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{{Speciesbox
| name = Cheetah
| fossil_range = [[Pleistocene]]–[[Holocene]], 1.9 mya{{ndash}}present
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{Cite journal | author = Durant, S.; Mitchell, N.; Ipavec, A.; Groom, R. | title = ''Acinonyx jubatus'' | journal = [[The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] | volume = 2015 | page = e.T219A50649567 | publisher = [[IUCN]] | date = 2015 | url = http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/219/0 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T219A50649567.en | accessdate = 13 January 2018}}</ref>
| image = Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) female 2.jpg
| image_caption = Female [[Southern African cheetah]] [[KwaZulu Natal]], [[South Africa]]
| image2 = Acoustic-Structure-and-Contextual-Use-of-Calls-by-Captive-Male-and-Female-Cheetahs-(Acinonyx-pone.0158546.s001.oga
| image2_caption = Acoustic repertoire of cheetahs
| taxon = Acinonyx jubatus
| authority = ([[Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber|Schreber]], 1775)
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision =
*[[East African cheetah|''A. j.]] [[Southern African cheetah|jubatus'']] (Schreber, 1775)
*[[Asiatic cheetah|''A. j. venaticus'']] ([[Edward Griffith (zoologist)|Griffith]], 1821)
*[[Northeast African cheetah|''A. j. soemmeringii'']] ([[Leopold Fitzinger|Fitzinger]], 1855)
*[[Northwest African cheetah|''A. j. hecki'']] (Hilzheimer, 1913)
| synonyms_ref =
| range_map = Cheetah_range.gif
| range_map_caption = The range of the cheetah
{{leftlegend|#FBCEB1|Former range|outline=gray}}
{{leftlegend|#EDAD86|Low density|outline=gray}}
{{leftlegend|#EB713C|Medium density|outline=gray}}
{{leftlegend|#FE2712|High density|outline=gray}}
}}
[[File:Gepardjagt1 (Acinonyx jubatus).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cheetah in action]]
[[File:Acinonyx jubatus Sabi Sand.jpg|thumb|220px|A group of cheetahs in [[South Africa]]]]
[[File:Gepard zoo rostock.jpg|thumb|The face of a cheetah]]

A '''cheetah''' (''Acinonyx jubatus'') is a medium large [[felidae|cat]] which lives in [[Africa]]. It is the fastest land [[animal]] and can run up to 112 [[kilometre|kilometer]]s per [[hour]] for a short time. Most cheetahs live in the savannas of [[Africa]]. There are a few in Asia. Cheetahs are active during the day, and hunt in the early morning or late evening.

== Characteristics ==
The cheetah compared to other [[big cat]]s is light and slimly built. Its long thin legs and long spotted tail are necessary for fast running.<ref name="Estes">{{cite book |last1 = Estes |first1 = R.D. 2004. |title = The behavior guide to African mammals: including hoofed mammals, carnivores, primates |year = 1992 |publisher = University of California Press |location = Berkeley, USA |isbn = 978-0-520-08085-0 |pages = 377–83 |edition = 4th }}</ref> Its lightly built, thin form is in sharp contrast with the robust build of other big cats. The head-and-body length ranges from {{convert|112|-|150|cm}}.<ref name="Estes" /> The cheetah stands 70 to 90 cm at the shoulder, and weighs {{convert|21|-|72|kg|lb}}.<ref name="Estes"/><ref name="nowakmw">{{cite book |last = Nowak R.M. 1999. |title = Walker's mammals of the world |year = 1999 |url = https://archive.org/details/walkersmammalsof0000nowa |publisher = Johns Hopkins University Press |location = Baltimore, USA |isbn = 978-0-8018-5789-8 |pages = [https://archive.org/details/walkersmammalsof0000nowa/page/834 834]–6 |edition = 6th }}</ref>

The slightly curved claws are only weakly retractable (semi-retractable).<ref name="Estes" /> This is a major point of difference between the cheetah and the other big cats, which have fully retractable claws.

== Diet and Behavior ==
Cheetahs are active during the day, and hunt in the early morning or late evening. Cheetahs are [[Carnivore|carnivores]]. They prey on [[antelope]], [[wildebeest]], [[Zebra|zebras]], [[Warthog|warthogs]], [[Hare|hares]], [[Bird|birds]], [[Rodent|rodents]], [[Snake|snakes]], [[fish]], [[Lizard|lizards]] and even [[Jackal|jackals]].

When the cheetah hunts, it slowly and secretly moves toward its [[prey]]. When it is close to the prey (about 10–30 meters), it runs after it very quickly. Cheetahs kill their prey by tripping it during the chase. To kill medium- to large-sized prey, the cheetah bites the prey's throat to [[suffocation|suffocate]] it to death. A bite on the back of the neck or the snout is enough to kill smaller prey.<ref>Sunquist F. & M. 2002. ''Wild cats of the world''. The University of Chicago Press, pp. 14–36. {{ISBN|978-0-226-77999-7}}</ref>

The cheetah cannot defend itself against [[lion]]s or [[hyena]]s who would take the cheetah's prey away. The prey is taken to a shaded place. The cheetah, exhausted after the chase, rests beside the kill and pants heavily for some time. Once they recover, cheetahs eat quickly, and consume large quantities as soon as they can.

== Reproduction ==
Pregnant females give birth to about 3 to 5 cubs or kittens after three months pregnancy. It takes two years of full-time supervision by the mother before the cubs are ready to live independent lives. They need to learn how to catch prey, and that takes time. The young are vulnerable to larger predators: lions especially try to kill cheetahs.

== Genetics ==
The cheetah has unusually low [[genetics|genetic]] variability and a very low [[spermatozoon|sperm]] count. Their sperms also suffer from deformed [[Flagellum|flagellae]], and so their movement is damaged.<ref>O'Brien S. Wildt D. & Bush M. 1986. The cheetah in genetic peril. ''Scientific American'' '''254''': 68–76. Skin grafts between non-related cheetahs illustrate this point: there is no rejection of the donor skin.</ref> Apparently, cheetahs went through a great reduction in numbers during the last [[ice age]]. [[Inbreeding]] after the event further reduced the variation ([[Evolution#Genetic drift and its effect|genetic drift]]).

== Cheetah as a pet ==

Due to the fact that cheetahs never attack and kill humans they were extremely popular as hunting pets since antiquity and especially in medieval times in the Near and Middle East.

In modern times, cheetahs probably are the most difficult wilds cats to have as pets, due to the necessity for wide open spaces for cheetah for them to run at full speed . It's very important to feed them properly, because cheetahs in captivity must eat only lean steamed meat so they don't get sick and perish.

== Interesting facts ==

The cheetah is the fastest of the land dwellers.
The acceleration of a cheetah allows it to reach speeds of up to hundreds of kilometers per hour in three seconds (its maximum speed is 112 kilometers per hour). The speed that a cheetah can develop from the start in 3 seconds cannot be achieved by any sports racing car.

== References ==
{{wikispecies|Acinonyx jubatus|Cheetah}}
{{commons|Acinonyx jubatus}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Felines]]
[[Category:Mammals of Africa]]

Cheetah - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 07:46, 18 October 2022