The Awesome Cheetah

The Acinonyx Jubatus, also known as the Cheetah, is the fastest land animal in the savannah. The Cheetah has four dog like legs built for running. Their spots are unlike leopards. Cheetahs weigh between 77-105 pounds. Its body length is an average of 115-135cm. At the tip of its tail there is a white patch. It has a long tail of 84cm in length. A cheetahs head is small and has a dip in it. Its neck is long and so are its legs. A cheetah eyes are at the front like a humans eyes. Their teeth are similar to other felines except that their canine teeth are more like dogs. Cheetahs usually dont run everywhere. They only run if theyre hunting an animal or being chased. Cheetahs dont jump or borrow. Cheetahs are very fast moving. A cheetah can run up to 60-70 miles per hour. This locomotion is important for theyre survival. They can hunt easily and get away from angry animals that chase them. Cheetahs hunt by stalking their prey, chasing their prey, and then pouncing.

Cheetahs eat gazelles, antelope, impalas, springbok, warthogs, hare, and wildebeests. Cheetahs are carnivores but their prey are vegetarians. Cheetahs are in the upper part of the food chain but the lion is still the king of the jungle. A cheetah prefers grassy areas. Grassy areas help them camouflage when they are hunting. Cheetahs live in the grassy plains of southwestern Africa. The living adaptations that a cheetah has are fur with spots that help them camouflage in the golden grass. They have tails that are long and help them balance while making fast turns. They have big noses to take in big breathes when they run. They have very long legs, a slim body, and a small head for speed. They have blunt retractable claws for griping the ground and clawing prey. They have tear mark that go from the corner of their eyes and down the sides of their noses to their mouth. Tear marks keep the sun out of their eyes while hunting and help them see for long distances. Cheetahs live in groups as big as 40 members. They are one of the only big cats that purr. They normally hunt in the early morning and late afternoon. Cheetahs dont have a designated area that they live in and they dont migrate. They follow the movements of their prey on the plains of Africa. Cheetahs are

great hunters but are clumsy fighters. They often lose their prey to more angry animals like lions and hyenas. The cheetah is an endangered animal. There use to be cheetahs on five different continents. Cheetahs are endangered because of land changes, habitat pressures, urban development, and human violence. Sometimes farmers will kill cheetahs for hunting their farm animal. Now the largest population is in Nambia. Nambia has an average of 2,500 cheetahs. The number of cheetahs has been the same since 1990. There are groups that have been trying to help cheetahs survive.

Bibliography
-www.wikianswers.com -www.ask.com -www.cheetahstyle.blogspot.com -www.wildlifeafrica.co.za -www.cnr.vt.edu/cnr -www.cheetah.org