Cheetah

Meet cheetah—one more extraordinary life to discover.

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A CLOSER LOOK

A reference overview

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a species of large feline and the only living member of the genus Acinonyx. The cheetah is a pursuit predator and the fastest land animal, capable of running at 93–104 km/h (58–65 mph); it has evolved for speed, having powerful hindlimb muscles and a long lumbar spine. The cheetah has a tawny to creamy white or pale buff fur that is marked with evenly spaced, solid black spots.

Overview excerpt from Wikipedia contributors · Cheetah, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Excerpt may be shortened. Overview retrieved 2026-10-09.

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The evidence behind this discovery

Source-linked

This overview is attributed to Wikipedia contributors and was retrieved on 2026-10-09. Retrieval is not independent scientific review.

Reference media

The picture has a linked creator and license. Extinct-animal images may show a fossil, specimen or reconstruction; a reconstruction is not a photograph of the living animal.

Scope and uncertainty

Map points represent selected regions, not complete ranges or live sightings. References and identifications can change. A linked source is not an expert certification.

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Cheetah

A reference overview

The evidence behind this discovery

Where will this discovery take you?

African bush elephant ↗

What can a picture tell you? ↗

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