* Primary consumers are herbivores that eat plants.
* Secondary consumers are carnivores or omnivores that eat primary consumers. Cheetahs primarily hunt gazelles, zebras, and other herbivores, making them secondary consumers.
* Tertiary consumers are carnivores that eat secondary consumers. While cheetahs may occasionally prey on smaller carnivores, their diet mainly consists of herbivores.
Therefore, cheetahs fit the definition of a secondary consumer in the food chain.