Cheetah

Tagged: animal, bird, cat, dog

Cheetah

Most cheetah are found in East and Southern Africa, with the greatest numbers occuring in Namibia. The critically endangered Asiatic cheetah is found only in Iran, mostly on the edge of the Kavir Desert. Cheetah are superb sprinters. Using a brief burst of phenomenal speed, they can outrun any other land animal. The cheetah does not look or move like any other big cat. Its exceptionally elongated body and legs enable it to run with the agility of a greyhound. The cheetah is dog-like in other ways, with its blunt, non-retractable claws and barking calls.

Daytime hunter

The cheetah preys on hares, gamebirds, gazelles and antelopes. It hunts by day, either alone or in family groups. The cheetah stalks its prey to within a short distance, using incredible acceleration for a final sprint lasting 20-30 seconds and possibly exceeding 110 km/h. As it close in, the cheetah slashes swiftly with the hook-like dewclaw on its front paw, catching the prey by a leg and bringing it down. It kills by suffocation, locking its jaws on the victim’s throat. Despite its hunting skills, the cheetah often loses its meal. As it pauses to recover from the chase, scavengers such as hyenas, or even a lion, move in. The cheetah, no match for such competitors, does not defend its kill.

Vulnerable Cubs

Cheetah breed all year around the females first mating when they are about two years old. pregnancy lasts 90-95 days and litters of up to six tiny, blind cubs are born. The young are highly vulnerable to predators. Their long, grey, babyhood fur is believed to provide camouflage among grasses and to mimic the colouring of the fierce honey badger, or ratel, as a deterent to would-be hunters. Despite this, many cheetah cubsare snatched by other big cats or hyenes. the cubs stay with their mother for about 18 months, learning to hunt. When the females finally leaves them, to breed again, the whole litter normally stays together for several more months.

Statistic

• status – vulnerable
• social unit – individual/pair
• length – 1-1.5 m
• tail – 60-80 cm
• shoulder height – 71-80 cm
• sexual maturity – 20-24 months
• breeding season – all year around
• gestation period – 90-95 daysnumber of young – 1-8; usually 2-4
• breeding interval – 16-18 months
• diet – small antelopes, gazelles, hares, gamebirds
• lifespan – 12-14 years

Part of cheetah

• small head – reduces wind resistance. Black tear streaks running from eyes to nose distinguish the cheetah from any other spotted cat
• Extremely long, flexible spine – allows cheetah to take giant strides up to 8 m
• tail – acts as a balancing pole and wind deflecting rudder for sharp turning in pursuit of prey
• lowset shoulder blades – enable forelegs to be extended freely
• non retractable claws and ridged foot pads provide firm grip on the ground at high speeds

Myth or fact

Once common in three continents, including Europe, the cheetah has long been admired for its speed, beauty and hunting ability. In fact, the ancient Egyptians even workshipped a cat goddes mafdet, who took a cheetah form, while the pharaohs kept tame cheetahs.

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