The cheetah is a large cat and the fastest land animal. It has a tawny to
creamy white or pale buff fur that is marked with evenly spaced, solid
black spots. The head is small and rounded, with a short snout and black
tear-like facial streaks. Fun Facts include:
Size: Approximately 2.5-3 feet tall at the shoulder, body length of
3.5-4.5 feet with a 25-31 inch tail
Weight: 75-150 pounds
Lifespan: 10-12 years in the wild
Diet: Carnivore, primarily hunting small to medium-sized prey like
gazelles, impalas, and rabbits
Habitat: Grasslands, savannas, and scrub forests of Sub-Saharan Africa;
a small population also exists in Iran
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
To distinguish cheetahs from leapords, look at their eyes! They have
black lines from their eyes down to their snout (malar marks), which are
an adaptation for deflecting the brightest sunlight off the horizon or
the wide-open savannas, allowing them to see better in the daylight.
They help the cheetah focus on their prey when they are hunting.
Football players who put black streaks under their eyes are using the
same strategy!
They actually don't roar, but behave more like domestic cats and purr,
meow,as well as chirp!
The cheetah actually gets its name from the Hindi word “chita”, which
means “spotted one”.
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on earth! Specifically, Cheetahs
are blisteringly fast and can reach speeds up to 64 miles per hour in 3
seconds, making them the fastest land animals in the world over short
distances. For comparison with humans, Usain Bolt currently holds the
record as the fastest man in the world, with a top speed of around 27
miles per hour.
