Hobbies And Interests
Physical Description
Cheetahs are built for the function they perform and are known for: speed. With its long, strong legs, flexible spine and nonretractable claws, the cheetah is able to move swiftly and quickly across plains and through the brush. Cheetahs also have special pads on the bottom of each foot which provide traction and help with balance while the animal is running. In terms of their coloring, cheetahs are known for being a pale or golden brown with many black spots. Their tails are long with black stripes and sometimes have a white tip. Finally, cheetahs have a black stripe on each side of their face, running from their eye to the corners of their mouth.
Size
Cheetahs are large animals, especially among the felines. The average length of a cheetah is between 3 and 5 feet, plus a tail that is usually around 30 inches. Their height when standing on all fours is anywhere between 2 and 3 feet off the ground. Cheetahs are also extremely heavy animals for their size, and can weigh anywhere between 70 and almost 150 pounds, with males generally weighing slightly more than females.
Behavior
Cheetahs are predators, but not always aggressive in their behavior. Unlike lions, cheetahs do not roar; instead, they make small hissing or whining noises. Sometimes cheetahs even purr, much like a house cat. Cheetahs also make a chirping sound, a call intended to communicate with other cheetahs. Female cheetahs live alone when they are not raising their cubs, although when rearing young they spend their time teaching their cubs how to hunt. Most cheetahs hunt during the day -- most frequently during the morning or evening -- because they want to avoid lions, a predator. Cheetahs hunt by first stalking their prey from many yards away, then lunge, grab their prey by the throat and suffocate them.
Habitat
Cheetahs live in savannas, which are wide open spaces of grassy land. Most typically, cheetahs are found in the savannas of Africa. Because they are so large, savannas allow for cheetahs to run quickly for catching their prey. Cheetahs prefer areas that have high grasses, so that they can hide and blend in with the surroundings while pursuing their prey. Cheetahs are not found in forests, but the savannas which house cheetahs may be dense with trees and vegetation. Also, some cheetahs live in more mountainous areas, such as the cheetahs of West Africa.