Little knowledge of cheetahs

Cheetahs are a large cat in the cat subfamily that lives mainly in eastern and southern Africa and in some parts of Iran. Cheetahs are the only surviving members of the genus Cheetah, first described in 1775 by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber. Face, slender legs and long spotted tail. Its light, slender body contrasts sharply with the muscular body of a big cat, making it more mountain lion-like. Cheetahs can reach shoulder heights of nearly 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 inches) and weigh 21 to 72 kg (46 to 159 lbs). Although taller than a leopard, it is noticeably smaller than a lion. Essentially yellowish brown or tan to off-white, the coat is evenly covered with nearly 2,000 solid black spots. Cheetahs are mainly active during the day, with hunting as the main activity. Adult males, despite their territorial nature, are sociable and form groups called "alliances". Females have no territory; they may live alone or live within the confines of the family with their offspring. Carnivores, cheetahs prey mainly on antelope and gazelle. They track their prey to a range of 100-300 meters (330-980 feet), rush to it and trip over it and bite its throat to suffocate it. The body of a cheetah is built for speed; it is the fastest land animal. Cheetahs averaged 64 km/h (40 mph) during the sprint; the chase was interspersed with several brief bursts of speed, when the animals could reach 112 km/h (70 mph), although recent measurements disputed it. Cheetahs are inducers who breed throughout the year. The gestation period is almost three months, and usually three to five cubs are produced (the number can range from one to eight). Weaning occurs at six months; siblings tend to be together for a period of time. The mortality rate of cheetah pups is higher than in most other mammals, especially in the Serengeti region. Cheetahs inhabit a variety of habitats – dry forests, shrublands and savannahs. Because of its hunting ability, cheetahs have been tamed in the past and used to kill prey in hunting. This animal is widely depicted in art, literature, advertising and animation.