Cheetah Vs Hyena Who Wins - A Comprehensive Comparison

Below is a full detailed article about Cheetah vs Hyena Who Wins?.
Cheetah (scientific name: Acinonyx jubatus)
Hyena (scientific name: Crocuta crocuta for the spotted hyena)
Below tables cover 10 main topics by including all the numerical and scientifical data by comparing Cheetah vs Hyena Who Wins. Also I have included a winner column for further understanding, Hope you will enjoy!

Table of Contents

1. Body Specifications

Subtopics	Cheetah	Hyena	Winner
Height	70-90 cm at the shoulder	70-90 cm at the shoulder	Tie
Length	1.1-1.5 meters (body), 60-80 cm (tail)	1.3-1.8 meters (body), 25-30 cm (tail)	Hyena
Weight	34-54 kg (male), 29-43 kg (female)	40-86 kg (female), 40-70 kg (male)	Hyena
Body Shape	Slim, aerodynamic, adapted for speed	Robust, sloping back, adapted for endurance running	Tie
Bone Density	Moderate, adapted for speed and agility	High, adapted for crushing bones	Hyena
Muscle Mass	50-60% of body weight	50-60% of body weight	Tie
Skull Size	20-25 cm in length	25-30 cm in length	Hyena
Limb Strength	Powerful hind legs for sprinting	Strong forelimbs and jaws for running and crushing bones	Tie
Tail Function	Used for balance during high-speed chases	Short tail, used for communication	Cheetah
Overall Build	Lightweight and streamlined, optimized for speed	Robust and enduring, optimized for scavenging and running	Tie

2. Coat and Coloration

Subtopics	Cheetah	Hyena	Winner
Color	Yellowish-tan with black spots	Sandy, brown, or gray with spots	Tie
Pattern	Solid black spots	Irregular spots and stripes	Tie
Function	Camouflage in grasslands	Camouflage in savannahs and woodlands	Tie
Melanin Levels	Normal melanin levels	Normal melanin levels	Tie
Coat Thickness	Short, dense fur	Short, coarse fur	Tie
Seasonal Changes	No significant seasonal changes	No significant seasonal changes	Tie
Cub Coloration	Spotted at birth, fading with age	Spotted at birth, fading with age	Tie
UV Reflectance	Low reflectance, aiding in stealth	Low reflectance, aiding in stealth	Tie
Thermoregulation	Efficient in warm, dry climates	Efficient in hot, dry climates	Tie
Unique Markings	Black “tear marks” from eyes to mouth	Spots and stripes	Cheetah

3. Habitat and Range – Cheetah vs Hyena Who Wins

Subtopics	Cheetah	Hyena	Winner
Geographic Range	Sub-Saharan Africa, Iran	Sub-Saharan Africa	Tie
Habitat Type	Grasslands, savannahs, and open woodlands	Savannahs, grasslands, woodlands, and deserts	Tie
Adaptability	Highly adaptable to open terrains	Highly adaptable to various environments	Hyena
Climate Preference	Warm, dry climates	Hot, dry climates	Tie
Elevation Range	Sea level to 2,000 meters	Sea level to 4,000 meters	Hyena
Territorial Range	100-300 km²	40-1,000 km²	Hyena
Human Proximity	Can live near human settlements	Can live near human settlements	Tie
Migration Patterns	Non-migratory	Non-migratory	Tie
Population Density	Low density due to solitary nature	Moderate density in clans	Hyena
Endemism	Found in Africa and Iran	Found in Africa	Cheetah

4. Diet and Hunting – Cheetah vs Hyena Who Wins

Subtopics	Cheetah	Hyena	Winner
Prey Type	Gazelles, impalas, small antelopes	Wildebeest, zebra, antelope, carrion	Tie
Hunting Success Rate	50-70%	30-40%	Cheetah
Daily Caloric Intake	1,500-2,500 calories	2,000-3,000 calories	Hyena
Hunting Techniques	High-speed chase, suffocating bite to the throat	Cooperative hunting, endurance running, and scavenging	Tie
Prey Size	Up to 2 times their body weight	Up to 10 times their body weight	Hyena
Scavenging	Rarely scavenges	Frequently scavenges	Hyena
Hunting Time	Diurnal (daytime)	Nocturnal and crepuscular	Tie
Water Dependency	Low, can survive without water for long periods	Moderate, requires regular water intake	Cheetah
Food Storage	Eats prey on the spot	Eats prey on the spot	Tie
Competition	Competes with lions, hyenas, and wild dogs	Competes with lions, leopards, and wild dogs	Tie

5. Strength and Bite Force – Cheetah vs Hyena Who Wins

Subtopics	Cheetah	Hyena	Winner
Bite Force (PSI)	475 PSI	1,100 PSI	Hyena
Claw Strength	Semi-retractable, blunt claws for traction	Non-retractable, blunt claws for running	Tie
Lifting Capacity	Can lift 1-2 times its body weight	Can lift 1-2 times its body weight	Tie
Jaw Structure	Shorter, weaker jaws for suffocating prey	Longer jaws for crushing bones	Hyena
Neck Strength	Moderate, adapted for sprinting	Extremely strong, adapted for crushing bones	Hyena
Forelimb Strength	Strong for sprinting and grappling	Extremely strong for running and grappling	Hyena
Hind Limb Strength	Powerful for sprinting	Moderate for running	Cheetah
Overall Strength	Agile and strong, but smaller in size	Extremely powerful, larger in size	Hyena
Combat Skills	Speed-based, relies on ambush	Strength-based, relies on endurance and numbers	Hyena
Endurance	High endurance for short bursts	High endurance for long chases	Hyena

6. Speed and Agility

Subtopics	Cheetah	Hyena	Winner
Top Speed	100-120 km/h	60 km/h	Cheetah
Acceleration	Faster acceleration due to lighter body	Slower acceleration due to larger body	Cheetah
Agility in Trees	Poor climber	Poor climber	Tie
Agility in Water	Moderate swimmer	Moderate swimmer	Tie
Stamina	High stamina for short bursts	High stamina for long chases	Hyena
Jumping Ability	Can jump up to 6 meters horizontally	Limited jumping ability	Cheetah
Maneuverability	Highly maneuverable at high speeds	Less maneuverable in open terrains	Cheetah
Reflexes	Extremely fast reflexes	Moderate reflexes	Cheetah
Balance	Excellent balance for sprinting	Good balance for running	Cheetah
Overall Agility	Superior agility due to smaller size and adaptability	Moderate agility due to larger size	Cheetah

7. Senses – Cheetah vs Hyena Who Wins

Subtopics	Cheetah	Hyena	Winner
Vision Acuity	Excellent binocular vision, adapted for spotting prey at a distance	Good night vision, binocular vision	Cheetah
Hearing Range	Can hear frequencies up to 45 kHz	Can hear frequencies up to 40 kHz	Cheetah
Olfactory Capabilities	Moderate sense of smell	Highly developed sense of smell	Hyena
Whisker Sensitivity	Highly sensitive whiskers for navigation	Moderately sensitive whiskers	Cheetah
Depth Perception	Excellent depth perception for sprinting	Good depth perception for running	Cheetah
Color Vision	Limited color vision	Limited color vision	Tie
Motion Detection	Highly sensitive to motion	Moderately sensitive to motion	Cheetah
Low Light Vision	Good low light vision	Good low light vision	Tie
Sensory Adaptations	Adapted for diurnal hunting	Adapted for both diurnal and nocturnal hunting	Tie
Overall Senses	Superior senses for spotting and chasing prey	Good senses for cooperative hunting	Cheetah

8. Reproduction and Lifespan

Subtopics	Cheetah	Hyena	Winner
Gestation Period	90-95 days	90-110 days	Cheetah
Litter Size	3-5 cubs	1-3 cubs	Cheetah
Cub Mortality Rate	50-70%	50-60%	Tie
Sexual Maturity	2-3 years	2-3 years	Tie
Lifespan (Wild)	10-12 years	10-12 years	Tie
Lifespan (Captivity)	15-20 years	20-25 years	Hyena
Mating System	Solitary, polygamous	Social, polygamous	Tie
Parental Care	Mother raises cubs alone	Mother and clan raise cubs	Hyena
Weaning Age	3-4 months	6-8 months	Cheetah
Reproductive Rate	1 litter every 2 years	1 litter every 2 years	Tie

9. Social Behavior – Cheetah vs Hyena Who Wins

Subtopics	Cheetah	Hyena	Winner
Social Structure	Solitary, except during mating or cub-rearing	Lives in clans of 5-90 individuals	Hyena
Territorial Range	100-300 km²	40-1,000 km²	Hyena
Communication	Vocalizations, scent marking, and body language	Vocalizations, scent marking, and body language	Tie
Dominance Hierarchy	No strict hierarchy	Strict hierarchy within clans	Hyena
Cooperation	Minimal cooperation	High cooperation in hunting and cub-rearing	Hyena
Aggression Levels	Highly aggressive when threatened	Highly aggressive when defending territory	Tie
Play Behavior	Cubs engage in play to develop hunting skills	Cubs engage in play to develop social and hunting skills	Tie
Grooming	Self-grooming	Mutual grooming within clans	Hyena
Territorial Marking	Scent marking and vocalizations	Scent marking and vocalizations	Tie
Overall Sociability	Solitary and independent	Highly social and cooperative	Hyena

10. Conservation Status

Subtopics	Cheetah	Hyena	Winner
IUCN Status	Vulnerable	Least Concern	Hyena
Population Trends	Declining due to habitat loss and poaching	Stable, but threatened in some regions	Hyena
Threats	Habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict	Habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict	Tie
Conservation Efforts	Protected areas, anti-poaching initiatives	Protected areas, anti-poaching initiatives	Tie
Legal Protection	Protected under CITES Appendix I	Protected under CITES Appendix II	Cheetah
Population Size	Estimated 7,000-10,000	Estimated 27,000-47,000	Hyena
Genetic Diversity	Low genetic diversity	Moderate genetic diversity	Hyena
Human Impact	High due to deforestation and poaching	High due to habitat fragmentation and hunting	Tie
Reintroduction Programs	Limited reintroduction efforts	Active reintroduction efforts in some regions	Hyena
Overall Outlook	Declining and threatened	Stable but threatened in some regions	Hyena

Overall Winner – Cheetah vs Hyena Who Wins

Cheetah: Wins in categories like speed, agility, and senses.
Hyena: Wins in categories like social behavior, endurance, and bite force.
Final Verdict: The hyena has the edge in a one-on-one encounter due to its superior strength, endurance, and bite force, but the cheetah dominates in speed and agility.

References

National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com
IUCN Red List: https://www.iucnredlist.org
Smithsonian’s National Zoo: https://nationalzoo.si.edu
Journal of Zoology: Comparative studies on big cat biology
African Wildlife Foundation: https://www.awf.org
World Wildlife Fund: https://www.worldwildlife.org
Scientific Reports: Bite force and strength studies
Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: https://animals.sandiegozoo.org
BBC Earth: https://www.bbc.com/earth

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Cheetah vs Hyena Who Wins – A Comprehensive Comparison