Cheetah

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a species of large feline and the only living member of the genus Acinonyx. It is known for its amazing speed. The cheetah is the fastest land animal, running up to 104 km/h (65 mph). Its fur is tawny or pale with black spots. It has a small head with special black facial streaks.

Originally from Africa, cheetahs were also introduced to India in 2022. They live in places like savannahs in the Serengeti and dry areas in the Sahara. Cheetahs live in social groups. Females and their babies travel together over large areas, while males stay in smaller areas.

Cheetahs hunt during the day, especially around dawn and dusk. They chase small to medium-sized animals like impala, springbok, and Thomson's gazelles. After about three months, females have babies. A female usually has three or four babies at once. The babies stay with their mother for about four months. They become fully independent around 20 months old.

Today, cheetahs face threats such as habitat loss and conflicts with humans. They are considered Vulnerable and appear in art, books, and cartoons. Cheetahs have been kept in zoos since the early 1800s.

Etymology

The word "cheetah" comes from words in Urdu, Hindi, and Sanskrit. These words mean something like "variegated" or "painted". In the past, people sometimes called cheetahs "hunting leopards" because they could be trained to help chase animals.

The scientific name Acinonyx comes from ancient Greek words. These words mean "immobile nails". This name refers to the cheetah’s claws, which cannot be retracted like the claws of other cats. The name jubatus is a Latin word meaning "crested, having a mane".

Taxonomy

In 1777, a scientist named Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber described the cheetah and gave it a special scientific name. Later, another scientist named Joshua Brookes suggested putting the cheetah in its own special group. The cheetah looks a lot like a greyhound and is different from other cats, so it was given its own subfamily.

Over time, scientists have studied many cheetahs and sometimes thought they found new types, or subspecies. There was even a cheetah with very thick fur that some called the "woolly cheetah." But scientists have learned that there are only four true subspecies of cheetahs today.

Phylogeny and evolution

The cheetah's closest relatives are the cougar and the jaguarundi. Together, these animals form a group called the Puma lineage. This lineage is one of the eight groups of living felids. The oldest cheetah fossils found in Africa are about 3.5 to 3 million years old. These early cheetahs were larger but slower than today’s cheetahs. The modern cheetah appeared in Africa around 1.9 million years ago.

Scientists have found fossils of cheetah-like cats in Europe and Asia. One large, slower cheetah lived in Eurasia and Africa from about 3.8 to 1.9 million years ago. The cheetah may have evolved in North America and later moved to Asia and Africa. It is believed that the cheetah went through two periods when its numbers dropped sharply. This reduced its genetic diversity.

Genetics

The cheetah has 38 chromosomes, like most other cat-like animals. Cheetahs have very little genetic variety, which makes it hard for them to breed in zoos. This also makes them more likely to get sick.

There are special cheetahs called king cheetahs. They have a rare pattern of cream-colored fur with large, blotchy spots and three dark stripes from their neck to their tail. These king cheetahs are very unusual and were first seen in Zimbabwe. Scientists found that this special look is caused by a change in a gene that also affects the coat patterns of house cats.

Characteristics

The cheetah is a slim, spotted cat with a small head, long legs, and a long tail. It is the fastest land animal, running up to 104 km/h (65 mph). Cheetahs have a tawny to creamy white coat with unique black spots. Each cheetah's spots help identify them.

Cheetahs have special features that help them run fast, like long legs and a strong tail for balance. Their spots are different from the rosettes of leopards. They also have black streaks around their eyes, which might protect their eyes from the sun. Cheetahs have a lightweight skull and strong jaws, helping them catch and eat their prey.

Distribution and habitat

The cheetah lives mainly in eastern and southern Africa, especially in places like the Kalahari and Serengeti. In other parts of Africa, it can be found in dry mountain areas and even in the Sahara’s high mountains where there is more rain. In Iran, cheetahs live in hilly desert areas up to 2,000–3,000 metres tall.^[1]

Cheetahs adapt to many different environments but prefer areas where they can easily see their prey and avoid larger animals. They like open spaces with some bushes for hiding. Cheetahs are not very common, usually found in small numbers spread out over large areas.

Ecology and behaviour

Cheetahs are mostly active during the day, while other big cats like lions and hyenas are more active at night. This helps cheetahs stay safe. They hunt mostly at dawn and dusk, resting in quiet spots during the day. Cheetahs watch for prey or bigger animals from high points and stay alert even while resting.

Cheetahs have flexible social lives. Males sometimes work together in groups to protect their area and find mates, while females usually live alone with their babies. Young males often leave home to join other groups or live alone. Females rarely interact with others except during mating time. Cheetahs communicate using sounds like chirping and purring, and they also use smells by marking spots with urine. They hunt small to medium animals like gazelles, using their speed to chase them down. Cheetahs can run very fast—up to 93–104 km/h (58–65 mph)—to catch their food.

When cheetahs have babies, the mother hides them well and takes good care of them for the first few months. Baby cheetahs start learning to hunt by watching their mother and practicing. Most baby cheetahs face dangers from other animals, but those that survive can live up to 15 years in the wild.

Threats

The cheetah faces many challenges that make it harder for them to survive. One big problem is losing their homes because of farms and factories. These take away the space they need to live. Cheetahs also struggle when there isn’t enough food because other animals or people take away their prey.

Sometimes, cheetahs clash with people who are trying to protect their animals. In places like Namibia, farmers may try to stop cheetahs from getting close to their livestock. Other dangers include being caught in illegal trade or getting hurt on roads that cut through their habitats. Because cheetahs don’t have much genetic diversity, they can be more affected by illnesses.

Conservation

The cheetah is considered Vulnerable and is protected by several international agreements like the IUCN Red List, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. In Africa, efforts to protect cheetahs began in the 1970s. Special centers like the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre in South Africa care for injured cheetahs. Today, many programs work to protect cheetahs, including the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia.

In Asia, countries like Iran work to protect the Asiatic cheetah. In India, cheetahs from Africa were brought to help increase their numbers. They have had many babies.

Interaction with humans

The cheetah has been kept as a companion animal since ancient times. Early pictures of cheetahs can be found in caves in France, dating back thousands of years. Historians believe cheetahs were first tamed in places like Sumer and later in Egypt. In Egypt, cheetahs were special pets for royalty, often wearing beautiful collars and leashes. Ancient Egyptians thought cheetahs would carry the spirits of pharaohs away.

Cheetahs have also appeared in art and culture for many years. They have been shown in paintings, such as in a work by the artist Titian, where cheetahs pull a chariot. In other artworks, cheetahs are shown with people, showing how they have been valued and admired throughout history.

Cheetahs have also been kept in zoos. The first cheetah in a zoo was shown in London in 1829. Over time, more cheetahs have been born in zoos rather than taken from the wild. However, cheetahs in zoos can face health challenges and need special care to stay healthy and happy.