Cheetahs are known for their incredible speed and distinctive spotted coats. Their vocalizations offer unique insights into their communication and social behaviors. Unlike lions that roar or domestic cats that meow, cheetahs produce a unique array of sounds.
Cheetah Vocalizations
Cheetahs cannot roar like other large felines, nor do adults meow like domestic cats, though cubs may. Instead, they produce a wide array of sounds for communication, including purrs, chirps, growls, hisses, “churs,” and “stutters.”
Purring indicates contentment, often heard during rest or grooming. Chirping is a high-pitched, bird-like sound used for mother-cub communication, traveling considerable distances. Growls and hisses are warning signals, used in defensive situations or to deter threats. Cheetahs also produce churring sounds, a soft, rolling call. The “stutter-bark,” noted in males, sounds like a series of short, choppy barks.
Unique Vocal Anatomy
Cheetahs cannot roar due to their unique vocal anatomy, specifically the structure of their hyoid bone. Unlike roaring big cats with an incompletely ossified hyoid bone, which allows vocal cords to stretch for deep roars, the cheetah’s hyoid bone is completely ossified and rigid. This rigid structure, similar to domestic cats, enables continuous purring, both while inhaling and exhaling.
The fully ossified hyoid bone restricts vocal cords from elongating enough to create the low-frequency sounds of a roar. This anatomical difference places cheetahs in the “purring cat” subfamily (Felinae), distinguishing them from the “roaring cat” subfamily (Pantherinae). Their vocal capabilities are directly linked to this skeletal configuration, preventing roaring while allowing for their diverse range of other sounds.
Sound as Social Communication
Cheetahs use their varied vocalizations for intricate social communication within their groups. The distinct chirping sound is important for mother-cub bonding, allowing mothers to call their offspring and cubs to signal their location or distress. This high-pitched call helps maintain cohesion, especially in the open savanna where visual contact can be lost. Growls and hisses serve as clear expressions of agitation or warnings, used to communicate displeasure or to deter potential threats.
Purring conveys a sense of comfort and contentment, fostering positive interactions during resting periods or mutual grooming. The male cheetah’s unique stutter-bark plays a significant role in reproductive communication, as research indicates it can influence female reproductive hormone levels, potentially inducing ovulation. These diverse sounds collectively form a communication system, allowing cheetahs to convey emotions, coordinate activities, and maintain their social bonds.