Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

Status in the Wild: Endangered

Range: Central, eastern, and southern Africa. A small population in Iran.

Habitat: Flat, open plains.

Size/Weight: Adults may reach six feet in length, including the tail, and weigh over 100 pounds. They stand just over three feet. The head is small and the legs are disproportionately long when compared with other big cats.

Habits: Females live alone while males usually live in small groups. Male groups often stay together for life and hunt and feed together. Cheetahs depend on speed to catch their prey. They are capable of speeds up to 60 miles per hour, sustainable for short distances. Cheetahs are diurnal and retire into hiding at night.

Diet: In the wild, their main prey is small, hoofed animals. Large animals like zebras and wildebeests may be taken, particularly the young of these animals. Small animals and birds are also eaten.

Reproduction/gestation: Litters of two to five cubs, weighing eight to ten ounces, are born after a gestation of 13-weeks. Young cheetahs stay with the mother for 14 to 18 months. There is about a 90% mortality rate the first year of life.

Wild Status: Cheetahs are endangered, primarily due to loss of habitat. Inability to compete with other carnivores, such as lions and hyenas, is another reason. In earlier years, the fur trade was a major problem.