Cheetahs were large felines known for their speed.[1]
Description[]
Cheetahs were slender and long, their bodies designed to reach high speeds and leap great distances. The coloration of their fur allowed them to blend into their habitat seamlessly. Unlike most cats, cheetahs were unable to retract their claws.[2]
Biology[]
Cheetah's were the fastest natural land animals known to scholars of Toril, able to attain speeds of nearly 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) when sprinting.[1][note 1]
Combat[]
Cheetahs were skilled hunters and used their speed and jumping ability to tackle prey. Their sharp claws and fangs were deadly natural weapons. They could jump up to 10 feet (3 meters) horizontally and 20 feet (6.1 meters) vertically. Cheetahs were especially dangerous when protecting their cubs, for which they fought to the death in their defense.[2]
Ecology[]
Cheetahs were territorial creatures, but often lived with others of their kind. Female cheetahs had litters of up to four cubs, who remained by her side for two years.[2]
Diet[]
Cheetahs were obligate carnivores and targeted antelopes as their primary source of food. They rarely attacked humanoids for food.[2]
Habitats[]
These creatures were typically could be found in warm grasslands and prairies.[2]
Cheetahs were found on the plains in Durpar,[4] Estagund,[4] the Great Rift,[5] Halruaa,[6] Semphar,[7] the Shaar,[8] Var,[4] and Zakhara.[9] Some cheetahs also lived within the forest of Cormanthor.[10]
Relationships[]
Cheetahs were the only great cat species that could be properly domesticated.[3] Druids and rangers in the Shaar often took on a cheetah as a companion animal.[11]
Notable Cheetahs[]
- Calliope: an animal companion and a circus animal from Jack Mooney & Sons Circus in Ravens Bluff in the mid 14th century DR.[12]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ This value is calculated using v.3.5 rules. For comparison, the fastest horses in v.3.5—the Calimite, Chionthar, Dambraii, Lhesperan, and Raurin—can reach 40 mph (64 km/h).
In the real world, some horses can reach speeds of over 50 mph (80 km/h), and cheetahs have been clocked well over 60 mph (97 km/h), but v.3.5 consistently gives lower maximum speeds for animals, likely because the Monster Manuals include representatives of average specimens.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 271. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 36. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 25. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 83. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 85. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 86. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume II”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), p. 117. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 88. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur, Steve Kurtz (1992). Monstrous Compendium Al-Qadim Appendix. (TSR, Inc), p. 62. ISBN l-56076-370-1.
- ↑ James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Explorer's Manual”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), pp. 9–12. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 13. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Jean Rabe, et al. (August 1990). Inside Ravens Bluff, the Living City. Edited by Jean Rabe, Skip Williams. (TSR, Inc.), p. 3. ISBN 1-56076-048-6.
Connections[]
Giant felines: Dire lion • Dire tiger • Giant lynx
Magical felines: Cath shee • Crag cat • Elven cat • Jaguar lord • Jana-nimr • Jana-qitat • Luck eater • Sabu lord • Swamplight lynx • Tressym • Water cat
Planar felines: Fey panther • Spectral panther
Humanoids: Rakshasa • Razorclaw shifter • Tabaxi • Wemic
Outsiders: Cat lord • Displacer beast • Foo lion • Hellcat • Leomarh • Leonal
Lycanthropes: Werecat • Werecougar • Werejaguar • Wereleopard • Werelion • Werepanther • Weretiger
Undead felines: Crypt cat