The cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus, is recognized globally as the fastest land animal. This highly specialized feline is a predator uniquely adapted to the open landscapes of its primary habitat, the savannas and grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa, with a small, isolated population remaining in Iran. The cheetah’s morphology, from its non-retractable claws to its streamlined body, is engineered for securing a specialized diet. Its survival depends on its ability to quickly locate and subdue specific types of prey in a competitive environment.
The Core Diet: Preferred Prey Species
Cheetahs are highly selective carnivores, focusing their hunting efforts almost exclusively on small to medium-sized ungulates. Their preferred target is prey that falls within a body mass range of approximately 23 to 56 kilograms, as this size offers the best balance between a substantial meal and a manageable pursuit.
The most frequently consumed animals include the swift Thomson’s gazelle, a staple in East African populations, along with impala and springbok. In certain regions, Grant’s gazelle is also preferred, demonstrating that local abundance dictates the specific composition of the diet. This selection of moderately sized, fast-running prey is a direct consequence of the cheetah’s specialized hunting style, which relies on a burst of speed rather than brute strength.
While adult ungulates in this weight range form the core diet, cheetahs also regularly target the calves of larger species. Young wildebeest or kudu, for example, are frequently taken, as their smaller size and inexperience make them vulnerable targets that fit within the preferred weight class. The inclusion of young animals helps sustain a female with cubs, who may need to make a kill almost daily to meet her family’s energy demands.
The composition of the diet can shift in response to local conditions and prey availability. In areas where wild ungulate populations are low, such as marginal or drier habitats, cheetahs will become more opportunistic. This means that smaller items like hares, ground birds, or small rodents can become a more frequent, though less substantial, component of their caloric intake.
Specialized Hunting Tactics
The cheetah’s method for securing its food capitalizes on its speed and agility. The hunt begins with a meticulous stalk, where the cheetah uses its spotted coat and low profile to approach a target, aiming to get within 50 to 100 meters before initiating the chase. This careful, stealthy approach is necessary because the cheetah cannot sustain its top speed for long distances.
The high-speed pursuit is the defining moment of the hunt, where the cheetah unleashes its immense acceleration, reaching speeds of up to 112 kilometers per hour in short bursts. The chase is typically brief, often lasting less than a minute and rarely extending beyond 500 meters, due to the high metabolic cost of the sprint. During the rapid, weaving pursuit, the cheetah uses its long tail like a rudder to maintain balance and execute sharp turns.
Once the cheetah closes the distance, it uses a specialized technique to bring the prey down. It employs the sharp, curved dewclaw located high on its foreleg to hook or trip the running animal, destabilizing it at full speed. This maneuver sends the prey tumbling, allowing the predator to secure it on the ground.
The final stage is the kill, achieved through a suffocating bite delivered to the throat or the muzzle of the downed animal. This sustained grip cuts off the prey’s air supply, ensuring a quick dispatch. The cheetah must recover its breath after the exhausting sprint, often resting for several minutes before beginning to feed on the carcass.
Dietary Constraints and Exceptions
The cheetah’s light build and fragile bone structure impose several limitations on its diet and survival strategy. They generally avoid engaging with larger, stronger prey that could inflict serious injury during a struggle. Hunting larger animals, such as adult wildebeest or zebra, would also require a greater expenditure of energy, which the cheetah is built to conserve.
Cheetahs are highly vulnerable to having their kills stolen. This phenomenon, known as kleptoparasitism, occurs when larger predators like lions and spotted hyenas frequently drive cheetahs away from a freshly killed carcass. Because of this constant threat, cheetahs must eat quickly and will drag a kill to cover if possible, but they nearly always flee rather than fight to defend their meal.
Cheetahs rarely scavenge meat they did not kill themselves. Unlike hyenas or even lions, the risk of confrontation with a stronger predator over a carcass is too high, making a fresh kill the safer and more reliable option. Therefore, the cheetah must maintain a high volume of successful, small-to-medium-sized hunts to meet its daily dietary needs.