Scientific
name: Acinonyx jubatus
IUCN Status: Vulnerable
Diet: The cheetah is a carnivore, eating
mostly mammals under 40 kg, including the Thomson's gazelle,
the Grant's gazelle, the springbok and the impala. The young
of larger mammals such as wildebeests and zebras are taken
at times, and adults too, when the cats hunt in groups.
Guineafowl and hares are also prey.
Habitat: Open plains. Now restricted to sub-Saharan
Africa, wild cheetahs once were found in most of Africa,
the plains of southern Asia, the Middle East and India.
With a life span of 10 to 12 years, the cheetah is basically
a solitary animal. 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. The cheetah is smaller than leopards
or lions, but by far the fastest of the cats and at speeds
of 70 miles per hour it can run faster than all other animals.
Did you know? The name cheetah comes
from an Indian word meaning "spotted one."
