Cheetah.

Cheetah. Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Felidae Genus Acinonyx Species jubatus Names young: cub group of males: coalition group of mother and young: family Conservation Endangered due to hunting and habitat destruction. Concerns Range Africa south of the Sahara Desert and Iran. Habitat Open plains and grasslands in semi-desert regions. Size Length: 173 to 218 cm (68 to 86 in), including the tail Weight: 39 to 65 kg (86 to 143 lb). Feeding Habits Cheetahs are carnivores; their diet includes antelope, wildebeest, hares, and zebra. They hunt during the day, relying on acute eyesight and bursts of speed to catch prey. Offspring After a gestation period of about 90 to 95 days, the female gives birth to four to five cubs, and sometimes as many as eight. The young leave the mother when they are 14 to 18 months old. Life Span Up to 12 years in the wild. Did You Know The cheetah's long skull, large nasal passages, and large lungs help it breathe when running. A cheetah's footpads have grooves for better traction at high speeds. The cheetah is one of the fastest land animals. It can reach a top speed of more than 97 km/h (60 mph) in 2 to 3 seconds, and maintain it for 300 m (1,000 ft). The cheetah's long tail acts as a balance and aids in high-speed turns. Cheetahs always kill their prey with a bite to the neck. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.