CHEETAHS

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 Cheetahs
The cheetah is a type of member of the big cat family. It is the
fastest land mammal and can run up to eighty miles per hour
for a short time. It has short, tan colored fur covered in round
black spots which helps it blend into it's surroundings, or
camouflage. Compared to other big cats it is long and slender,
with a large ribcage because it has large lungs to breathe in
plenty of air when it is running. It also has a larger heart and
larger nostrils to help pump blood and take the air into the lungs.

Unlike other “true” big cats, the cheetah can purr, but cannot
roar. Most big cats can roar but not purr. It's claws are
always out and help the cat to run but not slip, by digging
into the ground. The tail also helps the cheetah keep
balance when running by using it as a rudder when it makes
sharp turns while hunting down an animal. The cheetah is a
carnivore, or meat eater, and usually hunts gazelle,
wildebeest, zebra, and other mammals.

There are cheetahs living in mostly Africa, some parts of Asia, and
possibly India. They prefer wide open areas like grasslands,
prairies, savannahs, and anywhere they can run and find prey (an
animal hunted for food. A predator is an animal that hunts another
animal.) They are also sometimes found in mountain areas.
Cheetahs are very endangered, or in danger of dying out. There are
only about 13,000 living in the wilds of Africa today.

Most male (boy) cheetahs live together with the brothers of their litters, although
sometimes three of four lone cheetahs join up in their
own group. These groups are called coalitions. Many
males are also solitary, or live in their own. All males,
whether in groups or not, are very territorial and have
their own area, and fight or kill any other cheetahs that
invade. Females (girls) do not have
territories but have a home range,
which is smaller. They live with their
family or alone. Mothers are pregnant for about 100 days before the
babies are born. The baby cheetahs, or cubs, start hunting with their
mother at five weeks and leave their mother at three years, and find
their own territory or home range.

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 Vocabulary

Even though cheetahs can't roar, they have many other ways to communicate with
each other.

• Chirping – When a cheetah tries to find another cheetah, such as when a mother
wants to find its cub, it makes a high-pitched chirping sound.

• Churring/stuttering - A churr can be seen as a social invitation to other cheetahs,

an expression of interest, or uncertainty.

• Growling – Usually used with hissing and spitting. Used when a cheetah is angry,
scared or faced with danger.

• Purring – A cheetah purrs when it is content just like a house cat.

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 Check-up
1.How fast can a cheetah run?

2.What is one thing a cheetah can do other big cats cannot?

3.What is a carnivore?

4.What are three animals cheetahs eat?

5.Where do most cheetahs live?

6.What is prey?

7.How many cheetahs live in the wild in Africa?

8.What does solitary mean?

9.What is a baby cheetah called?

10.What is a cheetah doing when it is chirping?

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 Check-up

Circle the correct answer.

1. Cheetahs can run __ miles per hour.

60 70 80

2. Cheetahs like to eat _____.

birds fish mammals

3. Prey is _____.

an animal that hunts an animal that is hunted

4. A coalition is _____.

a group of lone male cheetahs joined a lone female cheetah

5. Cubs learn to hunt when they're _____ weeks old.

three five ten

6. A cheetah purrs when it is _____.

angry tired content

True or false.

7. ____ Cheetahs are not true big cats.

8. ____ Cheetahs are the fastest land mammal.

9. ____ A predator is an animal that hunts another animal.

10. ____ Baby cheetahs are grown when they are five years old.

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Draw a picture and write a short report about what you learned.

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cheetah
cat
cub
prey
solitary
predator
coalition
endangered
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 Animal Report

This animal is a/an:_______________________

It lives: on land in water both land & water

It eats: plants animals

(herbivore) (carnivore)

both plants & animals

(omnivore)

It is: active at night active during the day

nocturnal diurnal

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 It is: a vertebrate an invertebrate

It: lays eggs has live babies

It likes: sunny, dry places dark, damp places

It lives in: warm places cold places warm & cold places

It is: harmful helpful both/neither

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Appearance: Draw a picture of the animal in its
(color, size, shape; males/females different?; native habitat:
how does the appearance act as camouflage?)

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________

______________________________ Habitat:
(where does it live - forest, near river, etc.; type
______________________________ of home - size, shape, color, locations; other
plants and animals that live there)

Food: ___________________________
(kind of food, where it finds food)
___________________________
______________________________
___________________________
______________________________
___________________________
______________________________
___________________________
______________________________

______________________________ Enemies:
(who are the enemies; how does this animal
protect itself?)
Other Interesting Facts:
___________________________
______________________________
___________________________
______________________________
___________________________
______________________________
_____________________

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Help the cheetah cub find his mother.

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Help the cheetah cub find his mother.

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Help the cheetah cub find his mother.

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 Cheetah Links

http://kidsgowild.com/kidsgowild/animalfacts/88075/88162
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-cheetah.html
http://library.thinkquestkidsgowild.org/11234/cheetah.html
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/coloringbook/images/sketches/cheetah.gif -
coloring page

Interesting facts about cheetahs and a coloring page to print.

A coloring page of a cheetah with unusual spots.

Very simple cheetah printable outline to copy or trace.

Cheetah coloring page.

Several cheetah coloring pages.

Cheetah maze

How to draw a cheetah

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