Cheetah

Description

It is the fastest and most agile mammal on the planet thanks to its anatomy: the structure of its musculoskeletal system allows it to reach speeds of up to 103 km/h. Thanks to its exceptional eyesight, it can track the savannah in search of prey. These two characteristics make cheetahs excellent diurnal hunters and reduce competition with other predators for food. 

Ethology

The females have litters of 2 to 3 cubs that live with the mother for 18 months to 2 years, learning from the mother and practicing hunting techniques. The males live in small groups, normally formed by cubs from the same litter. 

Interesting facts

The main threats that are endangering these animals are habitat fragmentation and poaching as a sport or for selling their hides. Their population has dropped by 76% in the latest few decades. Captivity programs have very limited success as it is very difficult to get them to reproduce.