Scientific Classification and General Characteristics

African cheetahs are members of the Felidae or cat family - scientific classification Acinonyx jubatus.

Sometimes because of similarity with other species, cheetahs may often be confused with leopards. One identifying mark would be the tear mark (distinctive black fur running from the eyes to the mouth) found on the cheetah's face, which leopards don't have.

The name "cheetah" comes from a Hindi word that means "spotted animal" obviously because this animal is totally covered by spots all over the body except in its abdomen and the throat area.

Their small head is not completely proportional to its 45 to 53 inch body length.

The average weight of cheetahs is about 50 kilograms, and although males are slightly larger and have bigger heads than the females, there is no clear distinction between the opposite sexes in terms of appearance alone.

King Cheetah

The King Cheetah has an interesting genetic variation of the fur pattern. Although they were originally considered to be a subspecies, further research has identified the differences as being a genetic mutation.

Cheetah Cubs

Female cheetahs usually give birth to 2 to 4 cubs after ninety to ninety-five days of gestation.

The mother starts to teach the cub the kill technique when they are six months old, but they can leave the den after six weeks when they are strong enough to hunt on their own or join the pack in hunting. However, the cub usually goes back and stays with the mother for at least one year to continue learning hunting and survival techniques.

Cheetahs on the Hunt

Cheetahs are carnivores and tend to mostly hunt small animals. They do sometimes hunt larger animals on their own, but often they tend to hunt the larger animals in a group. The natural spots of African cheetahs make it possible for them to be camouflaged in the grass and wait for their prey. They use their incredible speed to catch their prey, targeting the throat to block the windpipe until breathing stops.