Research overview: why cheetah claws are only semi-retractable

The cheetah is the classic exception to feline claw retraction: its claws remain largely exposed, blunt, and dog-like. This overview reviews the functional reasoning that this trades the sharp, sheathed weapon of other cats for permanent ground grip, acting like cleats during high-speed acceleration, braking, and cornering. Reduced claw sheaths and a less developed retraction apparatus accompany this specialisation. Researchers compare cheetah toe anatomy with that of other felids and link claw exposure to the traction limits documented in wild hunts. Why it matters: the cheetah claws are a vivid example of how a hunting strategy reshapes anatomy, sacrificing the prey-grappling and tree-climbing utility of retractable claws in exchange for the traction that the world fastest land predator needs to convert muscular power into ground speed.