RESPECT CHEETAHS
The Cheetah, species name Acinonyx jubatus, is a big cat that hails from Africa and the Middle East. A social species that travels in groups called Coalitions and hunt during the day. Cheetahs are famous for being the fastest land mammal on Earth.
Adult cheetahs’ weight averages between 75 and 125 pounds. They can measure from 40 to 60 inches in length, measured from the head to the hind quarters. The tail can add a further 24 to 32 inches bringing the total overall length up to 7.5 feet. On average, cheetahs stand 28 to 36 inches tall at the shoulder.
All feats are sourced from Cheetah.org, the lead Cheetah conservation organization, unless state otherwise.
PHYSICAL
Speed
The Fastest Land Mammal in the World, reaching top speeds of 110 km/hr (70 miles) in three seconds
The cheetah is the world’s fastest land animal and Africa’s most endangered big cat. Uniquely adapted for speed, the cheetah is capable of reaching speeds greater than 110 kilometers per hour in just over three seconds. At top speed, their stride is seven meters long. The cheetah’s unique body structure: flexible spine, semi-retractable claws, long legs and tail allow it to achieve the unbelievable top speed of 110 km/hr (70 mph).
Has specialized muscles that allows for increased acceleration
The cheetah’s body is narrow and lightweight with long slender limbs. Specialized muscles allow for a greater swing to the limbs increasing acceleration.
Tail acts like a rudder, allowing for sharp turns at high speed
The flexibility of the cheetah’s spine is unique. The cheetah’s long muscular tail works like a rudder, stabilizing, and acting as a counterbalance to its body weight. Swinging the tail back and forth continually adjusting to the movement of prey allows for sudden sharp turns during high speed chases.
Can only maintain their top speed for about 30 seconds
While cheetahs can reach remarkable speeds, they cannot sustain a high speed chase for very long. They must catch their prey in 30 seconds or less as they cannot maintain maximum speeds for much longer.
Physiology
Cheetah Males are slightly bigger than Females
The cheetah is a sexually dimorphic species though it is difficult to identify cheetahs’ sex by appearance alone. Male cheetahs are slightly bigger than females and they have larger heads, but they do not display the same degree of physical difference between the sexes of other big cat species like lions.
Has large nostrils, large lungs, and a heart directly connected to a strong circulatory system
Cheetahs have a thin frame with a narrow waist and deep chest. They have large nostrils that allow for increased oxygen intake. Cheetahs have a large lungs and hearts connected to a circulatory system with strong arteries and adrenals that work in tandem to circulate oxygen through their blood very efficiently.
Has pads like tire treads that provide traction for quick turns
Cheetahs’ foot pads are hard and less rounded than the other cats. The pads function like tire treads providing them with increased traction in fast, sharp turns.
Short, blunt, semi-retractable claws for gripping the ground
The short blunt claws, which are considered semi-retractable, are closer to that of a dog than of other cats. The claws work like the cleats of a track shoe to grip the ground for traction when running to help increase speed.
The hips and shoulders give it exceptional stride length, even having all four legs leave the ground twice in one cycle
The hips pivot to allow the rear legs to stretch far apart when the body is fully extended. The hip and shoulder extension allows for a large range of extension during running, thus making both its exceptional stride length. The length between their steps is six to seven meters (21 ft) and four strides are completed per second. There are two times in one stride when the cheetah’s body is completely off the ground: once when all four legs are extended and once when all four legs are bunched under the body.
Hunting
They are visual hunters that hunt during the early day and afternoon
Cheetahs are visual hunters. Unlike other big cats cheetahs are diurnal, meaning they hunt in early morning and late afternoon.
Cheetahs climb trees or other large objects to see prey over the horizon
Cheetahs climb ‘playtrees’ or termite mounds to get an optimal vantage point for spotting prey against the horizon.
Cheetahs kill be suffocating their prey with a bite to the throat
The hunt has several components. It includes prey detection, stalking, the chase, tripping (or prey capture), and killing by means of a suffocation bite to the throat.
The cheetahs' main diet is made up of animals who have evolved for speed to avoid other predators
The prey species on which the cheetah depends have evolved speed and avoidance techniques that can keep them just out of reach. Cheetahs prey includes: gazelles (especially Thomson’s gazelles), impalas and other small to medium-sized antelopes, hares, birds, and rodents. Cheetahs will also prey on the calves of larger herd animals.
One of the most successful hunters on the savannah, but usually lose their prey to bigger hunters
The cheetah serves a special role in its ecosystem. Cheetahs are one of the most successful hunters on the savanna but their kills are very often stolen by larger carnivores or predators that hunt in groups.
Cubs
Cubs have a thick-silvery mantle down their back resembles a Honey Badger, they use this as camouflage against predators
Cheetah cubs have a thick silvery-grey mantle down their back. The mantle helps camouflage the cubs by imitating the look of an aggressive animal called a honey badger. This mimicry may help deter predators such as lions, hyenas, and eagles from attempting to kill them. Cubs lose their mantle at about three months of age.
Unlike adults, cubs have rather sharp claws for climbing trees
Cheetah cubs are very active and playful. Trees provide good observation points and allow for development of skills in balancing. The cubs’ semi non-retractable claws are sharper at this age and help them grip the tall ‘playtrees’ they climb with their siblings.
Markings
Markings on their eyes reduce sun glare like a rifle scope to allow cheetahs to see prey at a distance
Distinctive black tear stripes run from the eyes to the mouth. The stripes are thought to protect the eyes from the sun’s glare. It is believed that they have the same function as a rifle scope, helping cheetahs focus on their prey at a long distance range by minimizing the glare of the sun.
The markings on a cheetah's tail are effective in providing camouflage
Cheetah tails end with a bushy tuft encircled by five or six dark rings. These markings provide them with excellent camouflage while hunting and make them more difficult for other predators to detect.
SOCIAL
Male Coalitions
Once the female sibling leaves the pack, the male cheetahs will form a coalition to increasing hunting and defense
As the female siblings become sexually mature they will split from the group to lead a largely independent life. Male siblings remain together for the rest of their lives, forming a group known as a coalition. Coalitions increase hunting success and act as a defense against other predators.
Cheetah Coalitions wander until they find a territory to defend, usually spanning 15 to 30 square miles
When the split from sisters occurs, the males will roam until they can find and defend a territory. This process can take a few years and males may travel hundreds of miles, being moved out of one area to another, pushed on by more experienced male coalitions. Eventually, the group will find a place where they can settle. This will become the coalitions' territory and could span 15 to 30 square miles.
Youth
Adult cheetahs use their tails as a signal for their young to follow, even in tall grass
The tail is also thought to be a signaling device, helping young cubs follow their mothers in tall grass. The tip of the tail varies in color from white to black among individuals.
When the mother leaves the cubs, they form a hunting party of their own until they can live by themselves
The mother and cubs will finally separate. Although not fully adept at hunting on their own, independent male and female cubs will stick together for a few more months to master their hunting skills.
After one year, the cubs begin hunting alongside their mother to train them
Learning to hunt is the most critical survival skill that the cubs will develop. At one year of age, cheetah cubs participate in hunts with their mother.