TIME: Cats Up Close (2)

GERRY ELLIS / MINDEN PICTURES

CATS UP CLOSE


	2 of 8

CHEETAH
(Acinonyx jubatus)
LENGTH 44 in. to 55 in.
MAXIMUM WEIGHT Males, 121 lbs.; females, 88 lbs.
EST. POP. 12,000 to 15,000
STATUS Vulnerable (critically endangered in Iran and North Africa)
THREATS Depletion of prey species by human hunters; shot by ranchers
HABITAT Grasslands, woodland savannas, semideserts
MAN EATER? No
Fastest land animal; can run 65 m.p.h. (top speed of humans is 23 m.p.h.); can go from 0 to 50 m.p.h. in less than 3 sec. Flies through air: during 50% of its stride, no paws touch ground

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