Laura Marsh - Cheetahs

Laura Marsh

Washington, D.C.

For Granny
- L. F. M.

Text copyright 2011 National Geographic Society
Published by the National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. 20036. All rights reserved.
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Printed in the United States of America
11/WOR/1

What runs so fast
it races by in a flash?

What looks
like it cries
but has no
tears in
its eyes?

What is covered in spots
and lives where its hot?

Its a cheetah! (And were not lion.)

Cheetahs are large cats that look as
cute and cuddly as a house cat. But you
wouldnt
want to
snuggle
up to a
cheetah!

Cheetahs
are powerful
hunters with
sharp claws
and teeth.

Cheetahs and leopards look alike
because they both have spots. But they
are different in many ways.

Cheetahs have tear marks. These are
black stripes that run from their eyes
to their mouths. Leopards dont have
stripes on their faces.

Cheetah

T
A
I
L

long and thin

B
O
D
Y

narrow

H
E
A
D

small

Leopard

thick and short

wide

large

In a race
between a
lion, a
greyhound
dog, and a
cheetah,
which animal
would win?

The cheetah, hands down!

The cheetah is the
fastest land animal on
Earth. It can reach
a running speed of
miles an hour in
just three seconds.
Thats as fast as a
sports car!

What makes a cheetah so fast?
Its body is built for speed.

A long tail balances the
cheetah when it makes
sudden, sharp turns.

A flexible spine
helps it change
direction quickly.

Long legs help
it run fast.

A thin, lean body helps
it move quickly.

Excellent eyesight
makes spotting prey
quick and easy.

Large nostrils let
it breathe easily
after running.

Its claws dont
completely pull back
into its paws like
other cats. The claws
grip the ground
when running, like
cleats on a shoe.

Its deep chest makes
breathing easier
while running.

A small
head makes
the cheetah
lighter.

Word Bites

PREY: An animal
that is eaten by
another animal

Q

Which cat should you never
play cards with?

A

A cheatah!

Cheetahs are sneaky when they
hunt! Their spotted coats act as
camouflage in tall grass. They stalk
their prey slowly and quietly.

When they get close, cheetahs
chase their prey.

But cheetahs get tired quickly.
Whew! They need to rest, too.

camouflage

Say CAM -oh - f laj

Word Bites

CAMOUFLAGE: An
animals natural color
or form that allows it
to blend in with
its surroundings.

STALK: To move
secretly toward
something.

Most cheetahs
live in Africa.
A very small
number may
still live in
Iran, a country
in Asia.

Like people, cheetahs can live in
different habitats. Cheetahs live on
the savanna and in areas with lots
of plants. They also live on grasslands
and in the mountains.

But cheetahs cant
live near crowded
buildings. They need
open space.

Word Bites

HABITAT: The
place where a
plant or animal
naturally lives

SAVANNA: A
grassy plain
with few trees in
a hot, dry area

No matter where they live, male
cheetahs stick together. Brothers live
in a group called a coalition.

Female cheetahs live alone, except
when caring for their cubs. Male and
female cheetahs come together to
have cubs. Then they live apart again.

coalition

Say koh -ah - LISH -un

Q

Which side of the cheetah has
the most spots?

A

The outside!

A mother cheetah has three to five cubs
at one time. They are born
blind and helpless.

But the cubs grow
quickly! They can