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Cheetah (Acinoyx jubatus)
Body Length: 5-6 Feet
Weight: 90-125 lbs.
Litter Size: 3-5
Infant Mortality: 75%
Life Span: 12-14 years
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.
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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