|
Mammal. The world's fastest land animal, the cheetah can go from 0 to 65 km (40 mi) per hour in three strides, with a single stride covering 7-8 meters (23-26 feet). Cheetahs can reach full speed 110 km (70 mi) per hour in seconds. They are the only cats who have nonretractile claws. This gives them better traction, and helps maintain their footing while they run. Cheetahs are one of the few big cats who can purr. They also make other unusual sounds such as chirping, yelping, and bleating. Females live alone except when they are raising cubs. Males live in coalitions of two to five members. |
| Scientific
Name |
Lifespan |
| Acinonyx jubatus |
15 years |
| Diet |
| Carnivore. Small antelope (such as gazelles and impalas), warthogs, hares, and game birds. |
| Predators and Threats |
| Eagles, hyenas, lions, leopards, baboons, and humans. |
| Habitat |
| Open woodland; plains with small thickets, medium and long grass, steppe; sub-Saharan Africa, Iran, Turkey and Turkmenistan |
