![]() But, while the cheetah is taller, the leopard is significantly stronger. ![]() Leopards are actually the shortest of the big cats. LeopardsĬheetahs are taller at the shoulder and stand higher overall than leopards. If a lion pride can hem in a cheetah, the cheetah stands little chance of survival. While cheetahs rely on speed, lions rely on stealth. A cheetah can reach a top speed of 70 miles per hour, while a lion’s maximum speed is closer to 35 miles per hour. Their speed means that fatal lion attacks are a rarity. Cheetahs are built for speed, not for conflict. The small build of a cheetah is simply no match for a lion. Lions typically hunt cheetah cubs but have been known to prey on mature cheetahs. A mature female lion can weigh upwards of 400 pounds, while an adult male can weigh 550 pounds. Meanwhile, the lion is a member of Africa’s Big Five. ![]() A large male cheetah can weigh 130-140 pounds. While rare, lions have been known to prey on mature cheetahs. One major reason for the low survival rate is lion predation. Some estimate only about 5-15% of cheetah cubs survive to adulthood in the Serengeti plains of East Africa. While their preferred prey includes zebras, buffalo, wildebeests, and warthogs, lions are opportunistic and will prey on a wide variety of other animals, including the occasional cheetah.Ĭheetah cubs are an easy meal for a lion. Lions are the apex predators of the African savanna. We typically view the cheetah as a predator and not a prey animal, but a few large carnivores will actually target cheetahs as prey. Its size, while superb for high-speed chases, also makes it vulnerable. In fact, the cheetah is the smallest of the big cats. The cheetah is sleek and slender, with a light body weight allowing it to reach 60 miles per hour in just three seconds. Its flexible spine also allows the cat to turn and change direction at full speed. The cat’s small head and long legs aid in the cheetah’s aerodynamic body structure. However, the cheetah is genetically designed to run. Many of the cheetah’s preferred prey animals are speedsters in their own right, such as gazelles, antelopes, wildebeests, zebras, and hares. ![]() This extraordinary speed is the cheetah’s primary weapon in hunting its prey. The cheetah is most well-known as the fastest land animal on the planet. ![]()
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