Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

A body built only for running

A cheetah running at top speed, with its long tail stretched straight out behind it as a rudder.

Status: Threatened
Open savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, small population in Asia

Numbers

Weight: 89 lbWikidata value for adults; the text states that weight very rarely exceeds 130 lb
Length: 53 inbody 47-59 in, plus 28-31 in tail; total up to 8 ft
Height: 31 inat the shoulder, range 28-35 in
Lifespan: 10 years10 to 12 years
Maximum measured speed: 58 mph2013 tracking collar study on over 370 wild individuals; more accurate than the old 1959 record of 72 mph
Hunting success rate: 50 %reaching up to 70% in some areas
Stride length: 26 ftup to four strides per second during a full sprint

Ten fun facts

that 2013 satellite collar measurements of over 370 wild cheetahs recorded a maximum speed of fifty-eight miles per hour.
that the old record of seventy-two miles per hour timed in 1959 is today considered inaccurate compared to modern satellite data.
that a single cheetah stride can cover up to twenty-six feet, taking up to four full leaps every second while sprinting.
that the cheetah has a hunting success rate around fifty percent, reaching seventy percent in some areas, which is remarkably high.
that unlike other big cats, a cheetah's claws remain visible at all times to provide a much better grip when running.
that the Italian common name for the cheetah comes from a combination of words and entered the language back in 1874.
that cheetahs are occasionally born with stripes instead of spots, a rare genetic variation known as a king cheetah.
that adult males often form small groups with brothers from the same litter, with the largest group ever seen containing fifteen members.
that male territories span fifteen to sixty square miles, whereas females roam over much larger areas that they do not defend.
that young cheetah cubs feature a thick gray mantle along their back resembling a small mane, which disappears as they grow.

The quiz answers

Five questions about this animal. Pick an answer and find out if it is the right one.

Question 1 of 5

What was the maximum speed measured in 2013 using satellite tracking collars?

Question 2 of 5

How do a cheetah's claws compare to those of other big cats?

Question 3 of 5

At what time of day does the cheetah mostly hunt?

Question 4 of 5

How do adult males usually live?

Question 5 of 5

Where does the Italian name for the cheetah come from?

Try it yourself

Experiment 1

Time three seconds with a stopwatch. That is all the time a cheetah needs to accelerate from a complete standstill to sixty miles per hour.

Experiment 2

Measure twenty-six feet along a hallway using a tape measure. That is the incredible distance covered by a cheetah in just one single stride at full speed.

Experiment 3

Try running as fast as you can for one full minute, then stop exhausted. That is about how long a cheetah hunt lasts and how much energy it burns.

Data from Wikidata (Q23907) and Wikipedia (Cheetah).