Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)- Data, Pictures & Videos

[Acinonyx sp.]

Notes on the Taxonomy of the Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus)



The only valid subspecies of cheetah are


Acinonyx jubatus jubatus-South African Cheetah


Acinonyx jubatus venaticus-Asiatic cheetah


Acinonyx jubatus hecki-Saharan cheetah


Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii-Sudan cheetah



Acinonyx jubatus Raineyii (Tanzanian cheetah) is now an invalid subspecies and is considered a conspecific of South african cheetah (A.j.jubatus). Tanzanian cheetah has also been classified into completely different subspecies like A.j.velox, A.j.ngorongorensis. A.j.raddei is not a valid subspecies and is a conspecific of A.j.venaticus. A.j.jubatus was discovered by Von Schreber in 1776, A.j.venaticus was discovered by Edward Griffith , A.j.soemmeringii was discovered by Leopold Fitzinger and A.j.hecki was discovered by Max Hilzheimer. (1, 2, 3, 4,5)



Characteristics of subspecies


A.j.jubatus: small and well separated spots


A.j.venaticus-Short legs; small and well spaced spots


A.j.soemmeringii-Pale; small and well separated spots; richly coloured



A.j.Hecki-Small sized body; pale (1,2)




Distribution
A.j.jubatus:South and Central Africa


A.j.Venaticus:Currently Iran, historically throughout Asia


A.j.Hecki: North and West Africa


A.j.soemmeringii: East Africa, Central Africa


 (1,2)




References:
1.Cheetahs Race for Survival: Ecology and conservation


2.Cheetahs of the Serengeti plains


3.Mammals species of the world: A taxonomic and geographical reference, Volume 1


4.Mammals of the Soviet union 1988

5.[b]A review of ecology and conservation status of Asiatic cheetah in Iran[/b] Reply