Where does the Asiatic cheetah live? The life of a cheetah in the wild and its description. Extinct cheetah species
Ecology
The Asiatic cheetah, one of the rarest animals on the planet, is trying to attack livestock in areas where food supplies are wild nature drying up, new research has shown.
An international team of scientists who worked in Iran investigated what these animals eat in places where their numbers are declining due to poaching. Big cats have been found to prey on domestic animals as they cannot survive on small prey. To save the cheetahs it is necessary to protect them from poachers and conflicts with local farmers.
The Asiatic cheetah is an extremely rare subspecies of the cheetah found in Asia. These animals were thought to be able to survive by feeding on rabbits and hares in areas where medium-sized ungulates had already died out. However, studies have shown that this is not the case.
Scientists have spent 5 years researching cheetahs in two nature reserves in northeastern Iran, near the border with Turkmenistan. In these places, previously wild ungulates, including gazelles, wild sheep and goats.
By analyzing the excrement of big cats, scientists were able to understand what cheetahs eat in these places. Studies have shown that although rabbits and hares are part of the cheetah diet, they do not provide them with the necessary dose of nutrients. Cheetahs prefer medium-sized herbivores and may attack livestock if necessary.
The researchers said that local herders may be completely unaware that Asiatic cheetahs are encroaching on their livestock, since these animals are very rare. However, in order to avoid future conflicts with local authorities, the researchers recommend introducing additional laws against poaching, as well as somehow beautifying nature reserves so that rare cheetahs have not disappeared from these places forever.
Asiatic cheetahs in Iran can be compared to pandas in China or tigers in India as symbols of wildlife conservation. Some experts claim that only 200 individuals lived in Iran in the 1970s, and today there are no more than 70 Asiatic cheetahs left in the wild.
A message about a cheetah for children can be used in preparation for the lesson. A story about a cheetah for children can be supplemented
Report on the cheetah
The cheetah is a graceful, fast and muscular predatory animal. The cheetah is markedly different from other members of the cat family.
In pursuit of prey, reach speeds of up to 110 km / h and accelerate to 65 km / h in 2 seconds. But running big cat only for short distances. Jerk, great speed and lunch is already caught. If the prey is lucky, then the swift beast will not waste energy on a long chase.
Description of the cheetah
The cheetah has a small head, high-set eyes and small rounded ears, the so-called aerodynamic body structure, which serves to streamline it better while running. The coloration is sandy-yellow, with small black spots scattered all over the body, thin black stripes on the sides of the muzzle.
The mass of an adult cheetah is from 40 to 65 kg, the body length is from 115 to 140 cm, the rather massive tail is about 75 cm long.
The long tail is used as a rudder and stabilizer during sharp throws and turns.
Claws, unlike those of a lion, tiger or domestic purr, practically do not retract into the fingertips. This ensures a good grip of the paw with the surface, the animal does not slip and therefore can develop such a speed. During the chase, the predator can move in 7 meter jumps.
During the Middle Ages, wealthy African and Asian rulers used fast predators for hunting. They were easy to train and kept the caught prey like dogs until the arrival of the owner.
The cheetah is an affectionate, non-aggressive animal towards people. To date, there has not been a single case of this predator attacking a person.
The cheetah is a beautiful animal from the cat family. He has a slender body, a small head with small ears and a pretty a long tail. The weight of a cheetah can reach 65 kg, the body length is 140 cm, and the tail is up to 80 cm. The coat has a light yellow color with small dark spots, two dark stripes clearly stand out on the head, going down from the eyes, which give the muzzle a sad expression.
Spreading
The cheetah lives on African continent and also in parts of Asia. It used to be more widespread, but due to human destruction, the number of cheetahs in nature has greatly decreased.
Food
Like other members of the cat family, cheetahs are predators. They prey on animals of medium and small size. Most often, gazelles, hares, ostriches and some other animals become their victims. Cheetahs do not hunt from ambush, like other cats, but pursue their game in open spaces, overtaking it with large jumps.
Lifestyle
In search of prey, cheetahs go out in the morning or in the evening, and during the hot daytime hours they prefer to rest in the shade. Males live independently or unite in small groups. Together, they hunt together and protect the territory from other males.
The female almost always hunts alone and raises the young herself. She usually has between two and six babies. Cubs are born weak and blind. Baby cheetahs might be easy prey for predatory animals, but they manage to escape thanks to their unusual coloration. Their coat is almost the same color as the honey badger, and the honey badger is a rather aggressive animal, and rarely anyone will want to mess with him. During the hunt, the female leaves her cubs in the thickets, and when she returns, she feeds them with milk. Babies stay with their mother until about a year and a half, and then begin an independent life.
In nature, cheetahs live up to 20-25 years, and in captivity they can live much longer. This is due to the fact that cheetahs in zoos receive regular food and timely treatment.
- The cheetah is the fastest land mammal. It can reach speeds up to 115 km/h.
- While running, the cheetah makes jumps from 6 to 8 m long.
- In a cheetah, the claws do not retract completely and help him develop great speed just like studded shoes for athletes.
- On the high speed the cheetah chases the game no more than 400 meters. If on this segment it is not possible to overtake the victim, then the cheetah stops the pursuit.
- In ancient times, cheetahs were used in princely hunting. To do this, they caught young cheetahs and taught them the wisdom of hunting.
- Cheetahs quickly get used to humans, are well tamed and can be trained.
- Cheetahs do not attack humans.
Cheetah brief information.
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a predatory, most fast mammal from the cat family, and the only modern surviving representative belonging to the genus Acinonyx today. To many wildlife lovers, cheetahs are known as hunting leopards. Such an animal differs from most felines in a sufficient number of external characteristics and morphological features.
Description and appearance
All cheetahs are fairly large and powerful animals with a body length of up to 138-142 cm and a tail length of up to 75 cm.. despite the fact that, compared with other cats, the body of the cheetah is characterized as shorter, the weight of an adult and well-developed individual often reaches 63-65 kg. Relatively thin limbs, not only long, but also very strong, with partially retractable claws.
It is interesting! Cheetah kittens can fully retract their claws into their paws, but only under the age of four months. Older individuals of this predator lose such unusual ability, so their claws are distinguished by immobility.
The long and rather massive tail has uniform pubescence, and in the process of fast running, this part of the body is used by the animal as a kind of balancer. On a relatively small head there is a not very pronounced mane. The body is covered with short and sparse fur of yellowish or yellowish-sandy coloration. In addition to the abdominal part, medium-sized dark spots are quite densely scattered over the entire surface of the cheetah's skin. Also along the nose of the animal there are stripes of black camouflage coloring.
Cheetah subspecies
According to the results of the research, five well-distinguished subspecies of the cheetah are known today. One species lives on the territory of Asian countries, and the remaining four species of cheetah are found only in Africa.
Of greatest interest is Asian cheetah. About sixty individuals of this subspecies inhabit the sparsely populated regions of Iran. According to some reports, several individuals could also be preserved on the territory of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Two dozen Asiatic cheetahs are kept in captivity in zoos around the world.
Important! The difference between the Asian subspecies and the African cheetah is shorter legs, a rather powerful neck and a thick skin.
No less popular is the king cheetah or rare mutation Rex, the main difference of which is the presence of black stripes along the back and rather large and merging spots on the sides. King cheetahs interbreed with ordinary species, and the unusual color of the animal is due to a recessive gene, so such a predator is very rare.
There are also cheetahs, with very unusual fur coloration. Red cheetahs are known, as well as individuals that have a golden color and pronounced dark red spots. Animals of light yellow and yellowish-brown color with pale reddish spots look very unusual.
extinct species
This large view lived in Europe, and therefore was called the European cheetah. A significant part of the fossil remains of this species of predator was found in France, and date back to two million years. Images of the European cheetah are also present on rock paintings in the Shuve cave.
European cheetahs were much larger and more powerful than modern african view. They had well-defined elongated limbs, as well as large fangs. With a body weight of 80-90 kg, the length of the animal reached one and a half meters. It is assumed that a significant body weight was accompanied by a large muscle mass, so the running speed was an order of magnitude higher than that of modern species.
Range, habitats of cheetahs
A few centuries ago, cheetahs could be called a thriving species of the cat family. These mammals inhabited almost the entire territory of Africa and Asia.. The subspecies of the African cheetah was distributed from the south of Morocco to the Cape Good Hope. A significant number of Asiatic cheetahs inhabited India, Pakistan and Iran, united United Arab Emirates and Israel.
A large population could be found on the territory of Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria. This mammal was also found in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Currently, cheetahs are almost on the verge of extinction, so their distribution area has been greatly reduced.
Cheetah food
Cheetahs are natural born predators. In pursuit of its prey, the animal is able to develop speed more than a hundred kilometers per hour. With the help of the tail, cheetahs balance, and the claws give the animal an excellent opportunity to repeat all the movements of the victim as accurately as possible. Having overtaken the prey, the predator makes a strong sweep with its paw and clings to the neck.
The food for the cheetah is most often not too large ungulates, including small antelopes and gazelles. Hares can also become prey, as well as baby warthogs and almost any bird. Unlike most other feline species, the cheetah prefers daytime hunting.
Cheetah lifestyle
Cheetahs are not pack animals, but married couple consisting of an adult male and sexually mature female, is formed exclusively during the rut, but then decays very quickly.
The female leads a single image or is engaged in raising offspring. Males also live mostly alone, but can also unite in peculiar coalitions. Intra-group relations are usually equal. Animals purr and lick each other's faces. When meeting adults of different sexes belonging to different groups, cheetahs behave peacefully.
It is interesting! The cheetah belongs to the category of territorial animals and leaves various special marks in the form of excrement or urine.
The size of the hunting territory protected by the female can vary depending on the amount of food and the age of the offspring. Males do not guard one territory for too long. The shelter is chosen by the animal in an open, fairly well-viewed space. As a rule, the most open area is chosen for the lair, but you can find a cheetah shelter under thorny acacia bushes or other vegetation. Life expectancy varies from ten to twenty years.
Reproduction features
To stimulate the process of ovulation, the male must chase the female for some time. As a rule, adult sexually mature male cheetahs unite in small groups, which most often consist of brothers. Such groups enter into a struggle not only for the territory for hunting, but also for the females located on it. For six months, a pair of males can hold such a conquered territory. If there are more individuals, then the territory can be protected for a couple of years or more.
After mating, the female is in a state of pregnancy for about three months, after which 2-6 small and completely defenseless kittens are born, which can become very easy prey for any predatory animals, including eagles. Salvation for kittens is a kind of wool coloring, which makes them look like a very dangerous carnivorous predator - honey badger. Cubs are born blind, covered with short yellow hair with abundant small dark spots on the sides and paws. After a couple of months, the coat completely changes, becomes quite short and stiff, acquires a characteristic color for the species.
It is interesting! To find kittens in dense vegetation, the female is guided by the mane and tail brush of small cheetahs. The female feeds her cubs until the age of eight months, but kittens acquire independence only a year or later.
Asunonyx jubatus
Cheetah (English), Gepard (German), Guepard (French), Chita, Guepardo (Spanish).
The English word "cheetah" is derived from Indian titles chita (Hindustani), chitra (Gond), cital (Hindi), or chitraka (Sanskrit), all meaning "spotted" or "speckled". Sometimes it is called a hunting leopard.
Several subspecies of the cheetah from Asia and Africa have been described, although the differences between them are not entirely clear. Some authors do not distinguish between subspecies, but we, following Ellerman and Morrison-Scott (Ellerman & Morrison-Scott), divide the cheetah into two subspecies: the Asiatic cheetah (A.j.venaticus), described below, and African cheetah(A.j. jubatus).
Asunonyx jubatus venaticus
Asian Cheetah.
DESCRIPTION. Body length including head 110-150 cm (44-59 inches). Tail length 60-80 cm (24-31 inches). Height at withers 70-85 cm (28-33 inches). Weight 40-60 kg (90-130 pounds). A large, slender cat whose body tapers towards the back, with long, slender legs and a small, round head. The pale-yellow skin is covered with small black spots, there are characteristic black facial stripes ("tear stripes"), stretching from the eyes to the mouth. The hair on the neck and withers is thick and forms a small mane. The tail is long, with black transverse rings towards the end and a fluffy white tip. The nails are blunt, slightly curved and only partially retractable. Females are smaller than males, more gracefully built and without a mane around their necks, but otherwise similar to males.
.LOCATION. Semi-deserts, cereal steppes and savanna. They are rare in the forest zone.
SPREAD. It was originally widely distributed in Southwest Asia from Arabian Peninsula and Palestine east to Central India, and north to Turkmenistan. In all likelihood, disappeared from all of Asia, except Iran; possibly also preserved in separate parts Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Outside of Asia, the cheetah is distributed throughout most of Africa, except for the Central Sahara, and the rainforest zone.
TAXONOMICAL NOTES. For Asia, three subspecies of the cheetah are mentioned: A.j.raddei (Transcaspian territories), A.j.venator (India), A.j.venaticus (India). Some authors believe that A.j.venaticus also lives in North Africa others do not agree with this. All Asian subspecies are here considered together under the priority name venaticus Griffith, 1821.
NOTES. Usually not considered an object of sport hunting. The cheetah is a peaceful and non-aggressive animal, often tamed and used as a hunting hound more than 4,300 years ago. Domestic cheetahs are said to be very affectionate and playful animals.
STATUS. All cheetahs are listed as endangered in the USDI (1972) and Appendix 1 of CITES (1975). The Asian subspecies (A.j.venaticus) is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Laws on the protection of cheetahs have been adopted in almost all Asian countries.