African Cheetahs:
Fastest Animals on Land

General Characteristics

African cheetahs are the most elegant and graceful of the big cats, but are smaller in size than the lion or leopard. However, they make up for the lack of size by their incredible speed. They can run at speeds of 70 miles an hour which is much faster than any other animal. Once located throughout Africa, the Middle East and south Asia, they are now restricted to sub-Saharan Africa.

Distinctive Characteristics and Differences

Built for speed, the cheetah is equipped with long, slim legs that are very muscular, a small round head that is set on an extended neck, a deep chest, flexible spine, special pads on the feet that increase traction, non-retractable claws, and long tail that is used for balance. While it is built for speed, it cannot run for long distances. The characteristic tear stripe is a distinctive feature of this cat that runs from the inside corner of the eye all the way down to the mouth which may serve to reduce glare while hunting in the daytime.

African cheetah close up

King Cheetahs

Some cheetahs may have fur pattern mutation. Those with large, blotchy, and merged spots, with a distinctive fur pattern are now known as king cheetahs.

The king cheetahs were first seen in Zimbabwe and were once misidentified as belonging to another subspecies. There is a lack of evidence to confirm this theory. After a thorough study, the differences were explained as genetic mutations.

King Cheetah

Habitat

African cheetahs live in partially open savannahs.

Cheetah Behaviour

Cheetahs typically hunt during daylight hours, particularly early morning and early evening, but are also known to hunt at night, especially during full moons. They do not roar like a lion, but they do purr, growl, whine or hiss, and use a number of other methods of maintaining contact with others especially chirping like a bird. Mother cheetahs teach their young to hunt by bring back small living antelope to the lair and releasing them for their cubs to practice hunting and catching.

Diet

African cheetahs survive on small animals and birds. When they hunt in a pack they can bring down zebras or wildebeests, but they usually hunt alone and usual rations consist of the smaller types of antelope like impalas and gazelles. Their reputation as an open plains hunter relying mainly on their impressive speed to overtake prey. They use camouflage as they stalk their prey, then use bursts of speed to overtake and then kill the animal with a bite on the neck.

Predators

The African cheetah has few predators, though they are threatened by shrinking habitat, lack of prey to hunt and the high mortality rate of their cubs. It is estimated that as many as 75 percent of cheetah cubs die prior to reaching 3 months of age.

Cheetah cubs with mother

Care of Their Young

African cheetahs live for 10 to 12 years and typically live solitary lives. From time to time you will see a female accompanied by a male, but the female normally spends her time alone or with her young cubs. They have from two to four cubs with a litter which is always helpless at birth. The mother will leave her cubs in a hidden location during her hunting trips, but when they reach the age of 6 weeks they are able to follow where she goes. She will suckle them for 2 or 3 months, but she begins to teach them to eat meat when they are around 3 weeks old. When they reach 4 months cheetah cubs are already a tawny yellow color with spots, and their tail has the same black bands as an adult; by adulthood they have the characteristic white tip.

More Information and Photos

Please also check the African Cheetahs page on the AfricanWildlifeVacations.com website for more cheetah photos and information.

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