Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) e mammalian member of the cat family. Today he is the sole representative of the genus Acinonyx, some with four other ancient species. Habitats of its distribution is very limited and mainly covers areas south of the Sahara. Besides these, small populations inhabit North Africa and Iran. Relatively large number of them in Namibia causes it to be called "Land of cheetahs.
Cheetah is the fastest land animals. Developing speed of 112 to 120 km / h over short distances (460 m). [2] is acceleration from 0 to 110 km / h for 3 seconds - faster than most sports supercar. Paleontological evidence suggests that it is significantly smaller and faster than their predecessors. Recent genetic studies, the closest relatives of cheetahs are in North America.
In Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature has placed Cheetah vulnerable species. The main threats to the survival of the species associated with human activities - loss and fragmentation of habitat and slaughter of cattle as an "enemy" of domestic animals. [1]
Acinonyx a word in its scientific name has Greek origins. It is composed of two words akin - "fixed" and onyx - "flipper." Jubatus means ruffed. The word in English is for Cheetah cheetah, citrakāyaḥ comes from Sanskrit and means "variegated body". It enters the English by Hindi. [3] Bulgaria Cheetah enter the word from German and French has Latin origin and is the result of words gattus pardus, meaning "spotted cat.
Body length of up to 180 cheetahs - 220 cm, in which the tail accounts for about 75 cm. Its weight is from 40 to 65 kg. [4] Although males are larger than females and have a big head of them, there is a clear sexual dimorphism. Cheetah is a cat whose character most closely to her dogs. It is suited for fast movement. The legs are thin, long and tough, and body shape very similar to that of the hound. The head is small and rounded, but thin and long tail used for balance in pursuit of prey. The coat is short, yellowish-brown to golden, lightening of the abdomen and neck. Is studded with well-shaped black spots on the entire body surface except for areas with lighter hair. The diameter of the spots varies by location but is within 1,9 - 3,8 cm. The head of the Cheetah formed tear strips, starting from the inner edge of eye and lirovidno descend to the upper lip, bypassing the nose. They give and nature "sad expression." At the end of the queue formed 5 - 6 black rings on the top has a strand of white hair.
Cheetah is very often confused with leopard. The difference with him is that leopards are more severe, the spots have never rozetkovidna shape of the head and not tear strips are formed.
The whole structure of the body when Cheetah was created as a result of the development of character, achieving speed in the race. The evolution of the species benefiting from it to achieve high speed at the expense of strength and endurance. To reach a high speed sprint of around 110 - 112 km / h cheetahs have developed unique characteristics [6]. They have imposed a long time at the expense of others. An example is the size of the teeth. They are small due to the fact that smaller roots. The rapidity of the Cheetah and need more oxygen. Therefore, the nasal cavity size is increased at the expense of dental teethridge. So little tooth socket can provide an interception and a small tooth [7]. Nails do not retract into the hands thus play a role in sprint spikes. The feet are covered with rough scaly skin, allowing strong adhesion to the ground when running. Of all the big cats at cheetahs have long legs. While the height is as leopards - over 90 cm, his legs are 30 cm longer. Spine is flexible and allows the rear legs in race to pass along the front side. Unlike other members of the Cheetah cats can not climb. However, benefit from lower branches of which have better visibility to identify potential victims. Nostrils wide open, the chest is deep and heart, white and liver are enlarged. Dark lines under her eyes tear not dissipate incoming light and help to better focus on the victim [8]. Skull head box is larger at the expense of the facial and share. Cheetah has a flat face, allowing excellent binocular vision. The body is narrow, long and muscular [9]. Attaining and maintaining high speed and short distance unless there are some advantages disadvantages. Body temperature quickly rises above 40 ° C, a result of the breakdown of carbohydrates into the muscles of lactic acid is formed. Because of fatigue and the danger of overheating cheetahs do not usually maintain a maximum speed of more than 400 meters. These are the reasons he should not immediately begin to eat and to rest for some time after killing the victim. Reconstruction after the sprint is a critical period in which cheetahs is vulnerable to large predators and other easily lost catches.
Cheetah inhabits open grassy areas such as savannas and slightly hilly polupustini often occurs in foothills with loam. These places are conducive to its mode of obtaining food and the ability to quickly develop high speed pursuit of the victim. Unlike leopards, cheetahs do not live in mountainous and forested areas. While meeting some of the Ngorongoro Crater at relatively high altitude, this is the exception rather than the rule. Most widespread in Namibia, where they lived for about 2 - 3 thousand copies. However, and here their future is uncertain due to the fact that about 10% of the losses of livestock to some of the farmers due to the Cheetah hunts.
Cheetahs rely on their speed to capture the victim. He hunted only when hungry every 3 - 4 days. When not hunting lurks in ambush, but is closer to the victim quietly and in good time quickly descends into a sprint to it. If seen it before, cheetahs quickly denied [9]. Unlike other carnivores, cheetahs are active mainly during the day. Daily way of protecting cheetahs caught by the competition and meeting with nocturnal predators such as lions and hyenas, which can hunt and its small. Thus the mother is able to keep smaller at night when predators are active. Cheetah is the most successful lonely hunter. His attacks are up 70 percent successful. As one of the possible reasons for this statistic indicating the narrow specialization and types of features which allow for the speedy and efficient catch. African Wild Dog is only a successful hunter. His attacks are up 80 percent successful, but with the difference that it is in the hunt group.
Attacked by cheetahs animals are most often small to medium-sized hoofed mammals under 40 kg.: Grant's gazelle and Thomson gazelle, antelope Impala oribi, warthog. Another part of their menu are some ground living birds as bustard, guinea fowl and small mammals like rabbits.
Usually before hunting cheetahs can be seen on termitnik natural or down. From this place he observed herds of herbivores and identifies potential victims. Unlike many other predators, he never eats carrion. His food always is obtained as a result of catch. Under cover of tall grass, he is approaching as close. Only when the distance is shortened to less than 30 - 40 m., cheetahs attack. His spinal column is extremely flexible and this helps to move as quickly as possible, but its tail serves as a counterweight. Cheetah legs are also extremely flexible and allow you to make sharp turns. It also helps to nail the rear legs, which are thrust into the ground, play the role of spikes, and balls of his feet to act for grabs tight grip. Reaching the victim, with his front legs he stumbles. In fall and land Cheetah zahapva throat and choking him to pinch . Because cheetahs have weak teeth and small jaws can not crush the neck of his victim and was forced to kill her by squeezing her throat as people or less, by interrupting the large blood vessels .
With the victim, cheetahs develop extremely high speeds, but it can only support a few seconds because of the danger of overheating and death. Concentrate his forces on full mobilization of the spoils at the expense of protection in. Therefore, cheetahs must eat quickly before the table to join him and other predatory birds and mammals . When you eat, cheetahs do not exhibit aggression toward each other and peacefully share the spoils .
Freedom of small cheetahs learn to hunt by their mothers. Born in captivity can not hunt and are unable to capture prey in the wild.
Royal Cheetah was first observed in the wild in 1926 in Zimbabwe. In 1927 Pocock declared it a separate subspecies, but that decision was revoked in 1939 due to lack of evidence. In 1974 to 22 units are known. skins of this "subspecies" and 5 reports of eyewitnesses who have seen King Cheetah. However, a photograph of the specimen in the wild has not been made. In 1975, during one of his expedition kriptozoolozite Paul and Lena Botreli able to make quality pictures of royal Cheetah. From them it appears that height it is larger and has a different coloration of the black body. The black spots are larger, often merged with each other on the back forming black streaks. Only in 1986, King Cheetah was shot again in natural conditions.
By 1987 scientists were 38 known copies royal cheetahs most of them just like leather. The full status of this type was authorized in 1981, when the research center for cheetahs "De Wildt" in South Africa two sisters at the same time as in offspring born to each have one gepardche royal. Both were fertilized by males captured in the Transvaal. In the coming years are born in the center of several copies of these traits. Royal Cheetah appears as a rare mutation, manifested in the offspring of cheetahs, inhabiting areas in Zimbabwe, Botswana and northern South African province of Transvaal.
