With an aerodynamic body, long legs and blunt and semi-telescopic claws, it is an awesome carnivore and can run zoos and conservation biology research institutes at a speed of 60 to 70 miles per hour (96 to 1 12 km).
Physical characteristics The average shoulder height of an adult cheetah is 30 inches (77 cm), the head and hips are 44 to 56 inches (1 12 to 142 cm), and the tail is 26 to 33 inches (66 to 84 cm). According to the Smithsonian Institution, these big cats usually weigh between 75 and 140 pounds (34 to 64 kilograms).
Cheetah is the fastest animal on land. It can reach seeds in 2.5 seconds at a speed of 45 miles per hour. (Coptic anvil) "KDSPs" cheetah has a slender body, long and powerful legs and flexible spine. According to the data of the San Diego Zoo, these runners can stretch their long bodies during sprints, and run about 20 to 22 feet (6 to 6.7 meters) at each trot. As we all know, it takes only 2.5 seconds for a cheetah to accelerate from 0 to 45 mph (72 km/h). By contrast, according to Consumer Report, the fastest car in the world can accelerate from 0 mph to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.5 seconds.
Cheetahs can turn very quickly even in mid-air, thanks to their long tails, which can offset their weight. Their semi-telescopic claws, similar to dog claws, provide great traction during sprints and sudden turns.
The spotted fur of a cheetah helps it blend in with the environment when resting, tracking prey and avoiding predators. According to the Smithsonian Institution, cheetahs also have typical black tears from their eyes to their mouths.
Social life of cheetahs Female cheetahs are often lonely, while male cheetahs usually live in a group called alliance composed of other male brothers and sisters. According to the introduction of San Diego Zoo, female cheetahs only mate with males during mating, and then raise their own offspring.
The pregnant period of female cheetahs is about 3 months, and the number of cubs is usually between 3 and 5. Pups weigh between 5 and 10 ounces (150 to 300 grams) at birth, which is not much larger than that of newborn domestic cats, and usually weighs between 3 and 4 ounces. All the spots and long manes at birth are called the Beatles on the neck and shoulders. They will disappear with age. [Photo: Cat Album: The Life of a Cheetah]
When the cubs are 6 months old, their mothers will teach them to hunt and avoid predators such as lions and hyenas. When cubs try to avoid predators, mothers keep them moving. The time that mothers and children live together is about 18 months. Even under the supervision of the mother, about 70% of the cubs will be killed by predators including lions and hyenas.
Cheetah mothers and cubs live together for about 18 months. Some children tend to stay together for another six to eight months, and then these female brothers and sisters leave the group to live alone. Male brothers and sisters are often in groups of two or three people. This is called alliance, which can better protect their territory. Lonely men are rare and usually don't live alone for long. If they succeed, the life span of cheetahs in the wild can reach 12 years (the captive period can reach 17 years).
According to the Smithsonian Institution, male cheetahs reach sexual maturity at about two years old. At this point, the alliance will look for areas far away from their mothers and occasionally travel 300 miles (482 kilometers). Their territory usually spans 5 to 10 square miles (13 to 26 square kilometers) and can be extended to 50 square miles (130 square kilometers).
Females usually live close to home, but they live alone. They tend to follow the migration route of gazelle, which is their main food source.
At dawn and dusk, cheetahs spend time tracking and catching prey. Unlike other big cats, cheetahs don't bite their throats immediately when attacking. Instead, they will run to the animal and knock it down; Then, they will hold their prey's throat with strong jaws and suffocate it. Cheetahs often try to hide their bodies so that other animals will not save themselves. However, they are not good at cheetahs, and vultures and other animals often steal cheetah prey.
Cheetahs are carnivores, and their typical prey are small and medium-sized animals, such as gazelles, rabbits, gazelles, colobus monkeys and birds.
What are you talking about? Unlike other big cats, cheetahs don't roar. But they can purr like domestic cats. According to the Smithsonian Institution, cheetahs have a wide vocabulary compared with other big cats such as lions, tigers and leopards. In addition to purring, they can also emit various sound signals, such as chirping (similar to bird barking or dog barking); Stuttering sounds (short and incoherent sounds); Hissing; Screams (loud chirps that can be heard from a mile away); Meow meow, just like the meow of a domestic cat. Every sound has a specific meaning. For example, various chirps may be caused by the mother bear giving instructions to her cubs, or the mother bear trying to attract the male bear.
A group of cheetahs are investigating in this area. Male brothers and sisters tend to stick together and protect their common territory. According to the Smithsonian Institution, cheetahs are all over Africa, mainly in North Africa. Sahel region (the transitional region between the grasslands of North Sahara and South Sudan); They are scattered in eastern and southern Africa. A small number live in Iran, where they are extremely endangered.
Cheetahs live in various environments. According to the African Wildlife Fund, cheetahs can be found in dry forests, grasslands, open plains and desert areas. These big cats don't need much water to survive-they get most of the water they need when they eat.
According to the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, most cheetah subspecies are considered vulnerable. All cheetah populations are decreasing, with an estimated total population of less than 7,000.
According to the Smithsonian Institution, in 1900, there were at least 65,438+million cheetahs living in the whole of West Asia and Africa. Now, these cats have been extinct in at least 13 countries, losing 90% of their original habitat. The largest number of cheetahs in Namibia is about 2,500. According to "KDSP" and "KDSP" of the African Wildlife Fund, the sharp decline of cheetah population is related to habitat loss and other problems, such as human conflicts, illegal trade and poaching.
Conservation work is going on, trying to help the population regenerate. Organizations such as the African Wildlife Fund and the Cheetah Conservation Foundation cooperate with communities near cheetah herds to create sustainable solutions for agriculture and population growth, so as to provide space for cats and people. Protected areas and wildlife parks, such as the cheetah experience in South Africa, protect cheetahs because their habitats have been taken away.
Captive breeding programs in zoos such as San Diego Zoo and Smithsonian National Zoo are trying to help the cheetah population grow. These projects also try to overcome the lack of genetic variation in wild cheetahs.
Further explanation:
The scope of this paper is the de protection plan for cheetahs and African wild dogs. Cheetah Conservation Fund WWF This article was updated on 2065438+08181October 23rd. The writer is Rachel Roth, a life science writer.