are the fastest land animals, achieving speeds of 110
km/h (70 mph) for short durations. Their height at the
shoulder is 100 cm (39 in), and their maximum weight is
65 kg (140 lb). The claws on the Cheetah are non retractile.
Cheetahs were once called hunting leopards because in
Asia they have been successfully trained for hunting for
thousands of year. Today the Cheetah is extinct in Asia.
Although the cheetah was exterminated in India in the
1950s, they are still found on the open plains of tropical
Two species exist: A. jubatus and the uncommon A. rex
of east central Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), both endangered.
Cheetahs came before other large cats. The cheetah's elegant
spotted coat caught the eye of ancient civilizations.
And the word "cheetah" is derived from "spotted one" in
the Hindi language. The cheetah is not a close relative
of other bigs cats, such as lions and tigers, they are