What Species Is the Cheetah?

The cheetah is the world's fastest land animal. It is one of the larger cat varieties and is native to Africa and parts of the Middle East. It can reach top speeds of 70 to 75 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in three seconds. It is a carnivore and uses its speed to catch prey.

  1. Species

    • The cheetah's scientific name is Acinonyx jubatus. It is the only member of the Acinonyx genus that is still in existence. Cheetahs evolved from ancestors dating back to the Miocene period 26 to 7.5 million years ago. Acinonyx means "no-move-claw" in ancient Greek, while jubatus means "maned" in Latin, referring to the mane that cheetahs have as infants.

    Family

    • Cheetahs are warm-blooded vertebrate mammals in the cat family. They are "big" cats, but unlike other members of this group, such as lions and leopards, cheetahs can purr as they inhale but cannot roar. Of all the big cats, the vulnerable cheetah is the least able to adapt to new environments.

    Subspecies

    • The cheetah species is broken up in five subspecies, of which four come from Africa and one from the Middle East. The Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) is from the Middle East. The Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) can be found in north-west and western Africa; Acinonyx jubatus raineyii are found in East Africa; Acinonyx jubatus jubatus are found in Southern Africa; and Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii can be found in Central Africa.

    Additional Cheetah Facts

    • Cheetahs have been used for hunting by man since 3000 B.C. and have no natural enemies. They may be mistaken for leopards by humans. They make a sound called a growl, hiss or snarl, rather than a roar. Adult cheetahs can grow to heights of between 2.3 and 2.5 feet and weigh between 75 and 150 pounds. Male cheetahs live in small groups, while females are traditionally solitary.