You can picture a cheetah in your mind's eye just by closing your eyes. These creatures are known for their speed, but they are also incredibly complex. They have evolved remarkably well, but their genetics have been negatively impacted. You may think you know everything about them, but you'll be surprised by some of these unusual facts. To compile this information, we consulted several sources, including the Cheetah Conservation Fund, the Ultimate Kilimanjaro Project, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Discover 25 of the most amazing facts about cheetahs! Browse the gallery above.

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You can picture a cheetah in your mind's eye just by closing your eyes. These creatures are known for their speed, but they are also incredibly complex. They have evolved remarkably well, but their genetics have been negatively impacted. You may think you know everything about them, but you'll be surprised by some of these unusual facts. To compile this information, we consulted several sources, including the Cheetah Conservation Fund, the Ultimate Kilimanjaro Project, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Discover 25 of the most amazing facts about cheetahs! Browse the gallery above.

Their sharp claws are always ready. Cheetahs don't have soft claws. They need them to grip the ground while running, just like football boots.

Like human fingerprints, no two spots are ever the same.

Cheetahs aren't endurance athletes, but they can run in short bursts, reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. If the chase takes longer, they give up and set their sights on easier prey.

The most dangerous cat

They have to be fast. In the wild, there are other predators eager to catch them, and they aren't afraid to prey on them. Despite their speed, they aren't adept at defending themselves, so they prefer to abandon their stolen prey.

These cute little cubs don't survive because they are snatched by predators. Mothers are forced to raise their young alone, leaving them to hunt alone. When they return, they may not find them.

Southern and eastern Africa are home to the largest populations of cheetahs.

Like house cats, their ears tell a story. When they turn them, they are anxious and trying to understand their surroundings. They also stretch them back and tilt them forward.

But they can't maintain a steady hum like house cats. They can only purr when they exhale, and they do so when they are relaxed.

They were never fully domesticated, but they were hunting companions. They were more tame than anything else.

The famous sister-cheetah alliance, Tanu Bora, marks its territory during a beautiful sunrise, protected.

Some small male alliances cover up to 30 square miles, while female alliances cover up to 800 square miles.

Fewer than 7,000 cheetahs remain. These animals are well known, but they are disappearing before our eyes.

It's a constant struggle between wildlife and humans. Sometimes, farmers kill cheetahs to protect their livestock. Sadly, poaching is also a problem.

Not only are humans killing them, but some are actually helping them. Cheetahs have been reintroduced to India. In Namibia, efforts are being made to encourage farmers to coexist peacefully with them.

The cheetah is the fastest land animal. It is a diurnal and social animal. Males defend their territories to maximize their contact with females. Females, on the other hand, live in a secluded, unprotected home range.

While humans take a full nine to ten months before their young are born, cheetahs only need three months before their cubs are ready to emerge into the world.

Wow! As single mothers, they move their cubs every two days to prevent predators from finding them, risking their lives to keep them away from their young.

Larger, more powerful predators hunt at night. Daytime gives cheetahs an advantage in keeping their young safe and meeting their daily needs.

As you know, cheetahs are fast runners, but what happens when they pounce? They bring down their prey. Once it falls, it immediately attacks its throat. It keeps its jaws closed until its prey stops moving. Then it feeds it.

Cheetahs hunt by suffocating their prey with their throat-snapping teeth.

They use various types of sounds, such as hissing, purring, chirping, and growling. However, they don't roar because they lack the necessary anatomical structure.

Cheetahs use their speed to pursue prey, and sometimes to avoid becoming prey themselves.

Not only do they have fixed claws, but they are naturally slender and have a flexible spine. Their long legs also allow them to take longer strides while moving.

Sometimes, they move side to side, and when they make a sudden turn, their tails help them reverse the turn. It's as if they have a built-in rudder to help them steer.

While running, their lungs work extra hard, pushing oxygen into their bloodstream, while their nasal passages expand as they take a deep breath. Their heart rate can reach astronomical levels—over 200 beats per minute. After a run, they need a break.

The last Ice Age negatively impacted cheetahs. Their genetic bottleneck led to dire consequences.

The subspecies include Southeast African, East African, Northeast African, Northwest African, and Asian.

Male coalitions tend to gather together to hunt because this allows them to attack larger prey and can help each other protect their prey.

Predators, such as lions and leopards, are larger than cheetahs. Cheetahs are built for speed, not combat.