What comes to your mind when you think of “polka dots?” Cheetahs! But did you know there were spotless cheetahs, too? Welcome to their world-record-setting sprinters of the savannah with rapid speed.So please put on your running shoes, and let’s explore this captivating world of the fastest land animals on Earth.
From their incredible acceleration that leaves sports cars behind to their unique social behaviours and survival tactics, lesser-known facts about cheetahs will impress you. Get set! Let’s dash into it together.
11 Cheetah Facts That Will Amaze You
1: Cheetah Originates From the Hindi Word Chita
The name cheetah originates in Hindi as Chita (meaning “spotted one”) from “Chitra-ya,” an old Sanskrit term meaning to cover or embellish something or someone.
Acinonyx jubatus, the binomial name for the cheetah, derives its name from two Greek words meaning ‘thorn” and “onyx,” respectively, thus referring to its semi-retractable claws being like sharpened needles at all times for action similar to an actual thorn in nature.
2: There Are Five Subspecies of the Cheetah
There are five subspecies of Cheetah recognized today:
- Asiatic cheetah: subspecies found only in Iran is considered critically endangered; its populations tend to be slightly smaller and possess lighter coats with white or yellow tints than African counterparts.
- Northwest African cheetah: Also referred to as Saharan Cheetahs, this species can be found across Africa and Iran. It features shorter fur with near-white hues to better adapt to desert environments.
- South African cheetah: This subspecies is one of the most prevalent species, found mainly throughout South Africa and some parts of Namibia. It boasts golden fur with black spots.
- Tanzanian cheetah:Commonly referred to as East African cheetahs, these subspecies of cheetahs can be found across Tanzania and Kenya’s grasslands and savannahs. They possess slim bodies with pale, tannish coats.
- King cheetah: This subspecies is genetically distinct from its South African cousin and features more prominent spots caused by mutations to their fur pattern gene.
3: The Cheetah Is the Fastest Land Animal in the World
Cheetahs are speedy, reaching speeds between 60 and 70 miles per hour. Thanks to their powerful leg muscles and lean body structure, accelerating from zero to 70 miles per hour takes only three seconds.
Cheetahs possess an anatomical profile that makes them one of the fastest sprinters. Their lightweight frame and powerful muscles enable them to meet speed standards; their flexible spine enables more considerable strides and rapid acceleration; non-retractable claws and special foot pads offer grip and traction for improved acceleration; their significant nasal passages enable rapid oxygen intake for muscle function, while their long tail serves as a rudder during high-speed turns.
4: Cheetahs Use Their Tail To Steer When Running
Cheetahs possess an enormously long tail that covers between 66 cm (26 inches). This represents almost two-thirds of their overall body length.
Cheetahs running at high speeds often make minimal contact with the ground. During such rapid runs, they rely heavily on their tails for steering and balance, similar to how boats utilize rudders for navigation purposes. Their tail balances them out as they make sharp turns quickly without losing control or speed.
5: Cheetahs Display Roughly 2000 Spots Across Their Bodies
Cheetahs, commonly known as “the Spotted One,” are best known for their characteristic spots, which cover an average of 2000-3000 spots across their bodies. These spots help them camouflage and hunt efficiently in tall grassland habitats.
Factoids about Cheetahs include the fact that their spot patterns are determined not by random chance but by biological and mathematical models, such as reaction-diffusion models.
6: Cheetahs Communicate With Meows and Purrs Instead of Roaring
Cheetahs differ from other big cats, such as lions and tigers, in that they don’t produce their distinctive roar due to differences in throat anatomy known as the larynx, such as flexible larynxes in other big cats who roar; theirs, however, remain rigid, thus prohibiting cheetahs from producing one themselves.
Cheetahs don’t roar when communicating, instead employing other vocalizations such as purring, hissing, and growling sounds as well as unique bird-like chirps to express various forms of contentment, aggression, or fear (hisses/growls/chirping sounds); these sounds also serve other functions, like calling lost family members with “chirping.”
7: Male Cheetahs Are the Only Social Ones
Male cheetahs tend to be more social than their female counterparts; they form groups known as coalitions, usually containing brothers from the same litter, to better defend territories and increase their chances of survival and reproduction. Conversely, females typically live and hunt alone or with offspring from previous litters.
8: Females Typically Deliver Between Two to Eight Cubs at Once
Adult female cheetahs tend to give birth every 17-20 months after gestating for 90-95 days and having two to eight cubs at once.
Cheetah cubs are born blind and helpless, depending solely on their mother to survive their first few months of nursing care – during this period, she will only leave them when hunting for food!
9: Cheetahs Have Excellent Eyesight
Did you know cheetahs can see up to three miles away with their unique binocular eyes? This amazing fact should leave an impact.
Cheetahs are well known for their exceptional vision, boasting a field view of approximately 210 degrees (compared with humans’ 140). As predators, their eyes tend to be large relative to body size; additionally, their retinas contain high concentrations of nerve cells for increased detection capabilities even at great distances.
A “tear marks” or “malar stripes” facial design helps decrease sun glare, helping hunters focus more closely on pursuing prey during fast chases. Their eyes also adjust quickly to changing light conditions during hunting at different times of the day.
10: Cheetahs Can Live up to 10 Years in the Wild
Cheetahs are sprint predators with an estimated lifespan of 10-12 years for adult individuals (males and females alike). Due to territorial battles and other risks, however, some can live for even less. Longevity can increase to 12-15 years when living in protected environments like conservatories or national parks; Dolly died aged 18 at Birmingham Zoo in 2009.
11: The Population of Cheetahs Is Only Around 7000
Cheetah numbers have significantly reduced, estimated at only approximately 7,00g alive today in the wild, prompting IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species to classify it as a vulnerable species.
Of all of the facts regarding cheetahs, this one stands out due to human activity, specifically habitat loss, human conflict (hunted or killed by other humans), illegal wildlife trade and climate change – factors all caused by people.
Conclusion
Cheetahs race not just to win races, it is about survival. Unfortunately, their numbers are rapidly diminishing due to habitat destruction and poaching practices, and they have been listed as a Critically Endangered species.
These facts about cheetahs highlight their incredible agility and the dire necessity for conservation efforts to save them from becoming extinct.
FAQs
What are 5 interesting facts about cheetahs?
- Cheetahs display up to 2000 spots across their bodies.
- Cheetahs communicate by meowing and purring rather than roaring or growling loudly.
- Cheetahs’ eyesight is excellent.
- Cheetahs can live up to 10 years in the wild.
- While there are only about 7,000 living today.
How long does a cheetah live?
An adult cheetah typically lives 12-15 years when living in protected areas like conservatories or national parks, although their lifespan in the wild may only last 10 years.
How fast can cheetahs run?
Cheetahs typically travel at 60 to 70 miles per hour on average; they can even exceed 75 mph!
Has a cheetah given birth to 8 cubs?
Bingwa gave birth to eight cubs at St Louis Zoo in America in 2018.
Are male cheetahs social?
Yes, male cheetahs can form coalitions made up of their brothers from the same litter.
What is the population of cheetahs?
Cheetahs are estimated to inhabit approximately 7,000 adults and adolescents worldwide.