- The tail usually ends in a bushy white tuft.
- Male cheetahs are slightly larger than females and have a slightly
bigger head, but it is difficult to tell males and females apart by
appearance alone.
- The cheetah is a vulnerable species.
- Out of all the big cats, it is the least able to adapt to new environments.
- Length:
Head and body-4.3-4.9 ft
Tail-2 to 2.5 ft.
- Shoulder Height:
2.3-2.8 ft
- Weight:
75-150 lbs.
- Habit:
Female solitary; male lives in small groups
- Diet:
Gazelles and other antelope; also hares, rodents, gamebirds and sometimes
larger prey such as the zebra.
- Lifespan:
Up to 12 years in the wild, longer in captivity
- Breeding:
Sexual Maturity:
20-24 months
- Mating Season:
Throughout the year
- Gestation:
90-95 days
- Litter Size:
Up to 8, but usually 2 to 5 cubs
- The cheetah is the most primitive of all cats, evolving approximately
18 million years ago.
- The cheetah has a tall, slim, long-legged build. It has a yellowish-brown
coat with darkbrown spots and a long white-tipped tail. The cheetah's
spots help to camouflage it in its environment.
- The cheetah has no natural enemies.
- The cheetah's paws have only semi-retractable claws, the only of its
type amongst the species of cat, and offer the cat extra grip in its
high-speed pursuits.
- A fully grown cheetah can reach speeds in excess of 60 mph.
- Cheetahs like to live in the open area. Because of their liking for
that, they usually are found in the grasslands, desert-like plains,
savannahs, and like areas that have tall grass.
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