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May 8, 2024 · Learn about cheetahs, the world's fastest sprinters, and their adaptations, behavior, and conservation status. Find out where they live, what they eat, how they hunt, and how they reproduce.
- Cheetahs are the fastest land animal in the world. These cats are fast. They can typically reach speeds of up to 98 kilometers per hour (61 miles per hour), and can go from 0 to 60 Mph in just 3-seconds, which is faster than most super-cars.
- Cheetahs don’t simply rely on their speed, they anticipate the escape tactics of different prey when hunting. A team or researchers found that Cheetahs hunting tactics were specific to characteristics of their prey, and are far more sophisticated than thought.
- The Cheetah tail helps them steer at high speed. It may look large and cumbersome, but when on the chase, the tail of the Cheetah plays an important role.
- Cheetahs tire quickly. Due to the energy required to run at such speed, cheetahs can only maintain a chase for between 200 – 300m. If a hunt isn’t successful after 1 min, they usually stop to rest.
- Nearly all wild cheetahs can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, where they roam open, grassy savannah plains and open forests. A small population lives in northeastern Iran, although only a few dozen remain here.
- These big cats’ bodies grow to between 1.1m and 1.4m metres long, plus a tail measuring 65cm to 80cm. Their weight ranges from 34kg to 54kg, males being slightly heavier.
- Cheetahs have a pale yellow coat with black dots on the upper parts, and are white on the underbelly. Their faces are distinguished by prominent, black lines that curve from the inner corner of each eye to the outer corners of the mouth.
- The fastest land animal in the world, a cheetah can reach 112km/h in just three seconds – that’s faster than a sports car accelerates! Its body has evolved for speed, with long legs, an elongated spine, adapted claws to grip the ground and a long tail for balance.
Learn about the cheetah, the world's fastest land mammal, and its unique adaptations, habitat, diet, and threats. Find out how cheetahs hunt, reproduce, and live in the wild and in captivity.
The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat and the fastest land animal. It has a tawny to creamy white or pale buff fur that is marked with evenly spaced, solid black spots. The head is small and rounded, with a short snout and black tear-like facial streaks.
Learn about the cheetah's speed, spots, habitat, communication and threats. Find out how the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is working to protect this endangered species.
Learn about the cheetah, the fastest mammal on land, and its unique adaptations, behavior, and conservation status. Find out how cheetahs hunt, live, and communicate with their distinctive spots and stripes.
