The African cheetah’s typical lifespan is from 10 to 15 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 20 years and 6 months; its theoretical lifespan ranges from 10 years and 3 months to 20 years and 6 months. The species reaches sexual maturity between 11 months and 2 weeks and 1 year and 7 months. A cub’s eyes open between 1 and 2 weeks of age, and it begins to walk between 2 weeks and 4 days and 4 weeks. During the embryonic stage, the embryo develops inside the mother during pregnancy. The cub is born blind and toothless, lives in a shelter with its mother, and this stage lasts from 1 day to 2 years. The adult stage begins at 2 years of age and lasts until 14 years of age, during which time the cheetah can run quickly and reproduce.