Cheetah | Description, Speed, Habitat, Diet, Cubs, & Facts - Britannica

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External Websites

• A-Z Animals - Cheetah
• National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Conservation Genetics of the Cheetah: Lessons Learned and New Opportunities
• San Diego Zoo Animals and Plants - Cheetah
• Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals - Cheetah (PDF)
• Animal Corner - Cheetah
• The Maryland Zoo - Cheetah
• International Environment Library Consortium - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library - Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Fact Sheet: Summary
• Animal Diversity Web - Cheetah
• Live Science - Cheetahs: Earth's fastest land animals
• Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute - Cheetah
• Frontiers - Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology - Three Characteristics of Cheetah Galloping Improve Running Performance Through Spinal Movement: A Modeling Study

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cheetah mammal Ask Anything Quick Summary Homework Help Also known as: Acinonyx jubatus, hunting leopard Written by Warren Johnson Staff Scientist, Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, U.S. Warren Johnson Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 11, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Quick Summary Table of Contents Table of Contents Quick Summary Ask Anything Top Questions

Where are cheetahs found in the wild?

Nearly all the cheetahs remaining in the wild live in Africa. In Asia they are almost extinct, with the largest confirmed population (a few dozen) inhabiting northeastern Iran.

What do cheetahs eat?

Cheetahs eat a variety of small animals, including game birds, rabbits, small antelopes (including the springbok, impala, and gazelle), young warthogs, and larger antelopes (such as the kudu, hartebeest, oryx, and roan).

What is the gestation period in a cheetah?

The gestation period in cheetahs is three months. The female gives birth to two to eight cubs.

What is the lifespan of a cheetah?

The life expectancy of cheetahs is about 7 years in the wild and 8 to 12 years in captivity.

How fast can a cheetah run?

The maximum speed cheetahs have been measured at is 114 km (71 miles) per hour, and they routinely reach velocities of 80–100 km (50–62 miles) per hour while pursuing prey.

News •

Cheetahs moving from Kuno to Rajasthan show ‘natural territorial behaviour’: NTCA • Mar. 8, 2026, 9:42 AM ET (The Hindu) Show less

cheetah, (Acinonyx jubatus), 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 80–100 km per hour while pursuing prey. Nearly all the cheetahs remaining in the wild live in Africa.

Did you know?

Cheetahs are the world’s fastest sprinters. What is the fastest long-distance animal?

Cheetahs are covered almost entirely with small black spots on a background of pale yellow and have a white 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, like a well-worn trail of inky tears. Cheetahs have a long, slender body measuring 1.2 meters (4 feet), with a long tail (65–85 cm [2–3 feet]) that generally ends in a white tuft. They are about 75 cm tall at the shoulder. Weight ranges from 34 to 54 kg (75 to 119 pounds), males being slightly larger than females.

Natural history

Cheetahs have evolved many adaptations that enhance their ability to sprint. Their legs are proportionally longer than those of other big cats; an elongated spine increases stride length at high speeds; they have unretractable claws, special paw pads for extra traction, and a long tail for balance. Internally, the liver, adrenal glands, lungs, bronchi, nasal passages, and heart are all large to allow intense physiological activity. During a chase, cheetahs take about 31/2 strides per second and 60 to 150 breaths per minute. Chases are usually limited to sprints of less than 200–300 metres, however, because the increased physiological activity associated with running creates heat faster than it can be released through evaporative cooling (sweating through their paws and panting).

Unlike most carnivores, cheetahs are active mainly during the day, hunting in the early morning and late afternoon. A cheetah eats a variety of small animals, including game birds, rabbits, small antelopes (including the springbok, impala, and gazelle), young warthogs, and larger antelopes (such as the kudu, hartebeest, oryx, and roan). Prey is generally consumed quickly to avoid losing it to competitors such as lions, leopards, jackals, and hyenas.

Cheetahs inhabit a wide variety of habitats, including the dry, open country and grasslands where they are most often seen, as well as areas of denser vegetation and rocky upland terrain. Groups consist of a mother and her young or of coalitions made up of two or three males that are often brothers. Adult males and females rarely meet except to mate. Male coalitions live and hunt together for life and occupy an area that may overlap the range of several adult females. Female home ranges are generally much larger than those of male coalitions.

Related Topics: What’s the Difference Between a Cheetah and a Leopard? How Fast Are Cheetahs? Are Cheetahs Cats or Dogs? What Do Cheetahs Eat? king cheetah (Show more) On the Web: Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute - Cheetah (Mar. 02, 2026) (Show more) See all related content Britannica Quiz Ultimate Animals Quiz

Following a gestation period of three months, the female gives birth to two to eight cubs, usually in an isolated spot hidden in the cover of tall grass or thicker vegetation. At birth, cubs weigh about 250 to 300 grams (slightly more than half a pound). Their fur is dark and includes a thick yellowish gray mane along the back, a trait that presumably offers better camouflage and increased protection from high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night during the first few months of life. Mortality among young cubs can be as high as 90 percent in the wild, often because of other predators. The mother leaves her offspring when they are 16–24 months old. Young males are chased away by the resident male coalition, traveling several hundred kilometres before establishing residence and becoming sexually active at 21/2 to 3 years of age. Female offspring will generally inhabit the same vicinity as their mother. Life expectancy of cheetahs is about 7 years in the wild and generally from 8 to 12 years in captivity.