The cheetah is one of the most recognizable and highly specialized carnivores on Earth, known for its unparalleled speed. This unique appearance and specialization often lead to questions about its place in the animal kingdom. The simple answer is yes, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is classified as a feline, belonging to the biological family Felidae, the group that includes all cats.
The Felidae Family Tree
The cheetah is classified within the Family Felidae, which encompasses all 38 species of cat, from the common house cat to the largest tiger. All members of the Felidae family, or felids, share certain characteristics that define them as specialized predators, or hypercarnivores. These common traits include a diet consisting almost entirely of meat, a robust skull structure, and a highly adapted set of teeth for processing flesh.
The Felidae family is broadly split into two subfamilies: Pantherinae, which contains the roaring cats, and Felinae, which contains the purring cats. The cheetah is classified within the Felinae subfamily, alongside smaller cats like the domestic cat, cougar, and lynx. Within this subfamily, the cheetah belongs to its own genus, Acinonyx, with Acinonyx jubatus being the only living species.
The Cheetah’s Defining Difference
The features that make the cheetah the world’s fastest land animal are precisely what set it apart from other felids. Most cats are built for short bursts of power and stealthy ambush, but the cheetah is engineered for explosive acceleration and high-speed pursuit. The most significant physical difference is its claws, which are only semi-retractable, unlike the fully retractable claws of most other cat species. These partially exposed claws function like the cleats on a runner’s shoe, providing the necessary traction for rapid acceleration and sharp turns on open ground.
The cheetah’s body is adapted for running, starting with its highly flexible spine. This elongated vertebral column acts like a spring, compressing and extending to increase stride length dramatically during a full-speed sprint. Its deep chest and enlarged nasal passages are designed for efficient oxygen intake. This specialization for speed, which can reach up to 75 miles per hour, results in a slender, lightweight frame that minimizes air resistance.
Comparing Cheetahs to True Big Cats
The common term “big cat” often refers to the members of the genus Panthera, which includes the lion, tiger, leopard, and jaguar. The cheetah, despite its size, is not a member of this genus, a distinction that is based on key anatomical and behavioral differences. The most notable difference is vocalization, as cheetahs can purr continuously but cannot produce a true roar. This ability is determined by the structure of the hyoid bone, a U-shaped bone in the throat that supports the tongue and larynx.
In true roaring cats of the Panthera genus, the hyoid apparatus contains a flexible ligament, which allows the larynx to vibrate and produce a deep roar. Cheetahs, along with other smaller cats, possess a completely ossified, or bony, hyoid structure, which allows the larynx to vibrate rapidly in both inhalation and exhalation, creating the distinctive purr. This difference in the hyoid apparatus firmly separates the cheetah from the group of cats known for roaring.
Hunting Strategy
Behaviorally, the cheetah is a specialist in the chase, relying on speed to run down prey in open grassland, a strategy that contrasts with the ambush hunting of Panthera cats. Lions and leopards generally use stealth and brute strength to overpower prey, often hunting under the cover of night.
Social Structure
Female cheetahs are typically solitary hunters, although males frequently form stable, cooperative groups called coalitions to defend territory and secure kills. This social structure is unusual among the Felidae, with the lion being the only other large cat species that regularly lives in groups.