Cheetahs are known to be the fastest animals on land, and they are also cunning predators. They are found throughout Africa and parts of Asia, which means they live close to some of the other most powerful carnivores in the world. By that, we mean that they share a range with the lion, the animal known as the king of the jungle. Who won the cheetah vs lion fight? We’ll show you what happens when you pit your overwhelming speed against raw power!
Comparing Cheetahs and Lions
| cheetah | lion | |
| size | Weight: 80 lbs – 140 lbs Length 3.5ft – 5ft Height: 2 feet – 3 feet | Weight: 264 lbs – 550 lbs Length: 4.7ft – 8.2ft Height: 36in-48in |
| speed and movement type | 70 mph – striding | -35 mph – Dash enemies |
| Bite Force and Teeth | 400-500PSI bite force – 30 teeth – 1 inch fangs | – 650-1000 PSI bite force -30 teeth, including up to four 4-inch canines |
| the senses | – great night vision – Excellent sense of smell, helping them find prey – Great hearing picked up on many frequencies | – Amazing déjà vu, especially night vision. – Good sense of smell to be able to smell the marks of other lions. – Good hearing allows them to hear prey from miles away. |
| defense | – speed | – Take pride in digital security – large size – Can run away from enemies quickly |
| offensive ability | – speed of chasing enemies – Uses bite force and weight to knock down and strangle large prey -Sharp wolf claws do extra damage during attacks | – Sharp claws can tear enemies apart – Claw strikes deliver powerful and surprising blows – A powerful bite can tear bones and tear open prey. |
| predatory behavior | – Ambush other creatures by spotting and chasing them. | – Mainly stalking and jumping on opponents – Can act as a stamina predator – Use groups to take down prey |
Key factors in cheetah-lion fights
The fight between these two big cats comes down to a combination of their physical strength and fighting prowess. Fortunately, we’ve gathered data on both elements, which we’ll use to determine which animal has the greatest advantage. Find out which of these mammals is more equipped to win the battle!
Physical Characteristics of Cheetahs and Lions
Like a rumble in a primeval jungle, a cheetah vs. lion fight will come down to a mix of physical attributes. We’ll explore five data segments to show you which animal has a physical advantage over another. Consider each one and see how these creatures stack up against each other.
Cheetah vs. Lion: Size
Cheetahs are very fast creatures, at the expense of their size. They weigh up to 140 pounds and are about 5 feet long. Lions, on the other hand, are much larger than cheetahs. They can weigh over 500 pounds and grow up to 8 feet long, standing up to 4 feet tall.
Lions have an advantage in size.
Cheetah vs. Lion: Speed and Movement
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, and they can go after any creature in their area in great strides. They can reach an astonishing speed of 70 mph. Lions are also fast. They can run at 35 mph and use burst speeds to reach 50 mph in short bursts.
Cheetahs have a speed advantage.
Cheetah vs. Lion: Bite Force and Teeth
Both cheetahs and lions use their bite force and sharp teeth to kill their prey. Cheetahs have 30 teeth, 1 inch long fangs and can bite with 500PSI force. This is enough to kill their prey.
Lions are much stronger, with a bite force of up to 1,000 PSI and use their 4 inch canines to dig into their prey and kill it.
Lions have an advantage in bite force.
Cheetah vs. Lion: Senses
Cheetahs have keen senses that help them find food. Their night vision is spectacular and their sense of smell is excellent. They even have a heightened sense of hearing that can detect high and low frequencies.
Lions also have far-reaching vision, which is excellent at night. They also have a good sense of smell. Their amazing hearing allows them to hear prey miles away from their position.
We will call the senses a tie because the two organisms have similar levels in their vital senses.
Cheetah vs. Lion: Physical Defense
The cheetah’s main defense is the ability to outrun anything else on land. That’s all it takes, since most creatures give up when they realize they can’t catch a mammal. Lions stay proud and get safe in numbers. They are also very large creatures, very scary, and they have the ability to escape harm like a cheetah.
As far as physical defense goes, the cheetah has the advantage because as long as it can run, it can end any fight.
Cheetah and Lion Fighting Skills
Both lions and cheetahs are carnivores, so they know how to fight. In fact, they’re pretty similar when they’re acting individually. They will stalk and ambush a predator, then use their teeth to grab a vital spot, such as the neck, and drag the animal to the ground before completing their task.
The only difference is that lions can also hunt with pride. When they do, they’ll act as stamina predators, harassing enemies and slowly injuring them until their prey is too weak to fight back.
Lions have the upper hand due to their versatility.
What is the main difference between a cheetah and a lion?
Lions are bigger, stronger and heavier than cheetahs. Lions can also develop greater bite force. Cheetahs tend to live alone, but lions live in a proud pride that can have several members. Also, cheetahs are fully ambush predators, but lions are ambush predators and stamina predators.
Cheetahs are much faster than lions, capable of running at 20 mph or faster than their larger foes. These differences will have a big impact on which creature wins the fight.
Who will win in a fight between a cheetah and a lion?
Lions will win the fight against cheetahs. Both creatures are unlikely to ambush the other due to their incredible senses. Although the cheetah would have slammed into the lion at full speed and bit and cut several times during the initial confrontation, the lion’s thick neck and mane would have reduced the cheetah’s damage.
Since this is a close quarters fight, a lot of the fight comes down to size and strength – both areas where lions have an advantage.
The most likely result is that the two big cats wrestled and rolled, and the lion bit the cheetah hard with its strong claws and sharp claws, causing severe damage. At some point the lion will use its weight to overwhelm the cheetah and inflict a devastating, fatal bite.
It’s possible, though, that the cheetahs realized they were in trouble and ran away as soon as the fight started. Other than that, its chances are slim, as the lion will sense it before it gets to the fight.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
