Telling them apart
Cheetah vs Lion
These two are in the same family, so the differences are in the detail.
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
Lion
Panthera leo
Field marks
Cheetah
Lion
build
Build is distinctly slim, with a deep chest, long limbs, and a small streamlined head.
en.wikipedia.orgNot recorded
coat
Coat carries around 2,000 evenly spaced, solid black spots each measuring roughly 3 to 5 cm.
en.wikipedia.orgAdult coat is plain tawny with no spots or rosettes; cub spots fade by adulthood.
en.wikipedia.orgface
Two solid black lines run from the inner corner of each eye down to the mouth.
en.wikipedia.orgMales carry a prominent mane covering the head, shoulders, and chest.
en.wikipedia.orgtail
Tail ends in a prominent bushy white tuft.
en.wikipedia.orgTail tip carries a dark hairy tuft shared by all lions.
en.wikipedia.orgVitals
Cheetah
Lion
Mass
37.9 to 58.8 kg
98 to 175 kg
Height
67 to 94 cm
100 to 120 cm
Lifespan
up to 20.5 yrs
up to 30 yrs
In the field
Cheetah
Lion
Active
Daytime (diurnal)
Night (nocturnal)
Status
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Recorded in
Namibia
Namibia
Both are recorded in 3 of the same grid cells across Namibia, so a sighting in that overlap could be either.