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Cheetah vs Snow leopard

Cheetah vs snow leopard
Cheetah is larger on weight
Cheetah is somewhat greater than snow leopard on weight — about 1.3×.

A cheetah and a snow leopard can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

Side by side

Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.
Cheetah Snow leopard
Weight 34–72 kg 22–55 kg
Height 0.7–0.9 m 0.6 m
Length 1.1–1.5 m 0.9–1.2 m
Typical lifespan 8–17 yr 10–21 yr

What the numbers say

  • Cheetah is somewhat greater than snow leopard on weight — about 1.3×.
  • Cheetah is somewhat greater than snow leopard on height — about 1.3×.
  • Cheetah is somewhat greater than snow leopard on length — about 1.2×.
  • Snow leopard is somewhat greater than cheetah on typical lifespan — about 1.2×.

Weight compared.

Cheetah 34–72 kg
Snow leopard 22–55 kg

Cheetah

The fastest land animal, with a lightweight frame and semi-retractable claws for traction.

Snow leopard

A high-altitude cat of Central Asia with a tail almost as long as its body, used for balance.

This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

Common questions

Which is bigger, cheetah or snow leopard?
Cheetah is somewhat greater than snow leopard on weight — about 1.3×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do cheetahs and snow leopards compare on height?
Cheetah: 0.7–0.9 m. Snow leopard: 0.6 m. Cheetah is somewhat greater than snow leopard on height — about 1.3×.
How do cheetahs and snow leopards compare on length?
Cheetah: 1.1–1.5 m. Snow leopard: 0.9–1.2 m. Cheetah is somewhat greater than snow leopard on length — about 1.2×.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Wikidata — Wikimedia Foundation (CC0 1.0)
  2. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution

How these figures are compiled and checked