THE CHEETAH Acinonyx jubatus
Scientific Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Carnivora
Family Felidae
Genus Acinonyx
Species jubatus
History
The cheetah is the most ancient of all the members of the cat family, originating approximately 4 million years ago. The oldest fossils suggest its earliest habitat to be in North America (the areas of Texas, Nevada, and Wyoming). Until 10,000 years ago (the end of the last Ice Age), Acinonyx jubatus was common throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Due to the devastating climatic changes, vast numbers of mammals (including the Cheetah) disappeared or became reduced to very small populations. Virtually all the cheetah in North America and Europe perished, while most of those in Asia and Africa were drastically reduced. The resultant genetic "bottleneck" is responsible for today's surviving cheetahs being as genetically alike as identical twins. Some scientists have even theorized that the surviving African cheetahs may all come from one female that managed to survive the climatic changes.
At least as early as 3,000 BC, the cheetah was caught, partially tamed, and kept by humans. The Sumerians utilized cheetahs during "hunts", where a hooded and leashed cheetah would be suddenly released to run down prey. The use of the cheetah was not to attain food, but for royal sport (known as "coursing"). The Egyptians deified the cheetah as one of their many gods ("MAFDET", the cat-goddess) and made the cheetah a symbol of royalty. Written records from Marco Polo mention cheetahs as pets in the orient. Genghis Khan, Akbar the Great of India, and Charlemagne were recorded as having pet cheetahs. Akbar kept 9,000 cheetahs and was probably the first to realize the difficulty in breeding this remarkable animal in captivity.
Physical Description
Acinonyx jubatus is like no other cat. Evolution created an animal that is solely adapted for speed. A long, narrow, and lean body, with longer legs, a deeper chest, a small belly and head, and a supple and flexible spine followed by a long, muscular tail has contributed to comparisons of its body to that of the "greyhound". The cheetah's height is approximately 30 inches at the shoulder; weight ranges from 80 to 145 pounds; length approaches seven feet (including tail), with the upper ranges that of the male and the female slightly smaller (-20lbs.). It has a powerful heart, an oversized liver, and large, strong arteries. The small head, with a flat face, and reduced muzzle length allow the large eyes to be situated for maximum binocular vision. Cheetahs even have smaller teeth to allow for a larger nasal aperture to complement their larger lungs. All of these adaptations purely for an increased air intake to allow it to recover more quickly after its incredible expenditures of energy when running at top speed (they can accelerate from zero to 40 mph in three strides and to 70+ mph in seconds). Studies have confirmed that the basis for their speed comes from their unique hip and shoulder structure and their long, flexible spine. The cheetah’s long, muscular tail functions as a stabilizer for balance and to facilitate turning when at high speeds. Finally, its small feet differ from other cats in that their claws are not fully retractable and their pads are extremely hard and pointed at the front; all features to maximize traction. Indeed, the footprint of a cheetah has more the appearance of a canine than that of a cat.
"Cheetah" originates from a Hindi word meaning "spotted one". The cheetah’s standard coloration is a pale buff to tan background that is covered with black spots (approximately one inch across) plus a white belly completely lacking spots. Their face is distinctively marked with bold, black "tear-lines" from the inner corner of each eye to the outer corner of the mouth. The long tail begins with spots that, farther down, join to become four or more dark rings, and then, at its tip, ends in a conspicuous white tuft. Supposedly, the genetic similarities existent between all surviving cheetahs create very similar coat markings, which make identification of individual cheetahs in the wild quite difficult. Only very minor differences occur in the tail markings between animals. Cheetahs are occasionally mistaken for leopards which are much heavier animals with rosette shaped spots and no tear marks.
The so-called "king cheetah", at one time thought to be a separate species, is now considered to be the result of a recessive gene. It is quite rare and only found in a small area of southern Africa. It differs distinctly from the normal spotted cheetah in that its spots have fused to form a connected or striped pattern. Black stripes run down the length of its back and the rest of its body, plus some spots have merged into large blotches on an otherwise light-gold coat.
range
Being well-adapted to survival in dry and arid zones, the cheetah is found throughout the drier parts of Africa. Cheetahs can go for four or more days without drinking, and are known to satisfy their moisture requirements by eating "tsama" melons, or even drinking the blood or urine of their prey. Their preferred habitat is open grassy plains, but they also thrive in bush, scrub, and open woodlands. They are not, however, usually associated with forest habitats. Its speed makes it suitable for hunting by running down prey, thus needing open areas.
The distribution of the cheetah before the twentieth century included all the drier, open areas of Africa and Asia, throughout the Middle East from the Mediterranean through India, and extending into the southern areas of the former Soviet Union. In 1997, it was estimated that only 9,000 – 12,000 cheetahs remain (almost all of which are in Africa), from a population in 1900 estimated at more than 100,000 (which encompassed 44 countries). Outside of Africa, there are approximately 200 animals surviving in small isolated populations in Iran. The Khosh Yeilagn Protected Area in Iran is thought to contain the highest population of Asiatic cheetah.
Due to loss of habitat, reduction in prey species, and conflict with agrarian human enterprises, cheetah populations are rapidly declining. It is for this reason that the cheetah is recognized as an "Endangered" species, except in Namibia, where the largest remaining population (numbering less than 2,500 animals) is listed as "Protected."
reproduction
The cheetah suffers from genetic homogeneity due to a "bottleneck" effect, which occurred approximately 10,000 years ago simultaneous with the last Ice Age. As a result, the inbreeding of the few surviving individuals at that time created a genetic monomorphism and a real danger for the loss of the genus due to any sudden, environmental change. Genetic variation is considered essential to the long-term survival of an organism as it is acted upon by natural selection. Tests show that pervasive sperm abnormalities in remaining males have contributed to a higher mortality rate, fewer offspring, congenital defects, and the gradual decrease in populations.
At approximately eighteen months, coinciding with their first estrus, females separate from their littermates and begin a solitary life except to mate or to raise cubs. Males become sexually active as early as 30 to 36 months. Mating lasts from as short as one day to a week or more. The gestation period is from ninety to ninety-five days. As many as eight cubs per litter point to the high mortality rates, which approach 90% in the wild (mostly due to predation). Mothers must move the cubs (sometimes daily) to minimize the dangers from losses to lions and hyenas. Weighing three-quarters of a pound at birth, growth is rapid to enable them to follow their mother on the hunt by six weeks of age. After weaning them at three months, at eight months she begins bringing them small, live prey (such as rabbits, fawns, or young gazelles) to begin their training in how to kill their prey. The female leaves her cubs when they are 16 - 18 months old and immediately goes into estrus again. The male siblings stay together for the rest of their lives (forming a "coalition"), but any female littermates leave the group with the onset of sexual maturity.
Cheetahs in captivity live an average life span of twelve years, but their are no conclusive studies to establish an accurate length of life for the wild populations. The life span of radio collared females in the wild has averaged less than seven years.
feeding behavior
Cheetahs are different from the other felid carnivores by being diurnal (feeding later in the morning and earlier in the afternoon than the other competing predators), and almost never at night. They typically hunt in open terrain, stalking to as close as 20 - 30 yards from their specific target before launching an attack, which lasts on average less than 30 seconds, and covers distances of only a few hundred yards. The targeted animal is pursued with complete and total concentration, even if others become closer or more available. After accelerating to speeds in access of 70 mph, they must slow down to the speed of their quarry and use their dew claws to trip up the animal before grasping it by the throat, killing it by strangulation. Their success rate is slightly better than 50%, which is higher than most of the other larger predators.
Even with the brevity of the chase, the depletion of energy involved to attain the speeds they reach often requires the cheetah to rest before beginning to feed. It is during this time that they are at their most vulnerable and many cheetahs lose their prey (or their cubs) to other carnivores alerted by the sounds and sights of the kill. In many areas, half of the prey are taken by more aggressive predators. Cheetahs eat the flank first because of its concentration of protein, leaving the skin. Once they leave a carcass they do not return to feed, nor do they feed on any other carrion. Small ungulates, such as Thompson's gazelles and impalas are the preferred prey.
Starting at approximately six weeks of age, cubs are led to kills, thereafter they follow their mother except when she chases prey, often spoiling chances by playing or running ahead. At three months, already weaned, the cubs stay behind, following slowly or waiting for their mother's summons. The family feeds together with little squabbling, even on small kills. Afterward, the mother licks the cubs' faces clean, purring loudly. When cubs are six months old, their mother begins bringing live gazelle fawns, hares, and such for them to practice catching and killing. Juveniles nine to twelve months old hunt and capture hares and fawns but seldom master the art of killing before fifteen months.
Predation avoidance
The cheetah is a shy and timid animal, built for speed not ferocity or fighting. Although territorial males will sometimes fight to the death, cheetahs avoid most any confrontation with other predators. During the heat of the day, they seclude themselves in an elevated spot such as rock outcroppings, termite mounds, or trees that have fallen (adults do not climb very well vertically due to the unique design of their feet and claws). They use these high spots to observe their surroundings and watch for the approach of lions, the animal most likely to attack them or their cubs. Leopards, hyenas, and baboons also take cheetah cubs if they discover their hiding spot. Cheetah cubs have a light colored, wooly fur (called a cloak), which is very good camouflage in the high grass. Even with this adaptation, by six weeks of age, they follow their mother when she is hunting (often spoiling an attack due to their boisterous play), and by the age of 8 months, no other animal (other than another cheetah) can run fast enough to catch them.
Often half of the cheetah's kills are stolen by larger or more numerous predators even before the cheetah can begin eating. Lacking large teeth and sharp claws with which to fight, the cheetah gives up its kill rather than risk injury or death in trying to defend it. Fully fed cheetahs can fast 2 to 5 days before killing again, but mothers keep much busier, with a fresh kill each day not uncommon.
CALLS
Cheetah sounds include purrs, bleats, barks, growls, hisses and chirps - but no ROAR-R-R!! Many of their sounds are unique - totally unlike those of any other cat.
Chirping and yelping. Sounds like bird's chirp and dog’s yelp or yip; audible for over a mile at high intensity. Graded contact calls often given alternately and repeatedly. Churring a staccato, high pitched growling sound, less audible than chirping. Mother calling hidden cubs, greeting or courting adults, and cubs at a kill.
Bleating. Sounds of distress, equivalent to meowing.
Moaning, voiced along with bleating, growling, snarling, hissing, and coughing.
Angry protest, as when hyena or lion has appropriated a cheetah's kill. Cheetahs make these more conventional sounds less often than other cats.
Purring. Friendly, contented cheetahs purr like huge domestic cats.
Staccato purring. Voiced by a male on the trail of an estrous female.
Whirring, changing to a ferocious squeal at peak intensity. Made by cubs squabbling over a kill. May be equivalent to growling in other cats.
Nyam-nyam. Another sound cubs make while feeding.
Ihn-ihn. Mother summoning young, alternates with chirping.
Staccato purring. Sharp call by mother that elicits close following.
Short, high pitched call. Makes cubs stay still.
conservation
Human excess is probably the major factor pushing the cheetah toward extinction. Too many people squeeze out other species, robbing them of living space and limiting their food supply. Also the cheetah and its pelt were a badge of wealth throughout recorded history. In 1900 there were about 100,000 cheetah worldwide. Present estimates place their number at 10 - 15 thousand with about 1/10 of those living in captivity. Namibia has the largest population of African cheetah - about 2500. Smaller populations exist in Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania while 19 other countries have even fewer.
The main threats to its survival (other than the previously mentioned genetic monomorphism) include the loss of habitat, the decline in prey, poaching, and shootings by ranchers in a mistaken fear for their livestock. Although farmer's claims of stock losses are thought to be exaggerated, governments have little ability to prevent the destruction of cheetahs on private lands.
Three international agencies set the standards for an "extinct" or "endangered" rating. They are The World Conservation Union (IUCN), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Several organizations are working to save the cheetah. The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) and The Africat Foundation, both located in Namibia, do research, and educate local farmers in management techniques geared toward cheetah/livestock coexistence.
Major cheetah projects exist at many zoos. The Columbus, Ohio Zoo has possibly the best record, having produced 25 litters in 10 years. The St. Louis, Missouri Zoo contains a special Cheetah Survival Center. Other projects involve the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona; the San Diego Zoo in California; the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas; the White Oak Conservation Center in Florida; the National Zoo in Washington, DC; the Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland and the Wassenaar in Holland. North American zoos contain about 250 cheetahs. Almost all zoos have animal adoption programs - some have cheetahs.
CHEETAH ADOPTION DIRECTORY
Cheetah Conservation Fund: Phone: 805-649-3535; Adoption fee: $25-$1000
Fort Worth Zoo: Phone: 817-871-7019; Adoption fee: $35-$1000
Montgomery Zoo: Phone: 334-240-4900; Adoption fee: $1500
Oklahoma City Zoo: Phone: 405-425-0284; Adoption fee: $100
Phoenix Zoo: Phone: 602-273-1341
San Diego Zoo: Phone: 619-231-1515; Adoption fee: $500
The National Zoo: Phone: 202-673-4961; Adoption fee: $25-$1000
Africat: Mail: Box 1889 Otjiwarongo, Namibia; Adoption fee: $45-$330
Sources
http://lynx.uio.no/jon/lynx/obrien-e.htm