The cheetah is best known for its reputation as the fastest land animal over short distances - up to 70 mph.

 Print

Overview

Cheetah - Flickr © Bradley Buhro CC BY 2.0Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Species: Acinonyx jubatus

IUCN Red List Status:  Vulnerable

Distribution/Habitat: Cheetahs are found in grassland and semi-desert regions of eastern, central, and southwestern
Africa with small, isolated
numbers in southwest Asia. In the past they were widespread in Asia and the Middle East.

Life-span: About 12 years (17 in captivity).

Diet: small antelopes, hares, birds.

Description: Resembles a lightweight & streamlined leopard, with a long, thin body, long legs, powerful shoulder muscles and a small head. There are distinctive black 'tear-mark' stripes running down each side of the face from eye to mouth.

Size: Head and body length measure around 112 - 135 cm, plus a tail measuring about 66 - 84 cm; male is a little larger than the female.

Read More: Hunting

Related Resources

Please donate £5 to help YPTE to continue its work of inspiring young people to look after our world.

Donate £5 X