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Cheetah

Cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus
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Cheetah Facts

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Cheetah Physical Description

The Cheetah possesses a rather narrow waist and deep chest. The fur also grows short and coarse. The animal is primarily tan in color, with round black spots.

These spots typically measure approximately 0.8-1.2 in. (2-3 cm) in diameter. No noticeable sexual dimorphism is present in the species.

This color pattern provides natural camouflage. The underside is white, with no spots, and the tail has spots which merge to form four to six dark rings at the end.

The Cheetah has a small head, with high-set eyes. Their thin and fragile body makes them well suited to short bursts of high speed. However, they are not suited for endurance, yet they remain extremely agile creatures.

An adult may weigh as much as 159 lbs (72 kg), while the body length of the Cheetah averages about 59 in (150 cm). The tail averages roughly 24-33 in (60-84 cm) in length.

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Cheetah Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Currently, several populations of Cheetah exist, isolated geographically. All of these occur in either Africa or southwestern Asia. Additionally, a small population still survives in the Khorasan Province of Iran.

There, conservation efforts are underway to protect the survivors. There have also been unconfirmed reports of sightings in both India and Pakistan.

The Cheetah prefers large stretches of land, with abundant prey. It typically thrives in savannas, grasslands, and mountainous regions.

Males tend to form groups, often for life, yet the females are generally more solitary.  The two sexes rarely intermingle, except for mating purposes. Except for the time spent rearing the young, the females live alone.

The stunning mammal also forms one of only four species of cat with semi-retractable claws. Interestingly, the Cheetah remains capable of purring, but not roaring.

Species Sharing Its Range

Check out our other articles on 7 Truly Breathtaking Mammals, Marbled Cat, Great Dismal Swamp, Bird’s nest Banksia, Red Rock Crab, Oceanic whitetip shark, Little Auk, Saltwater Crocodile

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