Welcome to a wild and exciting adventure of cheetah facts! Did you know that cheetahs are not only the fastest land animals on earth, but they also have a plethora of other amazing features?
Get ready to pounce on 45 interesting fun facts about cheetahs that will leave you in awe! From their distinctive spotted coats to their incredible hunting abilities, cheetahs are truly fascinating creatures that deserve our admiration.
Let’s dive in and discover some of the most intriguing cheetah facts out there!
1 Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on the planet, capable of running up to 75 mph (120 km/h).
2 Cheetahs can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just a few seconds.
3 Cheetahs are carnivorous and primarily eat small to medium-sized ungulates like gazelles and impalas.
4 Cheetahs are found in Africa and a small population also exists in Iran.
5 Cheetahs can reach lengths of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) and weigh between 77 to 143 pounds (35 to 65 kilograms).
6 Cheetahs can live alone or in small groups consisting of a female and her cubs or a coalition of males.
7 Cheetahs are mostly active during the day and hunt during early morning and late afternoon to avoid the heat of the day.
8 Cheetahs have distinctive black “tear marks” below their eyes which are thought to help absorb glare and improve their vision.
9 Cheetahs use their tails to help with balance and make sharp turns while running at high speeds.
10 Cheetahs have non-retractable claws which provide traction and grip while running.
11 Unlike other big cats, cheetahs cannot roar but instead make a variety of chirping and purring noises.
12 Cheetahs have excellent eyesight which helps them spot prey from a distance.
13 Cheetahs can see detail four to five times better than humans.
14 Cheetahs are considered vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss and human conflict.
15 There are five subspecies of cheetahs, each with distinct geographical ranges.
16 Cheetahs have a life expectancy of around 10 to 12 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.
17 Cheetahs do not have a strong social hierarchy like lions, but they do have a complex communication system of vocalizations and body language.
18 Female cheetahs are solitary except when raising cubs.
19 Male cheetahs form coalitions consisting of two to three individuals that hunt cooperatively and defend territories.
20 Cheetahs have semi-retractable claws which allow them to grip the ground like cleats while running.
21 Unlike lions and other big cats, cheetahs do not defend their territories aggressively and may abandon them in the face of competition.
22 Cheetahs are capable of mating year-round, though births tend to peak during the dry season in their respective habitats.
23 Cheetahs have semi-permanent tears caused by a bad case of allergies or infections
24 Male cheetahs usually don’t mate with the females in their group.
25 Cheetahs are able to communicate with their relatives through distinctive vocalizations.
26 Baby cheetahs have long, fluffy hair that stands up on end to make them appear larger and more intimidating to predators.
27 The cheetah’s forehead has unique black spots that help disguise eyes as false markings, this helps to camouflage themselves when hunting from prey.
28 Cheetahs use their tails for balance while running and steering sharp turns.
29 For a cheetah to achieve top speed, it must be running in a straight line.
30 Cheetahs are able to accelerate faster than most sports cars. It can run from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds.
31 Cheetahs have a vulnerable population due to the inbreeding and hunting for their skins, which can cause genetic defects like weak immune systems.
32 Cheetahs have non-retractable claws that function like spikes on football shoes.
33 Cheetahs have very little body fat and may lose a kill to another predator if they can’t consume it in a matter of minutes.
34 Cheetahs are not picky eaters and will eat almost anything that they can take down.
35 The cheetah’s flexible spine allows the back legs to stretch farther forward while running, giving them more power.
36 Cheetahs rely heavily on their vision to locate prey and target their running attacks, but their sense of smell is not well-developed.
37 Cheetahs have a high mortality rate among cubs due to predation by larger carnivores and disease.
38 Cheetahs can reproduce through a variety of methods including artificial insemination and embryo transfer.
39 Cheetahs were previously used by humans for hunting, particularly by the Mughal emperors in India.
40 Cheetahs have a unique respiratory system that allows them to take in more oxygen with every breath while sprinting.
41 Cheetahs have been observed exhibiting playful behaviour with each other, including chasing and wrestling.
42 Cheetahs have been known to form symbiotic relationships with other animals, such as ostriches and African wild dogs.
43 Cheetahs have been documented swimming to reach their prey or cross rivers.
44 In the wild, cheetahs have a success rate of catching prey of approximately 50 percent.
45 Cheetahs are the only big cats with black spots on their white undersides, which are thought to help them blend in with the grasslands while lying low.
46 Cheetahs were once found throughout much of Africa and Asia, but are now primarily restricted to sub-Saharan Africa.
