Photo by Joel Sartore

Scientific Name: Acinonyx jubatus

Cheetahs are the world's fastest land animal and can reach speeds greater than 70 mph in just 3 seconds.

• Size: Weight: 77 to 160 pounds; Shoulder height: 26 to 37 inches; Head-to-body length: 43 to 59 inches; Tail length: 7 to 31 inches
• Diet: Gazelles make up most of the diet; also ground-dwelling birds and small mammals, such as hares
• Habitat: Open grassy habitats, dry forest, savanna woodland, semi-desert and scrub
• Range in the Wild: Sub-Saharan Africa

Conservation Status

Listed as Vulnerable. The wild cheetah population is around 10,000; major threats include habitat loss and fragmentation.

Learn more about this animal.