An Inside Look at Cheetas

Name: The scientific name for Cheetah is Acinonyx jubatus. The cheetah gets its name from Hindi word Sanskrit- Chita, the Hindi translation means Spotted One. The English translation is Hunting Leopard. http://www.thejunglestore.com/cheetahs/fun facts

Description: Cheetah’s have often been mistaken for leopards; the cheetah is leaner and has longer legs. Their body markings are light golden color, covered with small round, black spots on the cheeks, forehead, neck and legs. Cheetah’s have a unique black mark just below the eyes shaped like a tear drop; the tail has 4 – 6 rings at the end of the tail ending in white hairs bunched together. Adult cheetah’s weight between 80 – 140 pounds, their body length is about 4 feet, the tail makes up several inches of their body length. The males are larger and heavier than females. The speed of the cheetah makes them the fastest land mammal in the world; their speed can reach 80 – 100 km/h. Their body structure is slender, small head, and long legs, which makes the body ideal for speed. Cheetah’s bodies are built for speed, they have deep chests and large hearts, lungs, and nose that aid in the intake of oxygen during the intense chase for food. The cheetah maybe the fastest creature on land, but they can only maintain their speed for short distances. Unlike other big cats, the cheetah does not roar, it makes a high pitched yelp similar to a dog. Smithsonian Handbooks, Mammals,

There are five subspecies: A.j. Hilzheimer, 1913 Northwest Africa

A.j. fearsoni (Smith, 1834): East Africa

A.j. jubatus (Schreber, 1775): Southern Africa

A.j. soemmerringi (...

... middle of paper ...

....d. Web. 19 May 2014.

Gros, Paule M. "The Status and Conservation of the Cheetah Acinonyx Jubatus in Tanzania." Biological Conservation 106.2 (2002): 177-85. Scientific Article (Publication)

Gros, P.M. Status of the Cheetah Acinonyx Jubatus in Kenya 85 (1998): 137-49.

Scientific Article (Publication)

Kindersley, Dorling. Mammals. First American Edition. New York: DK,Inc., 2002. Print.

Laurenson, M.K. "High Juvenile Mortality in Cheetahs (Acinonyx Jubatus) and Its Consequences for Maternal Care." 234 (1994): 387-408. Journal of Zoology. 19 May 2014.

Leifer, Neil, and Lance Morrow. Safari: Experiencing the Wild. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association, 1992. Print.

Clutton-Brock, Juliet. Smithsonian Handbooks Mammals. DK Publishing, Inc., New York:

2002 Print.

Wade, Nicholas. The Science times Book of Mammals. Natalie Angier, New York: Lyons, 1999. Print.