Cub

The cheetah is the fastest land mammal on Earth, capable of running 64 miles per hour. However, this cat cannot sustain high speeds for long. Cheetahs typically run in short bursts covering distances of up to 500 yards. Most chases last less than one minute, so the cheetah must quickly catch its prey before it escapes.

Cheetahs are designed for speed. Their large nostrils allow for increased intake of oxygen, and their oversized heart and lungs help power their bodies. The sleek cat uses the weight of its tail to balance its body through sharp turns, and its spine acts as a spring for the powerful...

CHEETAH

Common Name(s): Cheetah
Scientific Name: Acinonyx Jubatus
Weight: 65-110 pounds
Head/Body: 48-60 inches
Tail: 20-30 inches
Subspecies: 6
Gestation: -93 days
Infant mortality – 75%
Status: Endangered
Estimated World Population: No information available



The most primitive of all cats, evolving some 18 million years ago, the cheetah is a tall, slim, long-legged cat, built along the lines of the greyhound. Its claws are only semi-retractable, and it has a distinctly dog-like muzzle. Its coat is yellowish-brown with dark brown spots and a long white-tipped tail.The cheetah may be found in open grassland...

BASIC FACTS ABOUT CHEETAHS

The fastest land animal in the world, the cheetah is a marvel of evolution. The cheetah's slender, long-legged body is built for speed. Cheetahs are tan in color with black spots all over their bodies. They can also be distinguished from other big cats by their smaller size, spotted coats, small heads and ears and distinctive "tear stripes" that stretch from the corner of the eye to the side of the nose.

Diet
Cheetahs eat mainly gazelles, wildebeest calves, impalas and smaller hoofed animals.

Population
Did You Know?

When cheetahs are running, they use their tails to help...

As you probably know, cheetahs and leopards look very similar and many people mistake cheetahs for leopards or the opposite. Look at two images of a leopard and a cheetah, then you'll see that they're very different from each other.

1. Cheetahs are much more lanky, having a thin stomach for easier running. But leopards have more muscles, though I may not know much about leopards, but I'm guessing it's for hunting purposes.

2. Cheetahs have a larger chest because they have extra large lungs and heart so they can withstand their large bursts of energy.

3. A leopard's spots are more like blotches...