Mammal · Carnivore · Savanna
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
The cheetah is a lightly built felid specialised for short, high-speed chases in open habitat. Low genetic diversity and habitat fragmentation constrain many populations.
Interactive model
Characteristics
- 21–72 kg (adult)
- ≈ 46.3–158.7 lb (adult)
- 1.1–1.5 m (adult)
- ≈ 3.6–4.9 ft (adult)
- up to 103 km/h (maximum recorded)
- ≈ up to 64 mph (maximum recorded)
- 8–12 years
- ≈ 8–12 years
Scale
Bars are proportional to a linear dimension (height or length). They are not mass. Human reference is 1.7 m.
- Cheetah1.3 m
- Average adult human1.7 m
- Door2 m
Activity: Mostly diurnal
Taxonomy
Life stages
Cub
Mantle fur may provide camouflage; cub mortality is high.
Adult
Females are usually solitary with cubs; males may form coalitions.
Adaptations
Flexible spine and long limbs
A highly flexible lumbar spine increases stride length during a sprint, trading climbing power for acceleration.
Behaviour
Diurnal hunter of small to medium ungulates; kills are often lost to larger carnivores.
Habitat and range
- Africa (native)
- Asia (native)
Conservation
Vulnerable
Population trend: Decreasing
Assessment year 2021 (curated, not live).
- Habitat loss
- Conflict
- Illegal trade
Source: Acinonyx jubatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Compare
Sources
- Acinonyx jubatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — conservation
- Acinonyx jubatus on Animal Diversity Web or equivalent secondary literature — measurement
- Acinonyx jubatus on Animal Diversity Web or equivalent secondary literature — text
Photograph: Charles J. Sharp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA