Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
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nr. 011
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nr. 941
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•Distribution: |
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Almost extinguished, nowadays it lives only in African's
National Parks. Once, in India, it was trained for the hunting of the gazelle.
•Appearance:
Large Cat, Greyhound like build. Spotted coat with single
round black spots. Long spotted white-tipped tail, black ringed towards
tip. Rounded face with a black line from inner corner of eye to corner
of mouth (Tear mark).
•Habitat:
It prefers wide open spaces like the semi-desert areas
or savannahs with bushes.
•Size:
Male and female: 40 to 60 Kg.
Male and female: 75 to 85 Kg.
Shoulder height: Both male and female 65-90 cm.
•Behaviour:
Nocturnal animal, but, it hunts even during the day
or in the full moon period. It runs a lonesome life or in small familiar
groups. Its worst enemies are: Hyenas, lions, leopards.
•Sound
•Food:
Carnivore. Hare, gazelles, birds, little antelopes.
Cheetah hunts medium sized mammals up to a mass of about
60 kg. Although if two or more cheetah hunt together larger prey can be
overpowered. It does not need a lot of water because it can take the liquids
that it needs from its prey.
•Reproduction:
1 to 5 off springs after a gestation period of 3 months.
•Longevity:
About 15 years.
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More info on cheetahs in this book.
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback - 48 pages (January 1998)
This informative and attractively illustrated book discusses
the cheetah's physical characteristics, habitat, ways of hunting, family
life, and endangerment as well as the efforts of conservationists to help
the species survive. The book includes many clear full-color photographs
of cheetahs in the wild.
Click
here and read more about this book. |
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