Cheetah General Information

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.

It reaches 67-94 cm (26-37 in) at the shoulder, and the head-and-body length is between 1.1 and 1.5 m (3 ft 7 in and 4 ft 11 in. Cheetah, one of the world's most-recognizable cats, known especially for its speed. Cheetahs' sprints have been measured at a maximum of 114 km (71 miles) per hour, and they routinely reach velocities of 80.

Cheetah facts: learn all about these felines with facts about the cheetah's habitat, diet, behaviour, range, characteristics and top speed! Basic facts about Cheetah: lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status. Learn about cheetahs from Cheetah Conservation Fund.

CCF has the world's leading experts on cheetahs including our founder Dr. Laurie Marker. Four subspecies of cheetah live in Africa, predominantly in the eastern and southern regions of the continent.

A fifth subspecies, called the Asiatic cheetah, has a very small population in Iran. Cheetahs are apex predators, which means they help to keep prey populations in check, supporting local ecosystems. Information from newly deployed collars and spoor surveys will provide baseline data on cheetah ecology, habitat requirements, and human.

Learn fascinating facts about cheetahs, including their incredible speed, natural habitat, and ongoing conservation efforts. Explore how these majestic big cats survive in the wild and why they need our help. Fun Facts The cheetah is the single surviving species of the genus Acinonyx.

A cheetah's footprints have claw tips visible, more like a dog's than like a typical cat's print. Cheetahs have very low levels of genetic variation compared to other mammals, making them susceptible to disease. The cheetah is a daylight hunter that benefits from stealthy movement and a spotted coat that allows it to blend easily into high, dry grasses.

Cheetahs begin a hunt by stalking their prey.