This close-up of the face of a young cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) shows the animal's most characteristic markings, two black tear-like streaks running down from the eyes to the mouth. The stripes are thought to protect the eyes from the sun’s glare. Another distinguishing feature are the solid black spots on a cheetah's coat that help camouflage the world’s fastest land animal and Africa’s most endangered big cat. Photographed in Zululand, South Africa.

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This close-up of the face of a young cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) shows the animal's most characteristic markings, two black tear-like streaks running down from the eyes to the mouth. The stripes are thought to protect the eyes from the sun’s glare. Another distinguishing feature are the solid black spots on a cheetah's coat that help camouflage the world’s fastest land animal and Africa’s most endangered big cat. Photographed in Zululand, South Africa.

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Size: 3300px × 2593px
Location: Zululand, South Africa
Photo credit: © Michele and Tom Grimm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: acinonyx, africa, animal, animals, big, black, camouflage, carnivore, carnivores, cat, cats, cheetah, cheetahs, close, close-, closeup, coat, daytime, endangered, eyes, face, faces, fur, hair, handsome, head, jubatus, mammal, mammals, mouth, nature, nose, outdoors, overcast, pattern, patterns, portrait, portraits, predators, relaxing, rest, resting, rsa, sa, south, spot, spots, spotted, streak, streaks, wildlife, za, zululand