Cheetahs must cool down after they hunt if they expend too much energy running. Getting to such high speeds puts a tremendous toll on their bodies with their body temperature rising to dangerous heights. You'll often see them lounging in the shade after sprinting or running. Cheetahs have to consume their meal quickly as they are the smallest of the "big cats" and can have their kill taken from them by lions, leopards and hyenas. John Lindell has written articles for "The Greyhound Review" and various other online publications.
A Connecticut native, his work specializes in sports, fishing and nature. Lindell worked in greyhound racing for 25 years. Cheetahs have evolved over the years into the fastest land animal with a number of adaptations. Characteristics of the Cheetah. How Long Does a Cheetah Live? How Fast Does a Tiger Run? How Long Does a Giraffe Live? A cheetah has large nasal passages and enlarged lungs and heart to help intake air and oxygenate blood.
When a cheetah runs, its respiratory rate increases from a rest rate of 60 to breaths per minute. There are drawbacks to being so fast. Sprinting dramatically increases body temperature and exhausts the body's oxygen and glucose reserves, so a cheetah needs to rest after a chase.
Cheetahs rest before they eat, so the cat faces an increased risk of losing a meal to competition. Because the cat's body is adapted to speed, it's lean and lightweight.
A cheetah has weaker jaws and smaller teeth than most predators and it isn't strong enough to put up a fight. Basically, if a predator threatens to take a cheetah's kill or attack its young, a cheetah has to run. The cheetah is the fastest land animal, but it's not the quickest animal on Earth. Birds of prey dive more quickly than a cheetah can run. The top 10 fastest animals are:. The pronghorn, an American animal resembling an antelope, is the fastest land animal in the Western Hemisphere.
It runs very quickly, yet has no natural predators that approach its speed. One theory is that the pronghorn was once prey to the now-extinct American cheetah! Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Science Coronavirus Coverage What families can do now that kids are getting the vaccine.
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To catch the animal, cheetahs will try to trip their prey either with their dewclaw or by swatting at its rump. This may break the bones of the prospective meal, making it easier for cheetahs to catch it. Smaller prey may die from the bite itself. Often, cheetahs will hunt during the daytime, usually around dawn between 6am to 10 am and dusk between 4pm and 6 pm. Cheetahs tend to avoid when other bigger creatures hunt, like lions who primarily hunt at night.
This makes sense, as they can avoid any confrontation with bigger and more powerful predators. Cheetahs will hunt medium-sized ungulates, depending on the area. Cheetahs may prey on livestock as well. Here are some of the cheetahs favorite prey: gazelles, springboks, impalas, and other small antelope. Read more about the zebras top running speed.
The success rate cheetahs have with their hunts is 25 to 40 percent. If their prey is smaller, then it may be higher. Cheetahs expend a lot of energy with their running. After the hunt is over and their food is caught, cheetahs may rest for up to an hour after dragging their kill to a tree or a bush.
Running that hard can tire anyone or anything out, so cheetahs can be found panting quite heavily after a run.
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