What kind of animal is a cheetah? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. They are extremely capable carnivores that can catch prey at speeds of over 100km/h, but they can also be chased by lions, hyenas, and other carnivores. I will explain the characteristics and personality.
What is a cheetah? About basic status
The cheetah is a carnivorous mammal classified in the genus Cheetah, in the order Carnivora, order Carnivora, and family Felinae. The scientific name is Acinonyx jubatus. The body length is 110-150cm and the weight is 35-72kg. Tail length 60-90cm, shoulder height 67-94cm. This is a land tiger that can run fast and is an animal from Asia and Africa. You may be shown around the park during events, etc. The list of information is as follows.
| Japanese（和名） | チーター |
| English（英名） | Cheetah |
| scientific name(学名) | Acinonyx jubatus |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、 Carnivora、 Felidae、Felinae 哺乳綱、食肉目、ネコ科、チーター属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | ENDANGERED |
| Length（体長） | 110 – 150cm |
| Weight（体重） | 35 – 72kg |
About classification
Cheetahs are classified as cats. The following variants exist:
- Acinonyx jubatus jubatus
- Acinonyx jubatus fearsoni
- Acinonyx jubatus hecki
- Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii
- Acinonyx jubatus venaticus
Cheetah Taxonomy
- 界（Kingdom）：動物界 (Animalia)
- 門（Phylum）：脊索動物門 (Chordata)
- 綱（Class）：哺乳綱 (Mammalia)
- 目（Order）：食肉目 (Carnivora)
- 科（Family）：ネコ科 (Felidae)
- 亜科（Subfamily）：ヒョウ属に近い小型ネコ亜科ではなく、チーター亜科 (Acinonychinae)（単型亜科）
- 属（Genus）：Acinonyx
- 種（Species）：Acinonyx jubatus
About habitat
Cheetahs live mainly in Africa and can be seen in the African continent, the Sahara Desert, Iran, and elsewhere.
Cheetah Habitat
- Africa
Main Distribution Area:
Sub-Saharan Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, etc.
Habitat:
Savannas, grasslands, and arid regions
Prefers open plains, choosing areas with good visibility and easy tracking of prey
- Asia
Former Distribution:
India, Middle East (Iran, etc.)
Current Status:
Only a few wild individuals remain in northeastern Iran
Known as Acinonyx jubatus venaticus (Iranian cheetah)
Habitat:
Arid regions, low grasslands, and rocky areas
Environmental Characteristics
Prefers open terrain (wider visibility makes hunting easier)
Rarely found in dense forests or swamps
Tends to avoid areas near water (to avoid competing large predators)
⚠️ Conservation Status
In Africa, populations vary greatly by region and are declining.
Wild populations in Asia are extremely rare, and the species is classified as “Vulnerable” or “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
feature is? What kind of creature is it?
Cheetahs live in grasslands, open forests, and shrublands in the savannah, and have small heads, small ears, and small canine teeth and tooth roots. The limbs are elongated. There is no sheath to hold the claws, so they cannot be retracted. When chasing prey, it is said to be able to travel at an astonishing speed of 72 km/h in 2 seconds. They sometimes climb trees and add scent. Cheetahs mostly live alone, but sometimes they form groups with their young and their families.
Physical Characteristics
Body: Slender, muscular, and lightweight (Weight: Approximately 40-65 kg, Body Length: Approximately 1.1-1.5 m, Tail Length: Approximately 70-80 cm)
Face/Head:
Small head
Black tear lines (vertical lines from under the eyes to the mouth) protect them from the sun and make it easier to see prey
Legs/Claws:
Long, slender legs specialized for high-speed running
Higher sprinting ability than crawling ability
Claws are semi-retractile, meaning they are the only cat in the family that do not fully retract (improving gripping power)
Back/Tail:
Flexible spine allows the body to stretch and contract, allowing it to extend forward and backward significantly when running
Long tail serves as a steerer
Pattern/Color
Fur is yellowish-brown to pale ochre
All Their bodies are uniformly covered with black spots, and the pattern varies from individual to individual.
The tip of their tail is black, which is sometimes used for identification.
Behavior/Ecology
Specialized for running: They can reach a top speed of approximately 100 km/h, but can only sustain short distances (approximately 200-300 m).
Hunting Method:
In open grasslands, they use their visibility to sneak up on prey and then accelerate rapidly to capture it.
They usually hunt during the day (especially in the morning and evening).
Sociality:
Females generally live alone.
Males sometimes form small groups (colonies) with their siblings or companions.
Diet: They feed on small to medium-sized herbivores (gazelles, impalas, hyraxes, etc.).
What is your personality like?
Cheetahs do not get discouraged even when they fail and have a tenacious mental strength. On the other hand, they also have a cat-like quality, and are capricious and selfish.
Cheetah Personality and Behavior
Timid and cautious
They tend to avoid predators such as humans, lions, and hyenas.
They have a “flight” personality, fleeing immediately when they sense danger.
Low aggression
They rarely attack other animals or humans outside of hunting.
Prey behavior is efficient, prioritizing quick kills over combat.
Curious
Young individuals are playful, jumping and chasing each other.
Play also serves as hunting practice.
Sociable
Females are primarily solitary and are mostly alone except when raising their young.
Males sometimes form small groups (colonies) with siblings or companions.
Compared to other cats, they are less socially active.
Vulnerable to stress
Crowded, noisy, and overcrowded environments can make them sick.
Special environmental considerations are required even in aquariums and zoos.
What is the ecology like?
Cheetahs subsist on small, medium, and large ungulates. The mode of reproduction is viviparous. The gestation period is 3 months, and it is possible to give birth to 2 to 4 puppies at a time. Children can hunt at 15 – 17 months old. The lifespan is said to be 11 to 15 years.
- Life Rhythm
Mainly diurnal (most active in the morning and evening)
Often rests or seeks shade during the hot days
Avoids other large predators such as lions and leopards at night
- Predatory Behavior
Prey: Small to medium-sized herbivores (gazelles, impalas, hyraxes, young zebras, etc.)
Hunting Method:
Sneaks up on prey in the grasslands (stealth)
Captures prey in short sprints of several tens to hundreds of meters
Targets the neck or throat with claws or bites
Hunting success rate is relatively high, at around 50%
After hunting, they eat quickly to avoid being snatched by lions or hyenas
- Reproduction
Breeding Season: Breeding is possible throughout the year, but varies by region.
Gestation Period: Approximately 90-95 days
Litter Size: 3-5 pups per litter
Rearing:
Females raise their pups alone.
They spend the first 6 weeks of their lives in a hideout, then gradually begin training them in hunting.
They become independent after about a year.
- Sociality
Females: Generally solitary.
Males: May form small groups (colonies) with siblings or peers.
Communication:
Marking with urine and feces.
Body posture, vocalizations (rumbling, growling, howling).
- Habitat Relationship
Prefers open grasslands and savannas.
Avoids dense forests and swamps.
Can survive in dry areas some distance from water.
Changes behavior and hunting times depending on predation pressure (e.g., lions and hyenas).
Are there any natural enemies?
Cheetahs are not invincible. Natural enemies are lycaons, jackals, lions and leopards. Eagles are also attacked from the sky, and children are especially targeted.
About Cheetah Cubs
This detailed summary of cheetah cubs (calves) provides insight into their postnatal developmental stages, behavior, relationship with their parents, and the process leading up to independence.
- Birth and Early Stages
Gestation Period: Approximately 90-95 days
Litter Size: Typically 3-5 cubs (although occasionally 2-8 cubs)
Newborn Characteristics:
Weight: Approximately 250-350g
Eyes are closed, and the fur is soft.
Long gray or silver mantil hair (mantilia) on the neck and back aids in camouflage (making them less conspicuous in grasslands).
- Cubs’ Development Stages
Monthly Development and Behavior: 0-6 weeks: Cubs stay in their mother’s hideout. While the mother is out hunting, the cubs hide. 6 weeks-3 months: Cubs gradually begin to follow their mother. They learn strength and hunting skills through play. 3-6 months: They begin short-distance hunting practice. They acquire tactics and tracking skills while playing with their siblings. 6 months-1 year: They hunt with their mother. They begin to become independent between 12 and 18 months of age, gradually developing a sense of independence. Males may form small groups with their siblings, while females transition to solitary living.
- Behavior and Personality
Playful and curious
They learn hunting and fighting skills through playing with their siblings.
Their timid nature is evident from an early age, and they quickly hide when they sense danger.
- Developmental Considerations (Risks in the Wild)
They are at high risk of death from predators (lions, hyenas, and birds of prey) within the first six months of life.
They must master prey hunting skills to survive after becoming independent.
Their mother’s hunting ability and habitat significantly affect their offspring’s survival rate.
Are cheetahs an endangered species?
Unfortunately, cheetahs are listed as an endangered species. The estimated population in the 1970s and 1980s was 15,000.
hunting for fur
Cheetah fur sells well. Hunting for their fur has increased significantly and they are being killed by traders. In other cases, they are often overhunted for pets.
habitat destruction
Due to habitat destruction, the area where cheetahs live has become very small. They are sometimes exterminated as pests, and when livestock raised by farmers are attacked, they are exterminated in retaliation.
Can cheetahs be kept?
Unfortunately, they are designated as an endangered species, so their population is small to begin with and they cannot be kept as pets. You can see them at the zoo. They are known to be very fast, and because of their speed, they are famous animals that appear in games and event exhibits. They are more well-known and well-known than other animals.
- Legal Issues
In Japan, cheetahs are listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), requiring strict permission to import, raise, or sell them.
Keeping them without permission is a violation of the law and subject to penalties.
Keeping them is only permitted in facilities with special permits, such as zoos and certain research facilities.
- Difficulties in Raising Cheetahs
Highly Active: As the fastest land mammal, they require ample space to run.
Food Requirements: Each cheetah requires at least 5-10 kg of raw meat per day.
Environmental Requirements:
An environment similar to open grasslands or savannas is required.
Temperature and humidity control, as well as stress management, are essential.
Health Management:
Wild cheetahs are delicate and prone to illness due to stress.
Breeding and rearing also require careful management.
- Personality and Behavior
Timidy and cautious, with low aggressiveness.
Vulnerable to small spaces and noise.
Primarily solitary and not very sociable.
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