The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family (Felidae) that is unique in its speed, while lacking strong climbing abilities. The species is the only living member of the genus Acinonyx. It is the fastest land animal. The word "cheetah" is derived from the Sanskrit word citrak?ya?, meaning "variegated body", via the Hindi c?t?. Although many sources list six or more subspecies of cheetah, the taxonomic status of most of these subspecies is unresolved. Acinonyx rex-the king cheetah was abandoned after it was discovered the variation was only a recessive gene.
Ten Facts about Cheetah
- Cheetah weight is around 110 to 140 pounds.
- There life is about 10 to 20 years.
- The fastest at speeds of 70 miles per hour it can run faster than all other animals.
- Cheetahs are found in open and partially open savannas.
- Cheetah mothers spend a long time teaching their young how to hunt small live antelopes are brought back to the cubs and released so they can chase and catch them.
- Unlike most other cats, the cheetah usually hunts during daylight, preferring early morning or early evening, but is also active on moonlit nights.
- Cheetahs do not roar like lions, but they purr, hiss, whine and growl. They also make a variety of contact calls, the most common is a birdlike chirping sound.
- At times a male will accompany a female for a short while after mating, but most often the female is alone or with her cubs. Two to four cubs are born in a secluded place. Their eyes do not open for a week or two, and they are helpless at first.
- When the mother is hunting, she leaves them hidden, but by 6 weeks of age they are able to follow her.
- They are suckled for 2 to 3 months but begin to eat meat as early as 3 weeks. By 4 months the cheetah cub is a tawny yellow and almost completely spotted; the tail has bands of black and by adulthood a white tip.
