Acinonyx+jubatus-Majer

Cheetah- //Acinonyx jubatus//  //﻿// ** Family: **The cheetah belongs to the family Felidae. All animals in the Felidae family walk on four feet and are carnivores, which means they only eat meat. Also, they all have long teeth, sharp molars, longer hind legs, a long tail, and good vision. Examples of other animals in the Felidae family are the tiger-//Panthera tigris//, lion-//Panthera leo//, leopard-//Panthera pardus//, jaguar-//Panthera onca//, lynx-//Felinae lynx//, and cougar-//Puma concolor.// ** Movement: **Cheetahs move by running at speeds of 60 mph-70 mph. **How They Eat:** Cheetahs get their food by hunting. They hunt either in the early morning or in the late evening. To kill their prey all cheetahs trip it then bite its neck. After that they quickly eat the animal and then run away. ** What they eat: **Cheetahs eat animals smaller than them. Cheetahs usually eat Thomson's Gazelle, Grant's Gazelle, Springbok, Impala, and hares. Cheetahs sometimes hunt in groups, and when they do they go after zebras and wildebeests.
 * Characteristics: **Cheetahs have two main characteristics that make them different from other animals, and those are their black spots and "tear stripes" from the corners of their eyes to the sides of their nose.


 * Mature to an Adult: **Male and female cheetahs mature differently. A male cheetah reaches maturity at about 12 months old. A female cheetah reaches maturity at about 20-24 months old. But most cheetahs mate at 3 years old.


 * Growth: **Most cheetahs grow to be about 2.5-3 feet tall. Also most cheetahs weigh between 110-140 pounds when fully grown.


 * Adaptations: **Cheetahs have adapted in many ways. One way they have adapted is their camouflage colored fur. Their fur helps them blend in with tall grasses for hunting and not being seen by predators. Their slim body helps lay in trees for rest. Cheetahs have a small head that makes running easier and more efficient.

** Gestation: **The gestation period of a cheetah is around 90-98 days.


 * Reproduction: **A cheetah normally has 2-5 cubs at one time, and they mate year-round.

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 * Cheetah Classification: **
 * Kingdom-**Animalia
 * Phylum-**Chordata
 * Class-**Mammalia
 * Order-**Carnivora
 * Family-**Felidae
 * Genus-** //Acinonyx//
 * Species-**//Acinonyx jubatus//
 * Male and Female Differences: **Male and female cheetahs have a couple of differences. Male cheetahs are territorial and mark their territories by urinating on them. This tells other cheetahs to stay away from that spot. Female cheetahs are not territorial and only hunt alone while males hunt alone or in groups.


 * Sources: **
 * [|http://] **** www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/cheetah **
 * [|www.predatorconservation.com/cheetah.htm] **


 * [|www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/cheetah.php] **