Cheetah Teeth Nasal Passages Jaw

Cheetah Teeth	Lion Teeth
Although this cheetah looks pretty fierce its teeth are small compared to those of other big cats. The teeth are small because everything about the cheetah is designed to enhance its running speed. To run really fast requires lots of oxygen and to breathe in lots of oxygen the cheetah needs very large nasal passages. But large nasal passages leave no space for the long roots required to anchor big teeth. Without large teeth the cheetah is limited in its fighting abilities. It is easily overwhelmed by larger, stronger cats like lions. Because of its short teeth a cheetah must kill its prey by suffocation - the jaw structure enables a vise-like grip.
See also: Food, King Cheetah, Appearance, Dentition (external link), Cheetah Skull Compared (external link)