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The '''cheetah''' is a member of the [[feline]] family. The distribution of the cheetah is limited to [[Africa]], where vast expanses of land fit their hunting style.

The '''cheetah''' is a member of the [[feline]] family. The distribution of the cheetah is limited to [[Africa]], where vast expanses of land fit their hunting style.

Cheetahs are unique among the [[feline]] family for their great speed and hunting style. Capable of reaching speeds up to 70 mph in short sprints,<ref>[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004737.html Infoplease]</ref> the cheetah is the fastest of all land animals. When hunting, a cheetah swipes at the prey's hind legs to trip them; this is distinctively different from other big cats, which would pounce and grab onto the prey, using their body weight to put the prey off balance.

Cheetahs are unique among the [[feline]] family for their great speed and hunting style. Capable of reaching speeds up to 70&nbsp;mph in short sprints,<ref>[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004737.html Infoplease]</ref> the cheetah is the fastest of all land animals. When hunting, a cheetah swipes at the prey's hind legs to trip them; this is distinctively different from other big cats, which would pounce and grab onto the prey, using their body weight to put the prey off balance.

The cheetah has several differences from other animals, to allow it to run at the speeds it does. They have claws that are semi-retractable, unlike other cats, and also rough paw pads, allowing greater traction when running. The body and fur is naturally smooth, reducing drag, the bones are light, reducing weight and the lungs are large, allowing increased breathing. However, the cheetah is designed only to sprint for short distances, as at top speed, the internal body temperature quickly rises to dangerous levels.<ref>[http://www.cheetahspot.com/speed.php Cheetahspot]</ref> Cheetahs therefore hunt at the coolest times of day – morning and evening. They [[Stalking in the animal kingdom|stalk their prey]] before attacking and often come within about a hundred feet (30 meters) of their prey before they sprint towards their prey.<ref>[http://www.cheetahspot.com/food.php Cheetahspot]</ref>

The cheetah has several differences from other animals, to allow it to run at the speeds it does. They have claws that are semi-retractable, unlike other cats, and also rough paw pads, allowing greater traction when running. The body and fur is naturally smooth, reducing drag, the bones are light, reducing weight and the lungs are large, allowing increased breathing. However, the cheetah is designed only to sprint for short distances, as at top speed, the internal body temperature quickly rises to dangerous levels.<ref>[http://www.cheetahspot.com/speed.php Cheetahspot]</ref> Cheetahs therefore hunt at the coolest times of day – morning and evening. They [[Stalking in the animal kingdom|stalk their prey]] before attacking and often come within about a hundred feet (30 meters) of their prey before they sprint towards their prey.<ref>[http://www.cheetahspot.com/food.php Cheetahspot]</ref>

==Threats==

==Threats==

The cheetah is listed as vulnerable in the ICUN Red Data List<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/219/0</ref>. Cheetahs require large tracts of land in which to hunt, and hence have a low density of numbers where they occur; a density of 0.8-1.0 animals per 100 square kilometers has been cited in the Serengeti Plain for example.  Much land has been altered by man, either for farming or livestock.  Faced with a reduction in numbers of prey animals, some cheetahs have killed domestic livestock; these cheetahs in turn are dealt with as pests.  The subspecies ''A. j. venaticus'', once found over much of south-central Asia, has been reduced to approximately 600 individuals in Iran, where they are protected by law. Both ''A. j. venaticus'' and ''A. j. heckii'' are listed as critically endangered.

The cheetah is listed as vulnerable in the ICUN Red Data List.<ref>http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/219/0</ref>  Cheetahs require large tracts of land in which to hunt, and hence have a low density of numbers where they occur; a density of 0.8-1.0 animals per 100 square kilometers has been cited in the Serengeti Plain for example.  Much land has been altered by man, either for farming or livestock.  Faced with a reduction in numbers of prey animals, some cheetahs have killed domestic livestock; these cheetahs in turn are dealt with as pests.  The subspecies ''A. j. venaticus'', once found over much of south-central Asia, has been reduced to approximately 600 individuals in Iran, where they are protected by law. Both ''A. j. venaticus'' and ''A. j. heckii'' are listed as critically endangered.

==References==

==References==

{{Nb_zl_felines}}

{{Nb_zl_felines}}