Cheetah

Cheetah runing

### Diet

gazelles, wildebeest calves, impalas, rabbits, birds, hares, antelopes, and warthogs

Cheetah Wikipedia Search

The **cheetah** (*Acinonyx jubatus*) is a large of the subfamily that occurs mainly in eastern and southern Africa and a few parts of . The only of the , the cheetah was first by in 1775. The cheetah is characterised by a slender body, deep chest, spotted , a small rounded head, black tear-like streaks on the face, long thin legs and a long spotted tail. Its lightly built, slender form is in sharp contrast with the robust build of the , making it more similar to the . The cheetah reaches nearly 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 in) at the shoulder, and weighs 21–72 kg (46–159 lb). Though taller than the , it is notably smaller than the . Basically yellowish tan or rufous to greyish white, the coat is uniformly covered with nearly 2,000 solid black spots.

## Characteristics

Cheetah portrait showing the black "tear mark" running from the corner of the eye down the side of the nose

The cheetah is a with several distinctive features – a slender body, deep chest, spotted , a small rounded head, black tear-like streaks on the face, long thin legs and a long spotted tail. Its lightly built, slender form is in sharp contrast

with the robust build of the big cats. The head-and-body

length ranges from 112–150 centimetres (44–59 in). The cheetah reaches 70–90 centimetres (28–35 in) at the shoulder, and weighs 21–72 kilograms (46–159 lb). Thus, it is clearly taller than the leopard, which stands nearly 55–70 centimetres (22–28 in) at the shoulder. The weight range of the cheetah overlaps extensively with that of the leopard, which weighs 28–65 kilograms (62–143 lb). On the other hand, the cheetah is significantly shorter than the lion, whose average height is nearly 120 centimetres (47 in). Moreover, it is much lighter than the lion, among which females weigh 126 kilograms (278 lb) and the much heavier males weigh 186 kilograms (410 lb). Based on measurements, the smallest cheetahs have been reported from the Sahara, northeastern Africa and Iran. A species, males are generally larger than females.

The head is small and streamlined, adding to the agility of the cheetah. Saharan cheetah have narrow faces. Small, short, and rounded, the ears are marked by black patches on the back; the edges and base of the ears are tawny. The high-set eyes have round . The whiskers, shorter and fewer in number than those of other

felids, are fine and inconspicuous. The pronounced tear streaks are unique to the cheetah. These streaks originate from the corner of the eyes and run down the nose to the mouth. Their role is obscure – they may be serving as a shield for the eyes against the sun's glare, a helpful feature as the cheetah hunts mainly during the day; another purpose could be to define facial expressions.

## Behaviour

Cheetahs are (active mainly during the day), whereas the leopards, tigers, and lions are (active mainly at night) diurnality allows better observation and monitoring of the animal. Hunting is the major activity throughout the day; peaks are observed during dawn and dusk indicating tendencies. Groups rest in grassy clearings after dusk, though males and juveniles often roam around at night. The cheetah is an alert animal; individuals often inspect their vicinity at observation points such as elevations. Even while resting, they take turns at keeping a lookout.