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Posted on July 26, 2008 by Roger Smith | Posted under Arts and Entertainment
Cheetah Facts: The Hard Life of the World's Fastest Cat
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One type of cheetah has even gone almost completely extinct-- even though cheetah facts show it was thriving a hundred years ago. The Asian cheetah used to live over many parts of Asia, including Israel, India, and Iran. Today, there are less than 100 of these incredibly rare Asian Cheetahs left, all of them in tiny population in Iran. Interesting Cheetah Facts: Super Speed The cheetah is the fastest land mammal in the world, and one of the most well-known cheetah facts is its amazing speed-- the cheetah can run up to 70 miles per hour, accelerating from zero to forty mph in just three steps, and from zero to seventy mph in just a few seconds. When a cheetah is running full speed, only one of its four feet touch the ground at a time, and (here's one of the most fascinating cheetah facts!) there are times that its feet don't touch the ground at all-- this animal is so fast it practically flies. The cheetah is an animal designed for speed and almost nothing else, from its large heart and liver to its flat paws with hard, tread-like pads. The Life of a Cheetah: Facts of Difficult Survival Yes, cheetahs are amazingly fast and specialized animals. But that's where their luck ends... because life is very hard for a cheetah. Facts show that a cheetah can only keep up its top speed for 400 to 600 meters before it has to stop; usually without having caught any prey. And when it's done, the cheetah is completely exhausted, and very vulnerable. After a run, a cheetah is both vulnerable to having its prey stolen by larger, stronger animals, and also to being attacked itself. Life just isn't easy for a cheetah. Facts show that cheetahs just aren't equipped to protect themselves or their cubs. Unlike most big cats, cheetahs are not at all aggressive, and instinct tells them to run from a fight rather than face it. Compared to lions, tigers, and leopards, cheetahs have small frames and weak jaws and teeth. Without the strength and ability of the larger cats, cheetahs will always be lower down on the food chain-- and forced to watch their young be preyed upon by larger predators. To learn more cheetah facts, including more about the difficult lives cheetahs live, visit the Smithsonian Magazine website. About The Author: http://www.smithsonianmag.com Smithsonian magazine is a monthly magazine created for modern, well-rounded individuals with diverse interests. It chronicles the arts, history, sciences and popular culture of the times. Each month, expect articles from the Smithsonian Institution's award-winning, monthly general interest magazine, plus exclusive Web articles, videos, blogs, photographs and more. |
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