Cheetahs: Those Carnivorous Animals

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The Acinonyx jubatus is a well-known creature, generally recognized for its lighting speed. It has special characteristics which enable it to move with rapid strides. Running isn't all that a cheetah does, however. Cheetahs have a unique lifestyle of their very own. Full grown, a cheetah may be up to seven feet in length, including a two and one-half foot tail. It weighs up to one-hundred-fifty pounds and is no more than three feet tall. This measurement is taken at the shoulder. This tawny creature has yellowish-colored fur. Its markings consist of solid black spots, which are spaced closely together covering most of the body, with the exceptions of the underside (which is white) and the tail (which has black rings). The cheetah's ears are dark with light tips, and at the nape of the neck there is a small mane. The distinct characteristic of two “tear” stripes running from the corner of the eyes down the sides of its nose helps to distinguish the cheetah from similar-looking animals such as the leopard or jaguar. Cheetahs have a slender build and a highly flexible spine, enabling them to run at extremely high speeds with long, rapids strides. When its claws are retracted they are not covered by a sheath, as those of other cats. This exposure is to the cheetah's benefit, providing additional traction during acceleration. Cheetahs are usually solitary hunters. Slithering on its belly, a cheetah will cautiously approach its prey until it is within one hundred feet of its victim, a process which may last from a few seconds to several hours. It will then attack, and if its victim manages to escape, the cheetah will then chase the animal in hot pursuit with a lighting dash of up to seventy miles per hours. An average chase lasts twenty seconds, but rarely exceeds on minute. Once a cheetah has its victim within its grasp, it will maintain a strong, vicious,

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