Inhabiting large parts of Africa and parts of the Middle East, the cheetah belongs to the feline family Felidae and is the only living member of the genus Acinonyx. The cheetah is most noted for being the fastest land mammal, clocking in at speeds of between 110 and 120 kilometres per hour over short distances. Helping them keep that pace are modifications not found in other cats. They have non-retractable claws and large paw pads helping them accelerate from 0 to over 100 km/h in 3 seconds!
Did you know? A recessive gene in cheetah sometimes results in the birth of a ‘King Cheetah’ which has stripes down it’s spine.
The name cheetah comes from the Hindi word which means ‘spotted one’ and adults have tan fur with solid black spots. Their markings make for excellent camouflage in the grassland habitats they frequent. The cheetah is the lightweight of Africa’s big cats weighing between 35 to 65 kilograms. Cheetah also have unusually large nostrils which allow them to breathe properly even while running at high speeds, they also have a large heart and lungs, increasing blood circulation and ensuring their muscles receive enough oxygen when working at maximum capacity.
The cheetah hunts using its vision more than scent and it will stalk its prey to within a short distance before the chase commences. A typical chase won’t last more than 100 metres, the cheetahs body temperature rises so high during a sprint that to continue any further might be deadly. Generally small antelope are tripped up on the run and then suffocated.
The female cheetah has a gestation period of ninety days and the average litter size is between 3 and 5 although litters as large as 9 are possible. Cheetahs are very prone to predation by larger predators and their cubs are often killed by hyenas and lions. Those same predators often chase adult cheetah off their kills and steal their hard won food.
In East Africa cheetah are often seen in the Serengeti, in South Africa you can go walking with cheetah in the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve.