Cheetah

In this case, the animal is able to achieve maximum speed when hunting due to its special body structure, which makes the cheetah the fastest land animal.

Behavior

Furthermore, the animal's hunting behavior is more reminiscent of that of wolves (canids), which gives cheetahs a special position within the cat family. However, research shows that these African mammals are indeed related to cats, as the closest relative of these animals is the American puma.

Appearance of Cheetahs

What are the special features of cheetahs, apart from their high hunting speeds? First of all, their fur should be mentioned, which has a yellowish base color, with black spots forming a pattern. In addition, the face is generally darker and does not have such spots, but instead two black stripes run from the eyes down to the muzzle. However, it's not just the fur that makes cheetahs unique, but also their small, slender and extremely long build. The animals can reach a length of up to 150 centimeters, with an additional 70 centimeters of tail length. However, their shoulder height is only about 80 centimeters.

Habitat of Cheetahs

Where do cheetahs prefer to live in Africa? In the past, these animals were much more widespread in Africa than they are today, as hunting has greatly reduced their population. Today, the cheetah is found almost exclusively in the steppes and savannas south of the Sahara, as this is where the animals can hunt best. Areas with good cover and hills as vantage points are particularly preferred. If there are too many trees or shrubs, they cannot reach their high speed, which usually leads to unsuccessful hunts, so cheetahs avoid such areas.