Cheetah

​ = = =Cheetah =

-Fast Facts: *pun intended*-
 * The name "Cheetah" originates from the Hindu word, "chita" which means - "Spotted One".
 * Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on the planet (topping speeds around 70 mph).
 * Being one of the smaller of the "big cats" cats, the Cheetah relies on speed instead of power to hunt.
 * Cheetah cubs are raised by their mothers for only about a year and half. Then they are to fend for themselves.
 * When Cheetah cubs are left by their mothers, they stick together for several months before departing, but male cubs will stay together for life.

//Acinonyx jubatus//

__Basic Statistics__:

 * Genus: || Acinonyx ||
 * Family: || Felidae ||
 * Order: || Carnivora ||
 * Class: || Mammalia ||
 * Phylum: || Chordata ||
 * Kingdom: || Animalia ||

**Relationships:**
Cheetahs are high-speed predators that prey on gazelles, impalas, small animals and even game birds. They are not known for hunting big game, but can do so if hunting in small packs. These strict carnivores stalks their prey until they are usually within 100 feet, then they use their burst of speed to outrun their prey and knock it out before delivering the final bite. The Cheetah's lack of stamia limits it to a chase that last only a few seconds that covers only about 100-200 yards. This short chase contributes to their low success rates (50-60%) while hunting. Even with a sucessful hunt, Cheetahs often are pushed out of their kills by Hyenas, Vultures and other big cats due to their lack of size to fight back. (Competetive Relationship). There are no actual predators to fully-grown Cheetahs, but Cheetah cubs are often killed by Hyenas, Lions, and other animals within their first three months.

**Environment:**
Cheetahs live in the vast grasslands and savannas of Eastern and Southern Africa, a portion of their original habitiat which formerally expanded from Africa to the Middle East to even Southern Russia. Open areas such as these allow for room for full out sprints when chasing and hunting prey. The tall grass is also used as camoflague for Cheetahs when stalking and sneaking up on prey.

**Anatomical Structure:**
Cheetahs are not built like other big cats. They weigh only about 100-140 lbs and stand around 3 feet tall (from head to foot) and are about 6 feet long (from nose to tail).

They have long, muscular legs, a rounded head, a flexible spine unlike all other big cats: non-tractable claws. All of these attributes means one thing for Cheetahs: Speed. Their legs are similar to those of world-class runners where they can put lots of power into their massively long strides (up to 24 feet per stride) when in full sprint. Their heads are built in order for wind to streamline through as they run. The flexible spine allows for a fluid and graceful motion through sprints. And the non-retractable claws act as "cleats", for grip on the ground as well as traction for quick manuvering when chasing prey. Cheetahs also have long tails which is used to keep balance and manuvering around when in sprint mode. The spotting on a Cheetah is also quite unique. Not only is it used as camoflauge, but Cheetahs also have a black line that runs from the corners of its eyes down to its mouth. This spotting is used as an anit-glare feature that allows for daytime hunting without a lot of sunlight interference.

One thing that sets Cheetahs apart from other "big cats" is the lack of the ability to 'roar'. Most big cats roar when alarmed or to show dominance. But Cheetahs, in order to show a similar behavior, hiss, whine, growl or even make chirping sounds. media type="youtube" key="DvtA17Ctpe8" height="309" width="408" -//All of the Cheetah's features can be seen in this animated run cycle//-

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Cheetah reproduction is pretty routine when comparing it to the animal kingdom. There is no seasonal breeding time for Cheetahs, and their gestation period is short compared to most animals (90-95 days). But unlike most animal couples, male Cheetahs have very little to do with its cubs much after the inital //transfering of genes//. Female Cheetahs are the ones that raise the cubs. Cheetah cubs have a high mortality rate in which most are killed by predators when their mother is out hunting. In order to balance this out, Cheetahs often have many offspring to counteract their losses.=====

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Cubs are completely helpless from birth to about one to two weeks. They rely on the mother's milk for two to three months, though they can start eating meat as early as three weeks. By about a month and a half, cubs are able to follow their mothers during hunts, and by four months, their coloring is tanned and are almost completely spotted. Cheetahs are fully grown at 15 months, which is about the time when they are left by their mothers to fend for themselves. When that time comes, the cubs usually stay around eachother for several months before spliting themselves. Male siblings among Cheetahs, however, usually stay together for the rest of their lives. They live on average of about 10 to 15 years and up to about 20 years.=====

__Endangerment:__
The extinction of the Cheetah is a very dire and very real possiblity. The Cheetah population is only a fraction of what it was a mere century ago. Poaching, and lost of habitat are some of the main causes for the declining Cheetah popluation worldwide. Poachers hunt Cheetahs for their precious skin, much like the other big cats around the world. Lost of habitat is one of the most concerning factors to the Cheetah, seeing as how it is not a very territorial animal to begin with. The once vast habitat of the Cheetah stretched from all around Africa to part of the Middle East to Southern Russia. It instead is reserved for farmland, wihch is often shared with by Cheetahs, resulting in the shooting of Cheetahs by farmers. It is a vicious cycle that will continue until the very extinction of these elegant and magificent ceatures.

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