Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
| Size: | Up to 80cm high |
| Habitat: | Savanna and plains |
| Feeding: | Medium-sized antelopes and other mammals |
The Cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world. It can run at speeds up to 70 mph (112 kph).
It has a very sleek build and can easily be distinguished from a leopard by its narrow neck and waist and its deep chest. Its belly is pale with no spots and it has distinctive black tear marks from the corner of its eyes to its mouth.
It has a lifespan of 10 years.
The first two photos were taken in the Okavango Delta, Botswana and the last photo was taken in the Masai Mara, Kenya. If you look closely to the last photo, you can see a cub hiding in the grass. The mother and cub were very exposed out on the plain and she has done a good job of hiding it from predators during daylight hours.
Click on any of the photographs on this site to see a larger image.
