Acinonyx jubatus

Domain-Eukarya

•   Multicellular, genetic material is in a membrane bound nucleus. 
  Contains membrane-bound organelles.

Kingdom-Animalia

•  Multicellular, heterotrophic, cells lack rigid cell walls.

Phylum-Chordata

• Endoskeleton, notochord(spine), three germ layers and a well
   developed coelom.

Class-Mammalia

•  Contains hair and mammary glands.

Order-Carnivora

•  Is a predator that will eat meat. Set of teeth containing canines adapted to cutting and tearing flesh.

Family-Felidae

•  Cat family, rounded heads with short muzzles, strong teeth, five toes/claws on front limbs and four on back limbs.

Genus-Acinonyx

•  Cat is not a good climber and relies on speed rather
  than stealth to catch prey.  In greek Acinonyx means
  "no-moved claw." (Old world cheetah)-long-legged, spotted cat, non retractile claws.  Present-day
   cheetah actually has semi-retractile claws.

Species-jubatus

•  In Latin, jubatus means "maned." Cheetah cubs
  have manes. (Cheetahs have their own genus so all Acininyx are
  cheetahs.)

Subspecies due to habitat location:

South Africa- A.j. jubatus     East Africa- A.j. velox

East Africa- A.j. raineyi       Sudan- A.j. soemmeringii

North Africa-A.j. hecki       

This phylogenetic tree shows the evolution of the
eight major cat lineages.  However, the actual evolution
 of today's cats did not occur in this order.  This tree
shows that some cats evolved independently from each other.  For
example, cheetahs evolved about 5.5 million
years ago and are part of the Puma lineage.  Present day lions, tigers,
and jaguars evolved about 1.6 million years
ago. These cats are part of the panthera lineage.  The
closest living relatives to the cheetah are pumas.

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