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Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)- Data, Pictures & Videos
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)- Data, Pictures & Videos
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Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)- Data, Pictures & Videos
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Cheetah species account from the Book 'Wild Cats of the World' by Melvin and Fiona Sunquist.
Page:19-36 https://books.google.ca/books?id=hFbJWMh...&q&f=false
And for my mane course, I'll have the cheetah! Amazing image appears to show lion devouring planet's fastest land animal... but all is not as it seems
This jaw-dropping shot appears to show a very hungry lion munching on a poor cheetah who has sadly become lunch. But it is actually a clever optical illusion with the lion in the foreground lined up perfectly with the other big cat. Wildlife photographer Saeed Aljafar captured the amazing scene in Kenya's Masai Mara.  *This image is copyright of its original author https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9190257/Amazing-image-appears-lion-devouring-cheetah-not-seems.html
Resy and her daughters
We first met this female in November of 2001 near the Mara Research Station, and gave her name Resy. She was fully grown female, estimated to be about 2 years old. Resy in 2011  *This image is copyright of its original author In July 2011, while looking through cheetah pictures taken in 2008 by professional wildlife photographer Federico Veronesi (www.federicoveronesi.com), I found Resy with three small cubs. Of the three, she successfully raised one male. She was 9 years old at the time the pictures were taken.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Resy with her cubs in 2008 We saw Resy again in November 2011 with two sub-adult female cubs. She was 12 years old by that time. It is very important to monitor cheetahs until their death to help estimate the lifespan of Mara cheetahs. ROSA – RESY’s DAUGHTER At 10:00 of the 28th of March, 2013 we found F26 in Sopa area. She had a wound on her left hip area. At 13:30 a male impala passes by 5m from her but she does not chase the impala instead kept an eye on it as it passed by until it joined a group of 2 female impalas. This is when Rosastood up and stalked this group and suddenly burst into a full speed chase on a female impala and puts her down within two minutes.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author She then dragged the kill under a shade and sat looking around for almost 45 minutes before eating. During this time, a hyena shows up 80m away, sniffs the air and leaves for where it came from. F26 embarked on eating but with alternating moments of looking around. At 17:08 Rosa leaves the kill and moves uphill. Hardly had she left the sight, Vultures had their landing gears down onto the kill with their noises attracting the black backed jackal who chases the vultures and takes over the kill. Minutes later, a hyena, suspectadly the one same one shows up scares the vultures and jackal away from the kill and picks up the whole carcass and runs away with it! http://marameru.org/eng/news/stories/
Cheetahs swimming in the okavango delta
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
SHINGO
The most famous Mara cheetah female that successfully raised 6 cubs to independence. The family was last seen in September 2011.  *This image is copyright of its original author Shingo with cubs in 2011 (Photo by F.Veronesi)  *This image is copyright of its original author Photo by F.Veronesi http://marameru.org/eng/news/stories/ Cheetah Predation:A Summary of Scientific studies
Prey preference Cheetahs primarily prey on Thomson’s gazelle in Serengeti.In a lot of woodlands cheetahs primarily prey on impala.In Phinda Resource reserve cheetahs mostly prey on nyala and impala.Cheetahs also prefer impala the most in Matusadona national park, Kruger national park, Transvaal and Lowveld region of South Africa.In Kwande national park cheetahs primarily prey on Kudu.In parts of Botswana and Namibia cheetahs prefer springbok the most.In Kafue NP puku was found to be the preferred prey.In Namibian ranch lands cheetahs primarily predate on warthogs and kudu calves.In northern Kenya cheetahs prefer gerenuks, dik diks and lesser kudus.In west Africa cheetahs mostly prey on oribi and kob.Cheetahs prefer male antelope over females mostly and more 50% of their prey are either subadults or calves.Asiatic cheetahs prey on wild sheep mostly.(1,2,3,4,5,6,7) Hunting methods Cheetahs find and chase prey using 2 methods.Cheetahs hide in an area (eg.shade) and wait for prey to come close and then they chase.Another method is walking among the grass and when the prey is 30-100 meters close the cheetah starts the chase.During chase the cheetah will attempt to trip it’s prey by hooking its prey with its dew claw.An alternative would be bring the prey down with paw swipe to the rump.Cheetahs kill large prey by strangulation, small prey by a bite to the back of the neck.They kill very small prey like hare and very small impala calves using skull bites.(5) Scavenging and eating habits It was thought that cheetahs never scavenge before but cheetahs do rarely scavenge.Cheetahs use their scissor-like carnassial teeth to rip and chew chunks of meat to eat fast.Cheetahs rest from 5-55 minutes before eating because they would be exhausted from running.If it is a coalition the main hunter rests while the rest of the coalition immediately starts eating.Cheetahs need to eat 0.4-4 kg per day to maintain a healthy life.Cheetahs do occasionally gorge themselves on kills and fast for days. (5,1,8) Hunting Success Cheetahs are more successful hunting juvenile and subadult animals as compared to adults.Schaller recorded 100% success rate while hunting gazelle calves and 53.5% success rate hunting adult gazelle.In Nairobi national park 37% of all chases were successful, 76% of chases involving juvenile animals were successful.Caro recorded 81-100% success rate on gazelle neonates.Cheetah trios have more hunting success rate than cheetah pairs or singletons.(5) References: 1.Early Post-Release Movements, Prey Preference and Habitat Selection of Reintroduced Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in Liwonde National Park, Malawi 2.Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan Wild Cats 3.Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus feeding ecology in the Kruger National Park and a comparison across African savanna habitats: is the cheetah only a successful hunter on open grassland plains? 4.Aspects of Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Biology, Ecology and Conservation Strategies on Namibian Farmlands 5.Wild Cats of the World, Melvin and Fiona Sunquist, 2002 6.How does the ungulate community respond to predation risk from cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in Samara Private Game Reserve? 7.A review of ecology and conservation status of Asiatic cheetah in Iran 8.Cheetahs Race for Survival: Ecology and Conservation    *This image is copyright of its original author ratishnairphotography - Stalking games - Even the fastest land animal has to work very hard for every meal.
SPOT the difference: Cheetah gives birth to giant litter of seven adorable cubs
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7664551/Cheetah-gives-birth-giant-litter-seven-adorable-cubs.html
Video of crocodile attacking cheetah goes viral, leaves viewers stunned
A video of a cheetah going to drink water near a river attacked by a crocodile was shared by Surender Mehra of the Indian Forest Services (IFS).  *This image is copyright of its original author Every animal is given sixth sense to survive through the harsh conditions and unfavourable environment by mother nature. Be it a little mouse or a big wild cat, all have instincts to tell whether something is right or not. Something like that happened when a Cheetah was attacked by a crocodile and it escaped to survive. In a video posted by Surender Mehra of the Indian Forest Services (IFS) on Twitter, a Cheetah going to drink water was suddenly attacked by a crocodile hiding inside the water. The cheetah got its instincts together and jumped away to survive and succeeded. IFS Surender Mehra shared the video with the caption: "Wilderness is full of uncertainties and surprises.. ‘Survival of fittest..’"
Okavango delta cheetah yawning
 *This image is copyright of its original author
MAMMALIAN SPECIES
No. 771, pp. 1--6, 3 figs. Acinonyx jubatus.
By Paul R. Krausman and Susana M. Morales
Published 15 July 2005 by the American Society of Mammalogists
DIAGNOSIS. Acinonyx jubatus is similar in size (60 captive males, X mass = 40.2 kg; 68 captive females, X mass = 35.0 kg-Cam 1994) to leopards (Panthera pardus) and cougars (Puma concolor--Caro 1994). However, cheetahs cannot be confused with other cats. Each cheetah has a unique arrangement of spots on face and body and a tear strea k extending from the come r of the eye to the upper lip behind canines (Caro 1994; Mivart 1900). Leopards do not have the tear streak and cougars do not have spots or the tear streak. GENERAL CHARACTERS. Pelage is pale yellow, gray, or fawn on upper parts (Kitchen er 1991) and is covered with small round black spots set closely together and not arranged in rosettes (Nowak 1999). Underparts are paler, often white. A pronounced lachrymal or tear stripe runs from anterior com er of eye down beside muzzle (Kitchener 1991). Ears are small and round with a black patch on back side (Eaton 1982) but tawny at base and edges. Tail is spotted above and pale below with a white tip. Last one third of tail has a series of black rings (Nowak 1999 ). Coat is coarse and hair is somewhat longer on nape than else where, forming a short mane (Nowak 1999). In young cubs, mane is much more pronounced and extends over head, neck, and back (Nowak 1999). Cubs are covered in a long, woolly, bluish-gray mane that makes them less conspicuous to predators on open savanna (Kitchener 1991 ). Cubs have uniform, gray, long hair with spots visible on underfur. Acinonyx jubatus has a slim body; very long legs; and a small, rounded head with short ears. Pup il of eye is circular when contracted (Lydekker 189 5). Paws are narrow compared with those of other cats (Nowak 1999). Claws are blunt and slightly curved. A. jubatus has weakly retractile claws that have no skin folds to protect them. Skull is vaulted and raised high above muzzle and cranium (Fig. 2). Skull is short and broad with enlarged nasal openings. Nasals are short and broad dorsally, and bony palate extend s well behind molars . Unlike most other members of the Felidae, A. jubatus has very large nasal passages. Bullae are relatively small with strong paroccipital process that jut ventrally (Roberts 1951 ). Average external measurements (in mm) of 10 free-living male (mean :t SD) and 7 female A. jubatus from Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, respectively, are: length of nose to anus, 123.3 :t 60, 135.3 :t 28.2; length of tail, 68.3 :t 2.3, 63 .6 :t 4.9; length of hind foot, 28.0 :t 1.4, 27.1 :t 0.7; body mass (kg), 42.3 :t 5.6, 37.9 :t 4.8 (Caro et al. 1987). Shoulder height ranges from 700 to 900 mm (Nowak 1999). Average cranial measurements with parenthetical sample sizes (in mm) for males and females, respectively, are: width of incisors, 9.9 (6), 9.6 (5); width of incisors plus canines, 26.4 (11), 25.2 (8); width of nasa ls, 15.8 (11), 15.9 (8); width of maxilla, 4 1.2 (11), 39.4 (7); width of zygomatic arch, 60.0 (11), 56.5 (6); bullar length , 2.71 (10), 2.59 (8); bullar width , 1.71 (10), 1.62 (8); depth of skull, 6.86 (10), 6.48 (8); length of upper toothrow, 5.08 (11), 5.03 (7); length of mandible, 12.21 (10), 11.35 (8); and length of lower toothrow, 6.11 (9), 5.98 (8). Depth of skull and length of mandible are significantly larger in males (Wayne et al. 1986). FOSSIL RECORD. Early fossil records of A. jubatus are from the Olduvai I bed, east Africa (northern Tanzania) in the lower Pleistocene fauna fossils (Hopwood 1951). The oldest cheetah fossils are from eastern and southern Africa from 3.5-3.0 X 106 years ago (Turner 1997). Paleoecological records show that cheetahlike cats ranged across Asia, Africa, and North America as recently as 10,000 years ago (Kurten 1968). At least 2 other species of Old World cheetahs might have existed at the same time (Caro 1994). Acinonyx pardinensis (ca. 95 kg) occurred in Eurasia and east and south Africa during the Villafranchian period, 1.9-3.8 X 106 years ago, earlier than suggested by the molecular phylogeny, and a smaller form, A. intermedius, found in the mid-Pleistocene, extended from Europe eastward to China (Caro 1994). A. pardinensis was larger and less cursorial than modern cheetahs and spread throughout the Old World. American cheetah like cats have been assigned to Acinonyx, Felis, and Puma, but a recent cladistic study (Van Valkenburg et al. 1990) places these large, long-limbed cats in the genus Miracinonyx. Two species are recognized: M. inexpectata and M. trumani. M. inexpectata includes a nearly complete skeleton from Hamilton Cave, West Virginia. The proportions were intermediate between extant cheetah and puma but larger with fully retractile claws. M. trumani was described from hundreds of bones from Natural Trap Cave, Wyoming (Adams 1979). The bones were larger but otherwise similar to A. jubatus. Thus, cheetah may have originated in North America and dispersed to Eurasia and Africa (Turner 1997). FOSSIL RECORD. Early fossil records of A. jubatus are from the Olduvai I bed, east Africa (northern Tanzania) in the lower Pleistocene fauna fossils (Hopwood 1951). The oldest cheetah fossils are from eastern and southern Africa from 3.5-3.0 X 106 years ago (Turner 1997). Paleoecological records show that cheetahlike cats ranged across Asia, Africa, and North America as recently as 10,000 years ago (Kurten 1968). At least 2 other species of Old World cheetahs might have existed at the same time (Caro 1994). Acinonyx pardinensis (ca. 95 kg) occurred in Eurasia and east and south Africa during the Villafranchian period, 1.9-3.8 X 106 years ago, earlier than suggested by the molecular phylogeny, and a smaller form, A. intermedius, found in the mid-Pleistocene, extended from Europe eastward to China (Caro 1994). A. pardinensis was larger and less cursorial than modern cheetahs and spread throughout the Old World. American cheetah like cats have been assigned to Acinonyx, Felis, and Puma, but a recent cladistic study (Van Valkenburg et al. 1990) places these large, long-limbed cats in the genus Miracinonyx. Two species are recognized: M. inexpectata and M. trumani. M. inexpectata includes a nearly complete skeleton from Hamilton Cave, West Virginia. The proportions were intermediate between extant cheetah and puma but larger with fully retractile claws. M. trumani was described from hundreds of bones from Natural Trap Cave, Wyoming (Adams 1979). The bones were larger but otherwise similar to A. jubatus. Thus, cheetah may have originated in North America and dispersed to Eurasia and Africa (Turner 1997). FORM AND FUNCTION. The pelage of A. jubatus insulates the body from temperature changes, whereas the color and pattern of spots conceal cheetahs from prey in the open habitats where it hunts. Cheetahs have a high concentration of nerve cells leading to the optic nerve. The concentrated band of nerve cells is called the visual streak and increases the visual acuity of cheetahs. This allows them to detect prey moving against the horizon in open habitats (Kitchener 1991). Skull is high in proportion to its length (Mivart 1900). Cheetahs have a high proportion of temporalis muscle fibers that pull horizontally. This is offset with short canines and thus, smaller opening of the jaws when a killing bite is delivered (Ewer 1973). Infraorbital canal of cheetahs is extremely small (Mazak 1968; Pocock 1951), and nerves from tactile receptors at bases of vibrissae run through it. Brain is considerably convoluted and corpus albicans is divided into 2 corpora mammillaria (Mivart 1900). Nasals are short. Nasal passages are large with 1 infraorbital foramen on each side (Kitchener 1991; Mivart 1900). Nasal aperture is bounded on either side by roots of upper canines; reduction in the size of the teeth permits the enlarged aperture. Dental formula is i 3/3, c 1/1, p 3/2, m 1/1, total 30 (p2 may be absent in some individuals-Nowak 1999). The small upper molar is visible when skull is in profile. Second premolar (p3) is large and projects downward as much as the carnassial or p4 (Mivart 1900). Cheek teeth are narrow and bladelike for slicing flesh. Canines are small and flattened (Ewer 1973). Whiskers of A. jubatus are fewer compared with those of other cats (Ewer 1973). A cheetah's larynx has divided thyroarytenoid folds with a depression between the rostral and caudal folds and a vocal fold with a sharp edge that does not allow the cheetah to roar (Hast 1989). Respiratory tracts of A. jubatus have a wide cross section, particularly the nasal cavities and connecting passages to pharynx and to trachea. This facilitates movement of air during breathing (Grzimek 1990). Enlargement of these connecting tracts is one of the primary reasons for the pronounced bulging of the skull. The cheetah has a relatively small heart that pumps only a small amount of blood. Hunting by cheetahs involves a high speed chase to run down their prey and a throat bite to suffocate the prey. Wide and large nasal passages help increase the concentration of oxygen in the blood during prey suffocation, allowing the cheetah to regain its breath after capture (Kitchener 1991). The short canines of the cheetah are used to make a throat bite, which occludes the prey's trachea leading to suffocation, essential for dispatching mediumsized prey (Ewer 1973; Kitchener 1991). Cheetahs are digitigrade. Hind limbs are longer than forelimbs. Radius, ulna, tibia, fibula, metacarpals, and metatarsals of lower leg are elongated for increased stride length (Kitchener 1991). Tibia and fibula are firmly bound together with fibrous tissue that allows very little rotation about lower leg (Ewer 1973). Back tends to hang slightly when standing (Kingdon 1977). While running, flexing and straightening of the vertebrae column increases stride length (Hildebrand 1961). Tail is long and used as a counterbalance when turning at high speeds (Kitchener 1991). Cheetahs have a preponderance of fast-twitch fibers in the locomotor muscles (83% of the vastus lateralis and ca. 61% of the gastrocnemius). Locomotor muscles of cheetahs are capable of anerobically based exercise (Williams et al. 1997). Cheetahs use their claws as running spikes to increase their grip while pursuing their prey (Kitchener 1991). Cheetahs have very firm foot pads due to running on firm ground. Ridges, which act like the tread on car tires, run along foot pads (Ewer 1973). ONTOGENY AND REPRODUCTION. Female A.jubatus are polyestrus and cycle ca. every 12 days (range, 3-27 days) in captivity. Females may be receptive from 1 to 14 days (Caro 1994). Cheetahs are induced ovulators and evidence for seasonal breeding is weak (Caro 1994). Females reproduce at 13-16 months of age (Wrogemann 1975) with an average age of sexual maturity between 21 and 22 months (Kitchener 1991). Copulation frequency for cheetahs is 3-5 times per day (Kitchener 1991). Mean motile sperm per ejaculate (25.3 X 10 6-0'Brien et al. 1985) and circulating testosterone levels are generally lower for male A. jubatus < 5 years of age, although captive males have sired offspring in their 3rd year of life (Caro 1994). A high proportion of spermatozoa have abnormalities (Caro 1994). Gestation is 90-95 days (Caro 1994; Kitchener 1991). Births occurred during January-August in east Africa, November-January in Namibia, and November-March in Zambia (Nowak 1999). From 1969 to 1994 in the Serengeti Plains, Tanzania, females gave birth to their 1st litter at ca. 2.4 years, interbirth interval was 20.1 months, and mean litter size was 2.1 cubs (Kelly et al. 1998). Average longevity of females that survived to independence (i.e., remain with mothers) was 6.2 years. Minimum male longevity was 2.8 years for those born in the study area, but 5.3 years for immigrants (Kelly et al. 1998). Litter size can be up to 8 but 6 young are normally the most that emerge from the lair in the wild (Caro 1994; Caro et al. 1987). Females produced an average of 1.7 young to independence and mean reproductive rates were 0.36 young per year, or 0.17 litters per year at independence in Tanzania (Kelley et al. 1998). At birth, young weigh 250-300 g (Kitchener 1991), but can average 463 g in captivity (Wack et al. 1991). Young remain in a lair (usually in a marsh, tall vegetation, or a rocky outcrop) for ca. 8 weeks and may be carried to new lairs during this period (Laurenson 1993). Young open their eyes after 4-11 days and begin walking after 12- 13 days (Kitchener 1991). Young have a thick covering of long, bluish-gray or smokygray hair that appears on nape, shoulders, and back soon after birth. The function of this seems to be camouflage from predators. Infant hair disappears after ca. 3 months of age but a short mane is retained into adolescence and for longer in some individuals (Caro 1994). Milk or deciduous teeth erupt between 3 and 6 weeks (Broom 1949) and are replaced by permanent teeth at ca. 8 months of age (Caro 1994). Young are weaned at 3-6 months. Young may not separate from their mother until they are 15-17 months old (Caro 1994; Eaton 1974). GENETICS. The 2N = 38. Fifty-five cheetahs from Transvaal and in Namibia had no genetic variation at each of 47 allozyme loci (O'Brien et al. 1983a, 1983b). Electrophoretic studies, reproductivesurveys, experiments using reciprocal skin grafts, and analyses of the major histocompatibility complex also show extreme lack of genetic variability (Caro 1994; Yuhki and O'Brien 1990). Genetic monomorphism results in spermatozoal abnormalities and difficulty with captive breeding (O'Brien et al. 1985, 1987). DNA analyses date the genetic monomorphism to ca. 10,000 years ago (Menotti-Raymond and O'Brien 1993) because of population bottlenecks in the Pleistocene (O'Brien et al. 1987) or to interchange between subpopulations equivalent to panmictic breeding (Caro 1994; O'Brien et al. 1987). Consequences of reduced genetic variability may be increased juvenile mortality and susceptibility to disease. However, increased mortality of young would not be expected in species purged of deleterious recessives (Caro 1994). CONSERVATION STATUS. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classifies the cheetah as vulnerable and the Asiatic subspecies (A. j. venaticus) as endangered. The entire species is listed as endangered by the United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, and is on appendix 1 of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES 1982). https://academic.oup.com/mspecies/article/doi/10.1644/771/2600836?searchresult=1
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] |
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