The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the world’s fastest land mammal, is a highly specialized predator and an obligate carnivore, meaning its survival depends entirely on the nutrients obtained from meat. Its evolutionary adaptations, from its lightweight frame to its incredible speed, are all geared toward the efficient pursuit and capture of live prey. The cheetah’s specific hunting style and dietary needs shape its behavior and its role within the African savanna ecosystem.
Primary Prey Selection
Cheetahs primarily focus their hunting efforts on medium-sized hoofed mammals, or ungulates, which they can successfully subdue alone or in small male groups called coalitions. Their preferred target size ranges from approximately 50 to 130 pounds, with a peak preference for prey around 80 pounds (36 kg). This size range offers a balance between providing a substantial meal and minimizing the risk of injury during the takedown.
The most frequent species in their diet include swift antelopes such as Thomson’s gazelles, Grant’s gazelles, springboks, and impalas. They also prey upon the young of larger animals, specifically targeting calves of species like wildebeest or kudu. Cheetahs also opportunistically take smaller prey like hares, game birds, or small mammals, especially when larger options are scarce.
Hunting Strategy and Kill Method
The cheetah’s method for securing a meal involves a precise sequence that leverages its unmatched speed over short distances. The process begins with a careful stalk, where the cheetah uses available cover, such as tall grass or termite mounds, to get within approximately 100 meters of its intended victim. This stealthy approach is crucial because the subsequent high-speed chase is unsustainable, rarely lasting more than 20 to 30 seconds.
Once the chase is initiated, the cheetah unleashes an explosive sprint, accelerating rapidly to reach speeds that can exceed 60 miles per hour. Upon closing the distance, the cat uses the specialized, non-retractable dewclaw on its foreleg to strike the prey’s flank or hindquarters, effectively tripping it and knocking it off balance. After the animal is on the ground, the cheetah secures the kill by delivering a suffocating bite to the throat or windpipe. This grip must be maintained until the prey expires, a process that can take several minutes, during which the cheetah is highly vulnerable. The high-intensity sprint generates significant heat and exhaustion, requiring the cheetah to rest for up to 30 minutes to recover before it can begin feeding.
Feeding Behaviors and Hydration
The necessity of resting after a chase, combined with the cheetah’s specialized anatomy, creates a period of extreme vulnerability. This often results in the loss of their meal to larger competitors such as lions, hyenas, or large groups of vultures. To mitigate this theft, known as kleptoparasitism, cheetahs must eat with remarkable speed, consuming their kill as quickly as possible.
Cheetahs display a near-complete lack of scavenging behavior, rarely consuming carrion they did not acquire themselves. They also exhibit clean eating habits, focusing on the muscle tissue and typically leaving behind the bones and entrails. Regarding hydration, the cheetah obtains the majority of its necessary moisture directly from the meat of its prey. This means they do not need to drink water every day, often going between four to ten days without visiting a water source.