The African Cheetah
By:Bailey Standokes
Visual
Structural Adaptations
- Cheetahs have distinctive spotted coats to help blend in with the environment.
- Cheetahs only have to drink every 3-4 days, this feature helps cheetahs adapt to arid climates.
- Cheetahs have non-retractable claws for easy access to gripping the ground when running.
- Cheetahs have large nostrils, and very large lungs for faster oxygen intake.
Behavioral Adaptations
- Cheetahs do not hunt during the night because they cant see their prey in the dark.
- Cheetahs sneak up very close to their prey before running after it. This increases a cheetahs chances of catching their prey.
- After capturing prey a cheetah finds a hiding spot to eat it so it doesn't get stolen by other animals that are looking for food too.
Breeding
Cheetah biome
Interesting Cheetah Facts
- Cheetahs don't roar they chirp to their young ,purr and growl when threatened.
- Cheetahs are the only big cat that can turn in the air while sprinting.
- The name "Cheetah" comes from Indian word meaning "Spotted one".
- Cheetahs have tear marks going down their face to shield their eyes from the sun to catch prey.
- When running full speed their stride is 6-7 meters long.
- A cheetah can run 68-75 mph. at full speed.
- Young cheetahs have thick fur with a white stripe down their back. This makes the cub look like a Honey badger hiding in the grass. A Honey badger is a small mammal, about the size of a cheetah cub, that is fierce and can scare away a full grown lion when threatened. This feature keeps the cheetah safe while the mother hunts for food.
- Cheetahs eat Gazelle, Antelope, and Hares.
Citations
http://www.funzoomiami.org/Animals/Africa/Mammals/Cheetah
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiUr_WeneHJAhUMJCYKHalpCGwQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.exploringnature.org%2Fdb%2Fview%2F1675&psig=AFQjCNFqRJDQoAAOPT6w8OyMk7p9XyP-3A&ust=1450384435394323http://www.lions.org/cheetah.html
http://www.lions.org/cheetah-habitat.htmlhttp://www.onekind.org/education/animals_a_z/cheetah
http://cheetah.org/about-the-cheetah/for-kids/
http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engcheetah.html
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/cheetah/
http://www.livescience.com/27319-cheetahs.html
Photo Citations
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/2350050/images/o-CHEETAH-facebook.jpg
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8ctfb8p3H1r42opa.jpg
http://www.terrain.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/cheetah.jpg
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/animals/photos/big-cats/cheetahs/
http://media.oregonlive.com/environment_impact/photo/9500443-large.jpg
http://www.kenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Cheetah-325x200.jpg