Cheetah
Fastest Animal On The Planet
Description
- 2000-3000 spots on their pelt
- long black tear lines
- Adults 80-140 pounds, 32 inches tall, 48-56 inches long
- cheetahs hunt by vision, during daylight
- Males are social, females are not.
- purrs, hisses, whines, and growls, but can not roar
- Pic and Source: https://cdn2.content.compendiumblog.com/uploads/user/f42815d4-5ebc-4c96-9506-c9af7273a571/b10c254d-24c9-445e-b406-ce5bcf53e5dd/Image/b325ac50ddd4bf5e748f1bfdcfc9ffe0/cheetah_492_600x450.jpg (CFILE ) (LION) (WIKI)
Habitat
- East Africa, India, and Iran
- deserts, jungle, savannas, and grasslands
- dry climate, bushes, tall grass
- Pic and Source: http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/cheetah-sahara.html#cr (CFILE) (SPOT)
Adaptation
- Non retractable claws, special pads on feet
- large nostrils for increased oxygen intake
- tail allows it to make sharp turns
- Pic and Source: http://animal.discovery.com/mammals/cheetah/ (CFILE) (SPOT) (WIKI)
Food Chain
- carnivores
- eat small animals: antelope, rabbits, gazelles, impalas, zebras, birds, and hares
- hunted by lions
- Pic and Source: http://milonajoenterprises.blogspot.com/2011/01/who-is-interested-in-hunting-antelope.html (CFILE) (SPOT)
REASONS FOR endangerment
- habitat is shrinking, hard for them to adapt
- hunted for their fur
- inbred and some scientists believe they are too inbred to thrive as a species.
- difficult to reproduce, many cubs do not survive
- Pic and Source: http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/004/cache/cheetah-jump_493_600x450.jpg (CFILE) (WIKI)
Critical Information
- protected by many foundations
- foundations are trying to save the cheetahs habitat
- illegal to kill cheetahs for their fur now
- donate money to the CCF (Cheetah Conservation Fund)
- Pic and Source: http://blogs.babble.com/toddler-times/2011/10/08/baby-animals-pictures-cute-and-educational/ (WIKI) (CFILE) (SPOT)