What is the maximum speed of a cheetah? Scientists measured the speed of a cheetah in the wild
The cheetah is the most atypical representative of the cat family. The lifestyle and physiology of this animal are so unique that it is classified as a special subfamily. Thus, the cheetah stands apart from other types of cats.
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus).
This animal is medium in size: the cheetah's body length is up to 1.5 m, weight - 40-65 kg. The cheetah's body is streamlined and graceful, its belly is lean, its head is small with short ears, its tail is thin and long. Characteristically, his legs are very high and dry. The claws on the paws are not retractable, like those of all cats, but blunt, like a dog. The cheetah's fur is very short, close-lying, and at the withers there is a mane of coarse black hair. The whole appearance of this animal reveals that it is a sprinter.
The coloring of the cheetah is very similar to the leopard, but the cheetah has two black stripes on its face from the corners of its eyes to its mouth.
Initially, cheetahs lived everywhere in the steppes and semi-deserts of Asia and Africa, but now in Asia, cheetahs have been almost completely exterminated. Now you can see these animals in sufficient numbers only on the African continent. Cheetahs inhabit exclusively open spaces, avoiding any dense thickets. These animals lead a solitary lifestyle, but males often form groups of 2-3 individuals. In general, the character of these animals is not that of a cat - they easily tolerate each other’s presence, and tamed cheetahs show the devotion of a dog. Unlike most cats, cheetahs hunt exclusively during daylight hours. This is due to the characteristics of food production.
Cheetahs feed on small ungulates - gazelles, antelopes, less often mountain sheep (in the foothills of the Caucasus), hares and birds. Sometimes they dare to attack young wildebeest.
A cheetah caught a baby antelope. Usually cheetahs do not kill such small prey, but bring it to the cubs for play.
The cheetah tracks its victims almost without hiding; when it comes to a distance of 30-50 m, it lies down and sneaks towards the victim on half-bent legs. As it approaches, it begins to pursue its prey. The cheetah is the absolute world record holder for running speed. In a sprint burst, he effortlessly reaches speeds of 100-110 km/h! When running, the cheetah's flexible spine bends so much that the animal is able to throw its hind legs far forward. At such a running speed, the claws play an important role, as they enhance the grip of the paws on the ground and prevent the cheetah from slipping during a sharp turn. The tail performs an additional stabilizing function: when turning, it is thrown in the direction opposite to the turn, thereby preventing skidding. However, despite all these adaptations, the inertial speed of the cheetah is colossal and in maneuverability it loses to its victims. For a predator, such mistakes are of vital importance, because a cheetah running at the limit of its physiological capabilities is not capable of long-term pursuit. Having not caught up with the victim in the first hundred meters of the distance, he stops the pursuit. Thus, although cheetah victims can run at a speed of no more than 60 km/h, only 20% of attacks are successful.
Cheetahs usually drag their caught prey to a secluded place.
Due to the lack of sharp claws, cheetahs cannot climb trees, like all cats, and are not able to hide prey in branches. This greatly complicates their life, because such successful hunters attract “unscrupulous competitors” in the form of hyenas, lions and leopards. Larger predators will not fail to take advantage of the free prey of cheetahs. Cheetahs are inferior to them in strength, and they are also very vulnerable to the slightest injury (after all, it is impossible to rush with a bitten paw), so they never get involved in a fight.
The cheetahs climbed onto a shallow tree trunk to inspect the surroundings. They cannot climb vertical trunks.
During the breeding season, male cheetahs compete with each other for the right to enter a female's territory. Pregnancy lasts 3 months. The female gives birth to 2-4 kittens in a secluded place. Externally, babies are very different from adults: their fur is gray and very long.
At first, the babies sit very quietly in the den and wait for the mother to return from the hunt.
Such caution is not unnecessary, because large predators can find and kill the cubs. The female feeds the babies with milk for up to 8 months, and then begins to bring them wounded animals. Young cheetahs practice hunting techniques on such wounded animals.
The female cheetah led the cubs out of the den.
Cheetahs, although dexterous predators, are weak animals. Mortality among young animals reaches 70%. The main enemies of cheetahs are the “formidable trinity” - lions, hyenas and leopards, which attack young animals and take prey from adults. In addition, cheetahs can be injured during hunting by larger animals - wildebeest, zebras, warthogs. At the same time, even relatively minor damage becomes critical, because cheetahs obtain food not by cunning, but thanks to their excellent athletic form.
For humans, the cheetah is not an important hunting object: due to its short fur, the cheetah's skin is inferior in value to other feline species. In the old days, people often hunted with cheetahs rather than with cheetahs. Easily tamed, cheetahs were used to hunt gazelles like greyhounds. Such “packs” existed among the Central Asian khans and Indian rajas. Trained animals were of great value, but were not widely used. The fact is that cheetahs are heat-loving animals and cannot tolerate dampness and low temperatures. Unlike other cats, they do not adapt well to new living conditions, and in captivity they almost do not reproduce. Due to their specific way of life, these animals need large territories and the availability of suitable prey, so in densely populated Asian countries they were forced out of their habitats by humans. A few animals have survived only in the remote corners of the Iranian deserts, but they are also threatened with destruction.
Acinonyx jubatus
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Cheetahs are divided into two subspecies: the African cheetah (A. j. jubatus) and the Asiatic cheetah (A. j. venaticus). The king cheetah was once incorrectly identified as a separate species of Acinonyx rex, when in fact it is a mutant form found only in South Africa.
Cheetahs are common in Africa and the Middle East. Habitats: savannah and dry forests.
Body length 112-135 cm; tail length 66-84 cm; weight 39-65 kg. Males are 15% larger than females.
The color is brownish-sand with small round black spots. The characteristic “tear tracks” coming from the inner corners of the eyes stand out clearly on the muzzle; The fur of kittens up to three months has a black tint and, as mentioned above, on the neck and upper back it is longer and forms a kind of smoky gray “collar”. Cheetahs differ from each other in their spot patterns, which are unique to each individual.
In Africa, the main diet consists of medium-sized antelopes, Thompson's gazelles, waterbucks and impalas. In addition, cheetahs eat hares and newborn gazelles, which they scare away as they make their way through the tall grass.
Females are capable of reproduction from the age of 24 months and exhibit polyestrousity, entering estrus once every 12 days. Males reach sexual maturity by the age of three years.
Life expectancy is up to 12 years (in captivity up to 17 years).
Conservation status
Unlike other large cats, cheetahs' claws are blunt, straight and practically non-retractable. This feature provides the animals with strong support, their paws do not slip when they have to make sharp turns while chasing such fast prey as a gazelle, capable of dodging danger. Having caught the victim, the cheetah strangles it, grabbing it by the throat. Cheetahs were once domesticated and used as hunting animals. This tradition was, for example, among the emperors of the Great Mughal dynasty.
Cheetah populations are endangered in all parts of their range, which is mainly due to habitat disturbance as a result of economic activity and the destruction by humans of antelopes that are the prey of cheetahs, as well as direct human extermination of the cheetahs themselves. In Africa, perhaps, there are from 5 to 15 thousand cheetahs, in Asia there are no more than 200 individuals left - the cheetahs preserved here are included in the category of “endangered species”.
Cheetahs are fast. They are simply created for fast running: a slender body, thin legs, a strong narrow chest and a small graceful dome-shaped head - these are the features that allow cheetahs to develop speed 95 km/h. No other land animal is capable of this!
Cheetahs are easy to distinguish from any other cats not only by the specific pattern on the skin, but also by their lean body, small head, high-set eyes and small, rather flat ears. The main prey of cheetahs are gazelles (especially Thompson's gazelle), impalas, antelope calves and other ungulates weighing up to 40 kg. A single adult cheetah kills prey once every few days, but a female with kittens requires food almost every day. When chasing a prey, cheetahs carefully creep up to it and then make a rapid charge, starting it when they approach the prey at a distance of about 30 m. About half of the attacks end in capturing the prey. On average, during a chase lasting 20-30 seconds, the cheetah covers a distance of 170 m; These predators can run at high speed for no more than 500 m, so the hunt is doomed to failure if at its initial stage the cheetah is too far from the intended victim.
The small upper fangs of the cheetah are clearly visible in this snarling animal; the upper canines have small roots bordering the walls of the nasal passages. This feature gives the animal the opportunity to inhale a significant volume of air during a suffocating bite, and therefore, squeeze the throat of its victim longer, preventing it from escaping.
The meaning of maternal care. Social behavior
Before giving birth, the female finds a den under a rocky ledge or in thick tall grass, in a swampy lowland, where she gives birth to 1 to 6 cubs weighing 250-300 g. The mother raises them in the den, leaving them alone for a short time, only during the hunt; males do not take care of their offspring. Having reached the age of 2 months, the cubs regularly receive solid food and begin to accompany their mother during the hunt. Kittens stop feeding on their mother's milk at the age of 3-4 months, but remain with their mother until the age of 14-18 months.
Cheetah cubs engage in noisy games with each other and practice their hunting skills on live prey that their mother brings them. However, they still do not know how to hunt on their own. Having almost reached sexual maturity, young cheetahs of the same litter still stick together for at least six months; They feel safer in the company of brothers and sisters. After this, the sisters leave the groups one by one, while their brothers remain to live for some time as a single group. Adult female cheetahs lead a solitary lifestyle, breaking this rule only for the period of feeding their cubs and hunting together with older children. Males live either alone or in a group of two to three individuals.
Juvenile cheetahs have a thick "collar" of smoky gray fur covering their scruff, shoulders and backs. This mane is pronounced in kittens under 3 months of age, but as the cubs grow, it becomes less and less noticeable. The exact function of this long fur is unknown, but its resemblance to hyena fur may help deter predators from cheetah cubs.
Cheetahs and herding dogs
There are about 12,500 cheetahs living on our planet. The vast majority of them live outside protected areas, which inevitably leads to numerous conflict situations between predators and owners of herds of cows or goats. In the 80-90s. In the 20th century, more than 6 thousand cheetahs were killed by people who were confident that if they did not destroy the predators, they would destroy their livestock (in fact, only 5% of all domestic animals died due to the fault of cheetahs).
In Namibia, the need to protect livestock from cheetahs and other predators led to the development of a “new old” method of protecting herds, namely the use of guard herding dogs, which was, in fact, a revival of an ancient tradition.
The puppies are raised in a sheep herd, and as adults, these dogs, true to their herding instincts, bravely protect their charges. Sensing the approach of a predator, shepherd dogs notify the shepherds about this with a loud bark; in addition, barking serves as a warning to the predators themselves that there is a vigilant guard in the herd of ungulates. If the cat, despite everything, is still preparing to attack, the dogs stand between it and the herd. Finding himself face to face with a large, angry guard dog, the predator, as a rule, leaves without engaging in battle.
Danger from lions. Conservation in nature
Cheetahs have a very low level of genetic variability; this fact suggests that they all descended from a very small population that existed 6,000-20,000 years ago. Such genetic monomorphism can cause two negative consequences. The first of these is a decrease in the survival rate of young animals due to the high probability of segregation of recessive alleles, many of which are lethal. The second negative consequence is the weakening of the animals’ immunity and, as a result, increased susceptibility to infectious diseases.
The implementation of a project to artificially breed the species for the purpose of its subsequent restoration, which was carried out in North America, suffered a number of failures.
However, in natural conditions, cheetahs reproduce quickly: females give birth to offspring at intervals of approximately 18 months, but if the cubs die, the next litter may be born much earlier.
The mortality rate of young animals in cheetahs is exceptionally high compared to other large carnivores. In Tanzania's Serengeti plain, lions kill cheetah cubs in their dens so often that 95% of the cubs do not survive to the point of independence from their mother. Throughout Africa's protected areas, cheetah population densities are low in areas where lion densities are high. This observation confirms that such interspecific competition is a common phenomenon.
Survivors of the Serengeti. Cheetahs defend territory
On Tanzania's Serengeti Plain, female cheetahs live either alone or with dependent kittens, and their huge home ranges of up to 800 square meters. km entirely cover the territory of the annual migrations of Thompson's gazelles. Males spend their entire lives in groups of two or three individuals or stay alone. Most groups of males are formed by brothers of the same litter, but approximately 30% of groups include a male that is not related to the other cheetahs. Territorial males, unlike females, do not migrate after their victims, but if there is no prey in their areas, they leave them for a while to hunt somewhere nearby. At first glance, cheetahs act similarly to lions, in which permanent associations of males, often consisting of relatives, jointly protect the pride from other groups of lions. But cheetahs do not receive benefits similar to those that come from protecting a pride to lions, since females do not live in groups like lionesses, but lead a solitary, nomadic lifestyle.
Mature males exhibit two different behavioral tactics. Dominant males defend and urine mark small areas (usually about 37 sq km), although they do not necessarily occupy them throughout the year. Some males, deprived of their own territory, move over vast areas (up to 777 sq. km), only occasionally leaving urine marks. Such low-ranking males always feel less confident than dominant ones: they are always wary - they often lie in tense positions and often sit up to see the surroundings. All male cheetahs, leaving their mother’s habitat, first lead a wandering lifestyle. However, some of them, the dominant ones, acquire their own territories, while others, lower-ranking ones, remain without their territory until the end of their lives.
Associations of males are more likely to obtain their own territory than single males. This conclusion is supported by observational data showing that 9% of 35 single males and 60% of 25 groups of males are territorial. The most likely explanation is that superior numbers give males who stay in groups an advantage in fights with other cheetahs. Territorial skirmishes are one of the main causes of mortality: it turned out that males die more often in habitat areas or in the immediate vicinity of their boundaries than outside them, and many males die precisely when these areas are occupied. Males can retain their habitats for 4-4.5 years. Communities of males are more effective at expelling resident males from their territories than solitary cheetahs, which tend to simply occupy vacated or unoccupied areas. Thus, the main advantage of living in a group seems to be that the male has a better chance of acquiring his own territory.
What benefits does territoriality bring? First of all, it helps to cover the maximum number of areas occupied by females. Territorial males guard females 4 times more often than wandering males. Thus, territories controlled by males represent “hot spots” with regard to the concentration of females there. All this means that in both cheetahs and lions, males living in groups have the opportunity to meet and fertilize more females than those living alone. The high population density of females is the main reason for cats to live in communities of males.
A cheetah leaves a scent mark on a tree. Territorial males spray urine onto easily visible landmarks in their territory. During estrus, females leave scent marks to attract males, who, sensing the scent, rush to find the female who left them. Stray males very rarely mark territory
The high density of distribution of females and the overlap of individual areas are the factors that determine the rare cases of the appearance of social structures in male cats. The reasons for the solitary lifestyle of female cheetahs and all other cats, with the exception of lionesses and domestic cats, are much less studied. One possible explanation is that large species that live in open spaces usually take large prey: females are forced to move from territorial to social-ranking relationships due to the fact that the carcasses of killed ungulates that they have not eaten can be discovered and stolen by the cats of that same type. Under such circumstances, it is more profitable for females to live with relatives and share prey with them, rather than with strangers. This explanation fits well with the lifestyle of lions. However, only lions are capable of killing large prey in quantities that ensure the long-term existence of lionesses in prides. Therefore, an alternative hypothesis is that females of other species cannot afford to share prey with others because they simply do not prey on large enough animals. The third hypothesis states that lionesses exhibit social behavior only for the purpose of jointly protecting their cubs from attacks by foreign males.
The cheetah is one of the most predatory and fastest animals on the planet, which are part of the cat family. It should be noted that the speed of the cheetah is second only to the jaguar, however, the maximum speed that a cheetah can reach will be approximately 110 to 115 km/h.
The population of this mammal species is not high.
Cheetah - description, structure, characteristics
In its anatomical features, the cheetah is a little similar to domestic cats, but the difference between them is not only in size, because the cheetah’s body has a slightly long shape.
At the same time, at first glance it may seem that this animal is not able to survive in such harsh and harsh conditions, but thanks to its well-developed muscles, the cheetah is able to instantly gain high speed to hunt for prey.
The special structural features of the cheetah are its long but very strong legs, the body is oblong in shape, and the head is small.
The size of the body of an adult individual can reach up to 1.5 meters, but its tail can measure about 80 cm; in height, almost all cheetahs have the same size, so the height of an adult individual can reach up to 1 meter. But its weight can be different and range from 50 to 80 kg.
The color of the cheetah, as a rule, has a sandy or dark yellow tint, only the belly of the animal is white, and there are small black spots on the entire body of the animal, with the exception of the belly.
How long does a cheetah live?
As a rule, almost all cheetahs in the wild can live up to a maximum of 25 years, but this figure can increase significantly if they are kept in captivity under constant supervision.
Where does the cheetah live?
The habitat of this predator is open and level terrain, where there is plenty of free space for viewing and selecting prey.
The habitat of this animal species is distributed throughout almost the entire territory of the African continent, and is less common in the Asian region.
Subspecies of cheetahs, photos and names
Currently, scientists have 5 subspecies of cheetahs, almost all of them live in Africa, and only one species can very rarely be found in the Asian region.
So, as of 2007, according to scientists, about 4,500 cheetahs were identified on the African continent.
This population is considered to be very small, so these mammalian predators are listed in the Red Book.
So, there are four subspecies that live in Africa:
- Acinonyx jubatus hecki
- Acinonyx jubatus fearsoni
- Acinonyx jubatus jubatus
- Acinonyx jubatus soemmerringi
But the subspecies of cheetahs, which is found in Asia, “Acinonyx jubatus venaticus” or Asiatic cheetah, mainly lives in Iran. This type of animal has a very small population, and their number does not even reach 100 individuals.
The distinctive features of the Asiatic cheetah from the African ones are its body structure. This is how Asian cheetahs have short, but very strong and powerful legs, a fairly powerful neck, and also a very thick skin.
Royal cheetah
In the wild, cheetahs may have a body color that is not typical for cheetahs; this can be seen very, very rarely. Such an uncharacteristic color for cheetahs can only be due to a gene mutation.
The color itself has the following appearance: along the entire length of the animal’s back there are black stripes of black color, and along the rest of the body there are black spots of various sizes. Individuals of this species were first discovered in the late 20s of the last century.
However, for a long time, many scientists believed that the king cheetah was bred by hybridizing a leopard with a cheetah. But already in the early 80s of the last century, an event occurred that provided an answer to the origin of the royal cheetah.
In the special research center for cheetahs “De Wildt”, from individuals with a normal color, a small cheetah with an unusual color was born.
How does a cheetah hunt?
The cheetah is active mainly during the day, when there is very good visibility. As a rule, the cheetah prefers to hunt at prime time or in the evening, but when it is not yet completely dark. The fact is that the cheetah does not like to hunt at night.
The cheetah's hunting process is as follows: the cheetah does not attack its prey from cover, but catches its prey in pursuit, alternating a very high-speed run with long and powerful cheetah jumps.
While pursuing its prey during the chase, a cheetah can instantly change its direction of movement.
The cheetah knocks down its prey with one blow of its paw, after which it strangles its caught victim.
It should be noted that if the victim still escapes during the cheetah's pursuit, then he leaves the victim alone. So, while chasing a prey, a cheetah spends quite a lot of energy, so it is easier for a cheetah to let go of a potential victim than to chase it for a long time.
In this case, he will definitely repeat his new attempt until he catches food for himself.
What does a cheetah eat?
The basis of the cheetah's diet consists of ungulates, and it is also not uncommon for a cheetah to eat small prey, namely hares. It should be noted that cheetahs are very careful about food.
So, for example, they will never eat carrion, and after they eat, but the prey is not eaten, the cheetahs will not eat it again. Typically, a cheetah will hunt new and fresh prey.
Cheetah breeding
When the mating season begins for cheetahs, the males of these animals form small groups of 3-5 individuals, which necessarily include adult individuals from the same litter. All this is necessary in order to protect their territory from males from other groups, which may also contain possible female partners.
The gestation period of a female cheetah can last from 80 to 90 days, while the female is capable of reproducing from two to five kittens at a time.
Little kittens are born blind and defenseless, and only after 9-15 days do the cubs' eyes open.
At birth, small cheetah kittens have long and soft fur, which has a slightly grayish color with a blue tint, and spots on the skin begin to stand out after some time, but the tip of the tail has a dark color, which will simply disappear after 3-5 months.
Almost all cheetah cubs live with their mother until they reach 1-1.5 years of age, after which young and independent cheetahs begin to live independently.
The most difficult periods for cheetahs are considered to be autumn and spring; it is at this time that they often suffer from various viral diseases.
Photo of a cheetah
The cheetah is a beautiful animal from the cat family. It has a slender body, a small head with small ears and a rather long tail. The weight of a cheetah can reach 65 kg, body length - 140 cm, and tail - up to 80 cm. The fur is light yellow in color with small dark spots; two dark stripes are clearly visible on the head, running from the eyes down, which give the face a sad expression.
Spreading
The cheetah lives on the African continent, as well as in some areas of Asia. Previously, it had a wider distribution, but due to destruction by humans, the number of cheetahs in nature has greatly decreased.
Nutrition
Like other members of the cat family, cheetahs are predators. They hunt animals of medium and small size. Most often, their victims are gazelles, hares, ostriches and some other animals. Cheetahs do not hunt from ambush, like other felines, but pursue their prey in open spaces, overtaking it with large leaps.
Lifestyle
Cheetahs go out in search of prey in the morning or evening, and during hot daytime hours they prefer to rest in the shade. Males live independently or unite in small groups. Having united, they hunt together and protect the territory from other males.
The female almost always hunts alone and raises the cubs herself. She usually gives birth to two to six babies. The cubs are born weak and blind. Baby cheetahs could be easy prey for predatory animals, but they manage to escape thanks to their unusual coloring. Their fur is colored almost the same as that of the honey badger, and the honey badger is a rather aggressive animal, and rarely anyone wants to mess with it. During the hunt, the female leaves her cubs in the thickets, and when returning, feeds them with milk. Babies remain close to their mother until about one and a half years old, and then begin an independent life.
In the wild, cheetahs live up to 20-25 years, and in captivity they can live much longer. This is due to the fact that in zoos cheetahs receive regular food and timely treatment.
- The cheetah is the fastest land mammal. It can reach speeds of up to 115 km/h.
- While running, the cheetah makes jumps of 6 to 8 m in length.
- The cheetah's claws do not retract completely and help it develop greater speed, just like spiked shoes for athletes.
- At high speed, a cheetah chases game for no more than 400 meters. If during this segment it is not possible to overtake the prey, then the cheetah stops pursuing.
- In ancient times, cheetahs were used in princely hunts. To do this, they caught young cheetahs and taught them the wisdom of hunting.
- Cheetahs quickly get used to humans, are well tamed and amenable to training.
- Cheetahs do not attack humans.
Cheetah brief information.
Area: Africa, India, Western and Central Asia.
Description: The appearance of the cheetah resembles a hound dog with long legs, a small cat-like muzzle and a long thin tail. Cheetahs use their tail as a balance when running. The body is slender and lean, the back is arched, the muscles are well developed. The coat is somewhat similar to that of smooth-haired dogs. The fangs are small, the jaws are weak. The claws are long, sharp, and not retractable, which is why cheetahs cannot climb trees. The feet of the paws are wide, with rough skin. The nasal cavity is short. The heart, lungs, bronchi and tonsils are enlarged to provide maximum oxygen flow when running.
The cheetah is the fastest animal on earth.
Color: basic tone golden yellow, white belly. Black spots are scattered over the body. There are black stripes on the muzzle (from the tips of the eyes to the mouth).
Size: body length varies 115-140 cm, tail 65-90 cm, height at withers up to 79 cm.
Weight: male on average - 43 kg, female - 38 kg.
Lifespan: in captivity up to 17-20 years, in nature up to 8-10 years.
Cheetah meow |
Frightened kittens whistle sharply and shrilly.
Habitat: open spaces - savannas and semi-deserts.
Enemies: Young and sick cheetahs are attacked and preyed upon by hyenas, leopards and lions.
Food: hunts small ungulates (Thompson's gazelle, impala, wildebeest), hares and birds. In zoos, it eats up to 3.5 kg of meat per day.
Behavior: The cheetah is diurnal. Hunts during the day or at dusk, pursuing prey, and not from ambush, creeping up to the prey from the leeward side at 30 m, making a rapid dash. Often lies in wait for prey at a watering hole. Cheetahs hunt alone.
The victim is knocked down with a blow from his paw, and then choked by clinging to her throat. Usually the animal chooses a weak victim, for example, when hunting gazelles, about 70% of all attempts end successfully. Vision is sharp.
When running at a gallop, it pushes off with its front and hind legs, which allows it to reach speeds of up to 110 km/h and quickly change the direction of running. At this speed, the cheetah can jump up to 6 m!
It can replenish its need for water by drinking the blood or urine of its victims, and willingly eats juicy sweet melons.
Resting under trees or on low horizontal branches.
Social structure: Lives in pairs or alone. The cubs of one female, having matured and left their mother, create kinship groups that last up to 6 months. When the females are about two years old, they leave the group. The males live together for some time. The area size of such a group is up to 150 km 2 .
Reproduction: Forms pairs during the breeding season. After mating, the male leaves the female and does not take part in raising the offspring.
The female cheetah does not make a den, but places it in dense bushes or thickets of tall grass, less often in an abandoned den of another animal. If the first litter dies, the female begins to estrus again after three weeks.
Breeding season/period: December - January.
Puberty: females at 24-36 months, males at 30-36 months.
Pregnancy: lasts 84-95 days.
Offspring: The female gives birth to 2-5 blind kittens. Newborn kittens are without spots (they appear later). The eyes open on the tenth day. At 5-6 weeks of age, kittens already follow their mother. The mother actively protects her cubs and in their first month of life constantly moves them from place to place to protect them from enemies.
Cubs up to 10-15 weeks can retract their claws like kittens; later the claws become non-retractable. Lactation lasts up to three months.
The fur is dark and thick and lush along the back.<мантия>ash color. At the age of two months it turns into a mane. Permanent teeth begin to grow by nine months. Eating prey together with the mother is very peaceful, without quarrels or fights.
Only 11% of kittens survive up to 4 months, 4-5.5% - up to 14 months.
Young cheetahs stay with their mother for up to 1.5 years, after which they leave her.
Benefit/harm for humans: Cheetahs do not attack people. Easily tamed and trained, he has a gentle and peaceful disposition. In India and Iran, they hunted antelope with tame cheetahs.
Population/Conservation Status: The cheetah is a very rare and endangered animal. The population size is about 8-10 thousand individuals.
The mortality rate is very high: from birth to puberty it ranges between 90 and 98%.
The main threats to the species: development of desert areas and plowing of lands, direct persecution by poachers.
The species is listed in International IUCN Red List and to the CITES Convention (Appendix I). Currently, seven subspecies are recognized Acinonyx jubatus: A.j. Jubatus- South Africa, A.j. Raineyi- Kenya, A.j. Ngorongorensis- Tanzania and Zaire, A.j. Soemmeringii- from Nigeria to Somalia, A.j. hecki- Algeria, A.j. raddei- Caspian lowland, A.j. venaticus- from India and the Middle East.
Copyright holder: Zooclub portal
When reprinting this article, an active link to the source is MANDATORY, otherwise, use of the article will be considered a violation of the Law on Copyright and Related Rights.