to 12 years
    • Litter size: 2 to 4 cubs
    • Listed as an endangered species
  • The Cheetah is the fastest land animal, able to run up to 70 miles per hour. Although they can go from 0-60 miles per hour in three strides, cheetahs may overheat if they run at top speed for more than about 100 yards. Their hunts, which only last for about 20-60 seconds are successful about 50% of the time. With the exception of mothers with cubs, cheetahs live a mainly solitary life, although some litter mates will travel and hunt together to bring down large prey.
  • Habitat and Hunting

    Once found in large numbers on the plains of Africa and Asia, the cheetah's habitat is now restricted to a small population of about 200 in Iran and an estimated 9,000-12,000 in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Cheetahs rely on long grasses to provide cover and camouflage. They sneak up on their prey and then try to overtake it with a short burst of speed, knocking it over and killing with a suffocating bite to the neck. Cheetahs must consume their kill quickly or risk having it usurped by other predators and scavengers like lions and hyenas.

  • On Twitter Powered by Twitter

About this page

  • Page Views
    0
What is this?
No one is currently managing this page.
What is this?
This page currently has no vertical manager.