Cheetah - The Fastest Animal On Land / Documentary (English/HD)

Being part of the cat family, the Cheetah has earned itself several reputations which no other member of the cat family can attain. Although often confused by some people with leopards, Cheetahs have physically distinctive as well as physiologically unique features. A Cheetah has tawny coat which is uniquely and evenly covered in black spots unlike the leopards’ rosette shaped markings. Like human fingerprint, these black spots are unique to every individual and the spots serve as a means of helping each Cheetah identify the other.

It also has a bold, black line which streaks down all the way from the inner corners of each eye to the sides of the mouth. It is thought by scientists that this “tear stain” or streak helps the Cheetah to achieve keen eyesight despite the glare of the sun. They have a long, slender body which is carried on equally long and powerful legs. The head is small; the chest is broad; and the tail — long and nimble. The end of the bushy tail is often encircled by three black rings while the tip of the tail is often white or black.

Interestingly, did you know that the Cheetah derived its name from the Hindi word “Chita”, meaning “Spotted One”? The most famous feature of the Cheetah is its speed. It is so fast it is considered the fastest living land animal! Another interesting fact is that unlike other big cats like lions, tigers, pumas and jaguars, Cheetahs can’t roar. It makes a variety of sounds such as purring, growling, and barking like a dog.

Also captivating is that these feline creatures have devised an incredible survival technique in order to counter water scarcity. Did you know that to stay hydrated, Cheetahs would often drink the blood of their prey and sometimes the urine? For such facts and more, watch this video to the end to find out more about these built-for-speed large cats.

Compared to other big cats (such as lions, tigers, jaguars and Pumas), Cheetahs have relatively smaller and thinner bodies. In addition to their smaller size, they also weigh much less. This is perhaps why they are easily bullied by other big cats. We’ll talk more on that later, but for now, let’s consider their size and weight. An average Cheetah measures between 3.7 and 4.6 feet (that’s about 1.1 and 1.4 meters) in length. However, they can reach lengths of up to 5 feet (or 1.5 meters)

Added to this is its long and nimble tail. Tails measure between 2 and 2.7 feet (or 0.6 to 0.8 meters). At the shoulder level, it has an average height of between 2.3 and 3 feet (about 0.7 and 0.9 meters). In terms of weight, an adult Cheetah would often weigh between 77 and 143 pounds (approximately 35 and 65 kilograms).

Before the Great Ice Age 20,000 years ago, Cheetahs used to live all over the world. Today however, they are limited to only two continents — Africa and Asia. The largest population of these phenomenal cats is found in the African continent.

The African Cheetah is predominantly located within South and East Africa. Within these regions, the largest populations occupy Kenya, Angola, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Of all these countries, Namibia stands out as “The Cheetah Capital of the World” as the country is home to the largest number. In these countries, Cheetahs prefer open grasslands but live in several other habitats as well. Desert Cheetahs are often smaller and with paler coats than their South African counterparts which may even have stripes. There are also rare spotless Cheetahs found in Kenya.

Based on the oldest, almost complete skull discovered in Gansu province, China, it is believed by scientists that Cheetahs have been around for the past 2.5 million years! They have significantly different lifespan depending on whether they are left in the wild or bred in captivity. As such, a Cheetah which is bred in captivity often lives much longer than the one which lives in the wild due to the numerous dangers and disadvantages of living in the wild. While they can live up to 14 years old in the wild, a Cheetah raised in captivity lives up to 20 years. Over these years, it hunts and eats a variety of available preys.

The Cheetah is a carnivorous animal, like every other large cat. Unlike other big cats however, the Cheetah does not scavenge for food. It prefers hunting and is most active in the morning and evening as it would usually prefer to avoid the scourge of the sun while hiding under cool shades. Evolving a built-for-speed body, the Cheetah became the fastest land animal in order to compete with its favorite preys which are incredibly fast as well.

Narrator: Larry G. Jones

Видео Cheetah - The Fastest Animal On Land / Documentary (English/HD) канала Jinzo X