CHEETAHS AT A GLANCE
| SCIENTIFIC NAME | Acinonyx jubatus |
| COMMON NAMES | |
| Cheetah | English |
| Jagluiperd | Afrikaans (South Africa, Namibia) |
| Ingulule | Zulu (South Africa) |
| Lengau, Letotse | Setswana (Botswana, South Africa) |
| Ihlosi, Dindingwe | Shona (Zimbabwe) |
| Kisakasaka | Kasanga (Zaire) |
| Siho | Fufulde (Cameroon) |
| Duma, Msongo | KiSwahili (East Africa) |
| Chita, Laggar | Hindi (India) |
| Abo shamani | (Ethiopia) |
| Fahd al sayad | (Arabic) |
| Marukopta | (Burkina Faso) |
| Haramacad | (Somalia) |
| Yeoz | Brahui (Pakistan) |
| Tazy prang | Pashto (Afghanistan) |
| Yuz, Yuz palang | Farsi (Iran) |
| WEIGHT | |
| Males | 29–65 kg |
| Females | 21–63 kg |
| TOTAL LENGTH | |
| Males | 172–224 cm nose to tail |
| Females | 170–236 cm* nose to tail |
| *On average, females are smaller and lighter than males, but sexual dimorphism is less pronounced than in other large cats and size overlap between the two sexes is considerable. | |
| SHOULDER HEIGHT | |
| Males | 74–94 cm |
| Females | 67–84 cm |
GESTATION PERIOD
90–98 days
LITTER SIZE
Up to 9, averages 3–5. Cheetahs breed year round, though birth peaks may be associated with birth peaks of antelopes (usually during the rainy season).
LONGEVITY
Up to 21 years in captivity, probably no more than 12 in the wild.
AGE AT MATURITY
Females can conceive from 24 months. Males are sexually mature from 12 months but most will not get a chance to breed before their third year.