Fun African Cheetah Facts For Kids
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The South African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a species of cheetahs and these cheetah subspecies are native to South Africa. They mainly reside in deserts, savannahs, grasslands and have their main survival in farmlands. These cheetahs also prefer woodlands in Kruger National Park and montane areas where they can prey on their favorite prey.
It is the fastest land animal. They are great predators and can climb trees too. Black spots on their skin help people to differentiate them from other similar species.
Male cheetahs leave a mark to find their group if in case lost; they urinate on trees or termite mounds. A total of 1,166-1,742 cheetahs were left in 2017 in South Africa.
They are Vulnerable animals according to the Red List of IUCN. They have also been hunted by some people for their skin and as an act of valor and power, which has also contributed to their decrease in population.
However, they are under the protection of wildlife today due to their decreasing number. They can be seen at Kruger National Park and in Sabi Sand Game Reserve.
For more relatable content, check out these king cheetah facts and Tasmanian tiger facts for kids.
King Cheetah Interesting Facts
What type of animal is an African cheetah?
Cheetahs are members and types of wild cat families, which also include leopards, tigers, pumas, and snow leopards.
What class of animal does an African cheetah belong to?
Cheetahs belong to the class Mammalia and phylum Chordata. South African cheetah had vanished from Namibia and now is being reintroduced and are mostly found in eastern and northern locations of South Africa.
How many African cheetahs are there in the world?
There are only 7,100 cheetahs left in the world and their survival is a big doubt. Their population is decreasing.
Where does an African cheetah live?
They are mainly found in the southern and eastern range of the Sahara desert, wide grasslands, bushy areas, and farmlands where they can openly hunt for medium-sized animals.
What is an African cheetah's habitat?
The habitat distribution of African cheetah can be seen largely in the regions of Africa and some parts of Asia. While hunting for prey, they can be found among savannahs and hot deserts. African cheetah habitat also reveals that mostly they live on the ground but sometimes may climb trees.
Who do African cheetahs live with?
Males usually live in groups with their coalitions of cheetahs to overlap the range of other male territories whereas females lead a solitary life or with cheetah cubs.
How long does an African cheetah live?
Males live for around eight years in the wildlife because of conflict going in the territory of males and the female cheetahs live an average life span of 10-12 years in the wildlife.
How do they reproduce?
South African cheetah breeding takes place throughout the year when the male and female reach the age of 20-23 months or sometimes maybe 18 months. There is an estrous cycle in females which lasts for 12 days and the females can mate with one or more males.
Then both males and females can mate two to three times a day in this period.
The gestation period is of 90-95 days and the mother finds a suitable place for the birth of the cheetah cub which is safe from predators. Once cubs are born, the mother decides to live with the cheetah cubs.
What is their conservation status?
South African cheetahs are Vulnerable species in the list of IUCN. Cheetahs are a species of large cats with great speeds, who are native to Africa and central Iran.
African Cheetah Fun Facts
What do African cheetahs look like?
The South African cheetah's (Acinonyx jubatus) physical appearance has a coat of fur with black spots and a long tail of about 23.6-31.5 in (60-80 cm). They have a total head and body length of around 43.3-59 in (110–150 cm) and weighs between 46.3-158.7 lb (21-72 kg).
The fur coat is of grayish-white, tawny color and there are black spots on the last part of the long tail.
There are markings of tears under the eye for focusing on prey. Cheetah cubs are colored in a way that they look like honey badgers.
The tail is about two-thirds of the body length of adults. The flat surface at the end of the tip of the tail acts in acing the direction, also the tail stretches to balance while taking turns.
Cheetahs have larger and wider paws more like a dog rather than cats but they have canine teeth like other large cats.
They are wildlife large predators and catch the prey with their pawn and tear them easily. This cat family is known for their great speed as they grow from cubs to adults.
How cute are they?
Cheetah cubs are obviously cuter than cheetahs. They are playful and adorable to watch, but it does not take much time for them to become predators as adults, from a cute cub. The growth of a cheetah cub is very different from their counterparts in the wild.
How do they communicate?
Acinonyx jubatus cheetahs are wild cheetahs found in habitats consisting of South Africa and also in the woodlands of Kruger National Park. The cubs make soft squeaking and purring sounds to call the mothers as they can not roar and need affection and attention of their mothers.
How big is an African cheetah?
African cheetahs can reach a length of around 43.3-59 in (110–150 cm), which is 20 times bigger than a caracal cat.
How fast can an African cheetah run?
The estimated running speeds of these wild animals are around 49.7-80.7 mph (80-130 kph), which is an appropriate speed to chase and hunt prey. The running speed of young cheetahs or cubs are also around 49.7 mph (80 kph).
How much does an African cheetah weigh?
Cheetahs generally weigh between 46.3-158.7 lb (21-72 kg), while young cheetahs or cubs are only 8.8 oz (250 g) at birth.
What are the male and female names of the species?
The male population is called male cheetahs and the female population is called female cheetahs. These land animals have subspecies in the wild, having the same range of speed in the wildlife.
What would you call a baby African cheetah?
The young of a South African cheetah is known as a cub.
What do they eat?
Cheetahs' diet consists of gazelles, deers, impalas, and other small to medium-sized ungulates. In a female's diet, she can make a kill on a regular basis compared to a lone adult.
Sometimes birds and small mammals are also hunted by them. They may see the prey from a longer range and will keep an eye on them for hours and then chase them at full speed which takes a few seconds to catch them.
Are they dangerous?
Yes, cheetahs are dangerous but they do not threaten humans like other wild cats unless provoked or starving. Therefore, one should be aware of them.
Would they make a good pet?
Cheetahs can be pets but a good one is still a doubt for many since they are dangerous and carnivores in nature.
Did you know...
Worldwide renowned for cheetah is the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. As these cheetahs are Vulnerable they are being re-introduced in India from April 26, 2021.
Types of the African cheetah
There are various types of this cheetah and subspecies, which are African savanna cheetah, northwest African cheetah, northeast African cheetah, and southeast African cheetah.
Asiatic cheetah vs. African cheetah
The African cheetah is bigger than the Asiatic cheetah. Other than that, they have almost the same body color, length, height, and weight.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these hyena fun facts for kids and Karelian bear dog facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable cheetah coloring pages.
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Bachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights
Anusuya MukherjeeBachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights
With a wealth of international experience spanning Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East, Anusuya brings a unique perspective to her work as a Content Assistant and Content Updating Coordinator. She holds a law degree from India and has practiced law in India and Kuwait. Anusuya is a fan of rap music and enjoys a good cup of coffee in her free time. Currently, she is working on her novel, "Mr. Ivory Merchant".
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