With top speeds of 120 km/h, this greyhound from the cat family is the world’s fastest land mammal, as every schoolchild is aware. And that makes sense—just take a look at the slender body of a cheetah! However, this feline also possesses numerous other noteworthy attributes.

Five Interesting Facts

What makes this fascinating kitty so unique? Let’s have a look:

The cheetah’s claws are only partially retractable, in contrast to those of other large cats. They serve more as running spikes than as lethal weapons, providing the animal with grip during fast-paced pursuits.
A cheetah can breathe while maintaining the deadly bite on its victim’s throat thanks to its short nose and wide nostrils. Additionally, they optimize its oxygen consumption both during and after a high-speed pursuit.

Once believed to be a distinct species, the King cheetah (Acinonyx rex) is a rare variation of the cheetah with bigger, blotchy patches. Just one recessive gene has mutated to produce this coat pattern.
Unlike lions and leopards, which are large cats of the family Panthera, cheetahs belong to the genus Acinonyx.

It does not have the vocal apparatus to roar like actual big cats do, and instead of exhaling as true big cats do, it purrs when it inhales.
Many of the major ancient Middle Eastern and Asian civilizations, such as the Egyptian and Persian ones, kept and trained cheetahs for hunting. Up to 1,000 are said to have been retained by Akbar the Great of the Mughal Empire (1556–1605).