Cheetahs are big, slender spotted cats known for being the fastest animals on land. They are found in Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern and South African savannahs. Cheetahs are some of the oldest cats on the planet and form part of the Felidae family. The Felidae family consists of lion, leopard, tiger, and jaguar.
Features of the African Cheetah
Scientifically known as Acinonyx jubatus, the cheetah is a phenomenal wild animal. Its uniqueness in physique and adaption in the wild attracts the attention of wildlife enthusiasts. Cheetahs form part of the Big Cats and are known to give tourists impressive hunting shows during game drives.
Currently, there are five existing cheetah subspecies in the world. Africa has four subspecies, while Iran has one. The Iranian sub-species is called Acinonyx jubatus venaticus, also known as the Asiatic cheetah.
In Africa, the following subspecies exist:
- Acinonyx jubatus hecki– Northwest-African Cheetah
- Acinonyx jubatus fearsoni– East-African Cheetah
- Acinonyx jubatus jubatus– South-African Cheetah
- Acinonyx jubatus soemmerringi– Northeast-African Cheetah
African Cheetahs
The cheetah is an amazing cat with a build that is both functional as well as fascinating. The average adult cheetah weighs about 54 kilograms and measures 1.4 meters long. It has long legs giving it the benefit of viewing its prey at a distance. The cheetah is easily confused with the leopard because both have spots on their bodies.
To distinguish between the two, you must understand that African cheetahs have black lines running through the nose and cheeks. Leopards have no special marks on their faces. The cheetah is taller and more slender than the leopard. Additionally, cheetah spots are rounder and darker, while those on the leopard have a rosette-like shape.
Interesting Facts about African Cheetahs
Cheetahs have remarkable features, making them one of Africa’s most fascinating big cats. Here are ten unique facts about African cheetahs.
- The fastest big cat in the world
Cheetahs are best known for speed than for stamina. They are ranked the fastest land animals in the world, with supersonic speeds of 112km/h in a record three seconds! This ability to easily pick up pace makes cheetahs outstanding sprinters. Its slender frame allows it to cut through the air in hot pursuit of its prey. Moreover, the long legs, flexible and elongated spine, unique musculature, hard foot pad, non-retractable claws, and long tail help the cheetah to skillfully chase its prey at unimaginable speeds.
A cheetah’s hip is unique in that it allows its front and back limbs to overlap without causing it to trip. This facilitates extremely long strides that help it to reach its prey in a short time. At peak speed, a cheetah covers three meters per second and 300 meters a minute. Its largest stride can reach seven meters.
- Cheetahs have other hunting tactics aside from speed
You may know a cheetah’s speed as its greatest asset, but you may not know that this cat changes hunting tactics based on the nature of its prey. Cheetahs begin by assessing their target from a distance. They then accelerate at supersonic speeds before slowing down to match the pace of the target. When it closes the distance, the cheetah pounces and suffocates the prey.
Cheetahs rely on sight to survive. They are diurnal visual hunters meaning they rely on sight and hence hunt in the early morning and afternoon. A cheetah’s dark tear mark lines are known as malar stripes or malar marks. They run from eye to mouth and help deflect sunlight in the open savannah. This adaptation is essential to focus on the prey during the high-speed chase.
- The name cheetah is the Hindi word “Chita”, meaning “Spotted”
A cheetah has about 2000 spots distributed all over its body. The spots, like fingerprints, form ring patterns on the tail, which are unique. The spots act as camouflage by contrasting the savannah grasses so that they can hunt effectively. Cheetah cubs have a mantle which is a long woolly coat with a smoky color. The coat’s camouflage properties protect the cubs from predators before they reach an age where they can be independent.
Among all cats in the wild, the cheetah is the only one able to turn midair while chasing prey. They rely heavily on their tails to adjust body orientation. This adaptation aligns with the fact that the prey may twist and frequently turn to avoid being caught. A cheetah’s adaptation to change body orientation midair helps it chase prey in a straight line and corners. The fluffy tail has a flat rudder-like surface that maintains balance in midair.
- They are termed crepuscular hunters
Cheetahs hunt during the day, during dawn and dusk. While most carnivores are nocturnal, the cheetah prefers to hunt during the day when they have great visuals on their targets. Moreover, the bigger predators like lions, hyenas, and leopards that steal a cheetah’s kill are usually asleep. Cheetahs dislike competition in their meals, so they give up their kills easily.
African cheetahs can stay up to 3 days without drinking water as they live in mostly dry savannah grasslands. They draw water from their kill. However, they cannot scavenge on any previous kills. Cheetahs target antelopes, gazelles, impalas, and birds.
Unlike other cats, African cheetahs have an interesting social life. The male cheetahs live in small coalitions comprising related or unrelated males. Together they participate in securing a territory, grooming, and recreating with the females. The males can cover up to 30 square kilometers worth of territory.
As for female cheetahs, they live solitary lives with their cubs. They teach cubs how to hunt using love baby antelopes. When they go hunting, they hide the cubs in dens. Usually, they are nomadic in nature to safeguard their young ones
Since time immemorial, cheetahs have been treated as a symbol of royalty in many cultures. Cheetahs provided companionship to kings and high-ranking individuals in ancient Egypt and Asia. Ancient Egypt history indicates the presence of a Goddess called Mafdet, who was depicted using a Cheetah’s head.
Mafdet was believed to aid the fast transition of the pharaoh’s soul into the afterlife. This can be seen in ancient art and paintings. Emperor Akbar from India and the Sumerians were known to train cheetahs to help in hunting. Over time, people have developed a unique interest in petting cheetahs. While this is illegal, cubs are stolen from the wild and reared in private farmlands.
- Cheetahs are not climbers
Cheetahs are not like leopards that scale tall trees to hide their prey. They have doglike non-retractable claws that give them ground grip while sprinting but can’t facilitate tree climbing. However, from time to time, cheetahs climb the nearest tree, tree stump, or termite mound to gain height advantage and view potential prey.
- Cheetahs don’t roar like other big cats
Cheetahs do not roar like their big cat counterparts, like lions, jaguars, tigers, and leopards. They meow and purr like domestic cats because of their fixed vocal cords that have divided vocal cords. Cheetahs also make intimidating sounds when faced with danger. They growl, chirp, bubble, stutter, hiss, and bark in their cheetah interactions.
African cheetahs are endangered species
Cheetahs have the most beautiful skin and fur. However, this beauty has triggered a danger of its extinction. Poachers trade cheetahs as pets and cheetah skin for enviable cheetah coats.
Aside from the illegal exotic pet trade, cheetahs face challenges like encroachment of human infrastructure in their hunting grounds. Currently, about 7000 cheetahs are in existence and have been marked as vulnerable and endangered species.
Namibia protects all its cheetahs and has the highest number of cheetahs in Africa. It’s even dubbed “The Cheetah Capital of the World”. Other countries with high cheetah density in Africa include Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, and Botswana.
Help protect African cheetahs by refusing to buy exotic cheetah skin products. You can also support cheetah-related causes to increase wildlife conservation.
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