Physiological Adaptations of the Cheetah a Savanna

Physiological Adaptations of the Cheetah

A Savanna is an ecosystem of grassland dotted with a variety of shrubs and individual trees. They are sometimes called tropical grasslands and are "found in a wide band on either side of the equator on the edges of tropical rainforests." (Savanna) The climate is divided into two seasons, a dry winter where temperatures range from 68? To 78?, and a wetter hotter summer where the temperature reaches an average of 78? To 86?. (Savanna) An example of such a Savanna is the Serengeti Plains of Tanzania, which is home to a number of animal species specifically adapted to it. Among these animals are large herbivores, which feed on the plentiful grasses, and carnivores, which feed on the herbivores. One such carnivore is the cheetah, or Acinonyx jubatus, a member of the feline family and an example of an organism that is specifically adapted to its environment.

The cheetah is the fastest land animal on Earth and can reach top speeds of 65 to 70 mph. As a result, the anatomy of a cheetah "reflects a strong specialization in adaptation for speed." ("Cheetah" Bluelion.org) Speed is necessary because cheetahs hunt by chasing their prey until they are close enough to swipe at its back legs, tripping the animal and allowing the cheetah to catch it and kill it. To facilitate running, the cheetah's body is long, slender, and lanky with a smaller, flatter ribcage which allows for a freer movement of the legs. In addition, the lungs and the nasal passages are larger which helps more air to enter the lungs providing a more efficient oxygen exchange system. This is important because a Savanna is a hot environment and running expends a great deal of oxygen. The cheetah's body temperature increases when running and can reach a point where it can cause brain damage. These adaptations for better oxygen exchange allow the cheetah to run quickly but not overheat.

When running, the cheetah not only must be faster than its prey, but also make quick stops and turns; this is why its claws do not retract and allow for better traction when making fast turns. The cheetah also has a specialized pointed pad on the back side of each front leg to help the animal when stopping quickly. "The cheetah can slam its two front legs down hard…the pads tear into the ground bringing the cat to a near instantaneous halt." ("Cheetah" Lions.org) Cheetahs are different from other members of the cat family as they have long, limber legs with strong muscles; enabling the cheetah to run with long strides and giving it great speed. It also has a spine that is similar to a spring which gives the cheetah the ability to have longer strides and more freedom of movement. This spring-like ability also gives the strides a bounce-like quality and increasing the cheetah's overall speed. Unlike other members of the cat family, the cheetah's tail is not round and fluffy but has a flat tail surface which acts like a rudder when running. The tail is also longer than other cats that helps balance the cheetah's long, lanky body.

The cheetah's incredible speed, along with its great agility, allows them to hunt alone and not in packs like lions, dogs, or hyenas. The environment in which it lives also allows the cheetah to hunt other slender, quicker animals like gazelles, springboks, impalas, and antelope. These types of animals are easier to chew so the cheetah has smaller teeth than other members of the cat family; but its teeth are still adapted to tearing the flesh of other animals. In addition to this adaptation, the cheetah also has a specialized fur color pattern which acts to give it a natural camouflage when stalking prey. The cheetah's fur is the one adaptation that is most recognizable and has variegated dark spots on a light background. ("Cheetah" Lions.org) One other adaptation involved in the cheetah's coloring is the tear marks on the cat's face. Much like sports players who darken the area under their eyes to reduce the sun's glare, the cheetah also have dark lines under their eyes which act in a similar manner.