Cheetan

They are the Ferraris among land mammals: the graceful cheetahs can reach top speeds of more than 100 kilometers per hour when hunting.

Characteristics

What do cheetahs look like?

Cheetahs belong to the carnivores and belong to the family of real cats. Unlike lions or tigers, they have very long legs and their bodies are slim and narrow. They measure up to 150 centimeters from head to bottom, the shoulder height is up to 80 centimeters and they weigh around 50 to 60 kilograms, some males up to 70 kilograms.

The round head with the high domed skull and the short snout is also striking. The eyes are directed forward, so cheetahs are very good at judging distances. Unlike other large cats, they have hard sole pads and they cannot retract their claws. Their fur is reddish-yellow in color and has distinct black spots. The drawing on the face is typical: black stripes – the so-called tear stripes – can be seen between the eyes and the corners of the mouth. The 60 to 80 cm long tail is thick and densely hairy; it is also patterned with black spots.

Where do cheetahs live?

Cheetahs used to be widespread throughout almost all of Africa, from North Africa to the southern tip of South Africa. They were also found in South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. They have long been extinct in Asia, and on the African continent, they are now mainly found in East Africa, as well as in Botswana and Namibia. Cheetahs live predominantly in open savannah landscapes and steppes.

What cheetah species are there?

The cheetah is the only species in its genus.

How old do cheetahs get?

Cheetahs can live up to eight years in the wild. In zoos, they live for up to 15 years.

Behave

How do cheetahs live?

Cheetahs can reach speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour and are therefore considered the fastest land mammals. This is possible due to their very long legs, hard soles, and claws that cannot be retracted. They act like spikes, and the animals can push themselves off the ground vigorously when running.

Just two seconds after the start, cheetahs reach a speed of about 60 kilometers per hour, the top speed is 110 kilometers per hour. All four paws touch the ground three times per second and the animals can change direction in a flash. However, cheetahs cannot keep up this pace for long. After about 600 to 800 meters they slow down.

Such high speeds are only possible because your muscles are supplied with sufficient oxygen. This is why the nostrils of the cheetah are particularly large in order to be able to take in enough oxygen from the air when sprinting. As fast as cheetahs are, they are relatively weak compared to other predators like leopards or lions. They, therefore, avoid arguments with their stronger relatives.

Cheetahs are diurnal. At night they retreat to hiding places. They mostly live as loners. Only when the females have young do they sometimes form a family with the males and raise the young together. Now and then three or four males form a group. The beauty and elegance of the cheetah have always fascinated humans. And because cheetahs are relatively easy to tame, they were once used in part for hunting. It is known that thousands of years ago the Sumerians and Egyptians used tame cheetahs as hunting companions.

Friends and foes of cheetahs

Young cheetahs are highly endangered and often fall prey to other predators such as leopards, lions, or hyenas. This usually happens when the mother is out hunting. Adult cheetahs have few enemies. Because they can run so well, they are far too fast for larger predators.

How do cheetahs reproduce?

When a female cheetah is ready to mate, the male usually stays with her for about four days. During this time they mate several times. After 90 days, two to four young are born. They are very small and weigh just 300 grams. They only open their eyes after a week.

First, they are suckled by the female. After about four weeks they get solid meat food for the first time. For the first three months, cheetah babies have a silver-grey back mane, the so-called neck mane, which they later lose again. In order not to be discovered by enemies, the little ones hide in the long grass. The cheetah family changes hiding places every four to five days.

From the age of six to eight weeks, the little ones are allowed to accompany their mother when hunting. At first, they just watch the mother. They are not trained by their mother until they are around seven months old and actively participate in the hunt. But it will still be a while before they are so independent that they can live on their own. They usually stay with their mother until they are almost adults.

How do cheetahs hunt?

Cheetahs also differ from other predators in their hunting techniques. They are typical hunters and do not hunt in packs, but almost always alone. Their prey is mainly small antelope species such as gazelles. They mainly hunt young or weak, sick animals. Because of their tall, slender build, cheetahs are able to look out over the tall grass on the savannah when searching for prey.

If a cheetah has spotted a herd of antelopes, it first sneaks up and then suddenly attacks at high speed. Since the cheetah’s teeth are relatively weak, they usually kill their prey by biting the soft throat rather than the neck. If the cheetah does not subdue and kill its prey within a minute, the victims often escape.

How do cheetahs communicate?

Young cheetahs squeak and chirp, adult animals can bark, whine, and, of course, hiss.