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.
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 80–100 km per hour while pursuing prey. Nearly all cheetahs remaining in the wild live in Africa.
Cheetahs are visual hunters and, unlike most other big cats, they are diurnal — active mainly in the early morning and late afternoon. They often climb termite mounds or tall “play trees” to gain a better vantage point for spotting prey on the horizon.
Built for breathtaking speed, the cheetah is the world’s fastest land mammal. Cheetahs rely on their agility and stealth to chase down prey across the African savanna. Cheetahs have slender, long-legged bodies with blunt, semi-retractable claws. Their heads are small with high-set eyes.
Cheetahs are distributed over eastern and southern Africa as well as in the Middle East. They typically inhabit grasslands and savannas but may also be found in various habitats such as mountainous areas and valleys.
1) Nearly all wild cheetahs can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, where they roam open, grassy savannah plains and open forests. A small population lives in northeastern Iran, although only a few dozen remain here.
Cheetahs can run fast, but they are timid predators. They usually prey on small antelopes such as Thomson’s gazelles and impalas but also hunt small mammals and birds.