The Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
By Mr. Kibbe
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.
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.
Reproduction
• Cheetahs are sexually mature between 2024 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.
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.
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.