The cheetah, a member of the cat family, is the fastest
animal on the planet and is the only living member of the genus Acinonyx.
Native to the African and Asian continents, the cheetah is ideally suited for
hunting prey through its variegated fur and agile movement.
Weighing an average of 110-140 pounds and measuring an
average length (including tail) of 80 inches, the cheetah can sprint as fast as
75 miles per hour. Large lungs and heart combined with a wide chest cavity and
a small head in comparison to body length, the cheetah can go from 0 to 64
miles per hour in just three seconds. Not a long distance runner, the cheetah
expends its amazing speeds in short burst when fleeing predators or running
towards prey.
Cheetahs are carnivores and enjoy a number of different
foods including gazelles, springboks, zebras, hares and wilder beasts. Hunting
takes place early morning and late evening to avoid the heat but make use of
the light. Cheetahs hunt in groups or alone depending on the need and the size
of the prey.
Other interesting features of the cheetah include black fear
around the eyes to help with viewing prey and blocking out sunlight. Cheetahs
are a very closely breed species and have low sperm counts. There is little
variation in the five subspecies. Like only three other members of the cat
family, cheetahs have semi retractable claws. The cheetah does not roar like a
lion and cannot climb like other felines.
Because of low fertility and high morbidity rates, the
cheetah is considered a "vulnerable" animal and often bred in captivity.