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Cheetahs belong to the cat family Felidae and their scientific name is Acinonyx jubatus, derived from the Greek word “Acinonyx,” meaning “non-moving claw,” and the Latin word “jubatus,” meaning “mane” or “crested”.
Adult female cheetahs are called queens, adult males are simply males, while babies are called cubs!
Cheetahs can sprint at speeds up to 70 miles per hour (112 kilometers per hour) — that’s faster than a car driving on most city streets!
A cheetah’s tail is nearly as long as half its body length, measuring between 60–80 centimeters (24-31 inches), and helps them balance while running!
Cheetahs have special tear marks running from their eyes to their mouth that help reduce glare from the sun, like natural sunglasses!
An adult cheetah’s spots are as unique as human fingerprints — no two cheetahs have exactly the same pattern!
Cheetahs have semi-retractable claws that work like cleats on an athlete’s shoes, helping them grip the ground while running!
A cheetah’s spine can flex like a spring, allowing them to stretch up to 22 feet (6.7 meters) in a single bound!
Unlike other big cats, cheetahs can’t roar — instead, they chirp, purr, and make high-pitched sounds that sound similar to a bird!
A cheetah’s heart is extra large for its body size, about twice the size of other cats of their size, helping pump blood faster when they run!
Adult cheetahs typically weigh between 75–140 pounds (34–64 kilograms) — about the same as a medium-sized adult human!
A cheetah’s spotted coat helps them blend in with shadows and patches of sunlight in the grasslands, making them nearly invisible to prey!
Male cheetahs often form groups called coalitions with their brothers and stay together for life!
Cheetah cubs learn hunting skills by playing with their siblings, practicing the same movements they’ll use to catch prey later in life!
Cheetahs communicate using at least 12 different vocalizations, including chirps, churrs, and meows!
Unlike most cats, cheetahs hunt during the day when their exceptional eyesight gives them an advantage!
Cheetahs can see small movements from up to 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) away — that’s like spotting an ant moving from the length of 50 football fields!
Mother cheetahs teach their cubs to hunt through a series of lessons that last up to two years!
Cheetahs spend up to 12 hours a day resting to conserve energy for their high-speed chases!
Young cheetahs stay with their mother for about 18 months, learning all the skills they need to survive in the wild!
Cheetahs mark their territory using scratch marks on trees and special scent markings!
Adult cheetahs can jump up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) high — that’s taller than most basketball players!
Cheetahs can live in many different environments, from grasslands to mountainous areas, but they prefer open spaces where they can use their speed!
Wild cheetahs typically live 8–10 years, but in zoos, they can live up to 20 years!
Cheetahs are found in various parts of Africa, from the Sahara Desert to the grasslands of Tanzania!
A cheetah’s home range can be as large as 800 square kilometers (309 square miles) — that’s bigger than 149,000 football fields!
Cheetahs don’t need to drink water every day — they get most of their moisture from their prey!
Cheetahs prefer to live in areas with good visibility where they can spot both prey and potential dangers!
Unlike many big cats, cheetahs are active during the day when temperatures are highest, as other predators are usually resting!
Unlike many big cats, cheetahs are active during the day when temperatures are highest, as other predators are usually resting!
A cheetah’s paw pads have special ridges and grooves that help them grip the ground while running at high speeds!
Cheetahs often use termite mounds as lookout posts to spot prey and other predators!
Baby cheetahs are born with a long, silvery-gray coat that helps them hide in tall grass!
Cheetah cubs open their eyes at about 10–14 days old, and they start walking at around 2 weeks!
A mother cheetah usually has 3–5 cubs in a litter, but can have up to 8 cubs at once!
Baby cheetahs start eating meat at about 6 weeks old but continue nursing until they’re about 3 months old!
Cheetah cubs start learning to hunt at 6 months old, but they aren’t very good at it until they’re over a year old!
Young cheetahs start running at about 3 months old, but they can’t reach full speed until they’re about 15 months old!
Female cheetahs become independent from their mothers at about 18 months old and usually start having their own cubs at 2-3 years old!
A cheetah pregnancy lasts about 90–95 days, which is longer than a house cat’s pregnancy!
Baby cheetahs weigh only about 250-300 grams (8.8-10.6 ounces) at birth — about the same as a large hamburger!
Cheetah cubs are born with a light coat that has spots, which become more distinct as they grow older!
Cheetahs mainly eat medium-sized antelopes like gazelles, but they can also catch rabbits, warthogs, and young wildebeest!
A successful cheetah hunt lasts only about 20–60 seconds from start to finish!
Adult cheetahs eat about 6–8 pounds (2.7-3.6 kilograms) of meat per day when food is plentiful!
Cheetahs hunt successfully in only about 50% of their chases — that means they miss their prey half the time!
Unlike other big cats, cheetahs don’t usually return to their kills, preferring to eat quickly and move on!
Cheetahs can go up to 4–5 days without drinking water if they’re eating enough prey!
A cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in just 3 seconds!
Cheetahs lose about 10% of their kills to larger predators like lions and hyenas!
