| Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus |
Size: females and males 39 kg to 65 kg (86-143 lbs)
Habitat: Relatively arid habitats, ranging from bushlands and savannah to semi-desert
Primary prey: Small to medium ungulates such as gazelles and impala, and the young of larger species such as wildebeest and zebra.
Conservation Status: Endangered
Principal threats: Loss of habitat; illegal hunting; predation by lions; low genetic variability.
Although the cheetah is a highly succesful hunter, capturing and killing over half of all prey it chases, it is a very vulnerable cat. Because it is built for speed rather than strength, the cheetah often gives up its kills to other tougher predators including hyenas, leopards, and lions. Cubs are often killed by lions and in some areas, only one of 20 cubs is likely to survive to adulthood.
Recent studies of cheetahs in the wild revealed an additional threat to the cheetahºs survival : low genetic variability and numerous sperm abnormalities due to inbreeding in some populations. Sperm abnormalities result in fewer offspring and the lack of genetic variability might make cheetah populations less resistant to a disease.
Distribution: Over the last 100 years, the cheetah's distribution has diminished greatly. Formerly found as far east as India and as far south as the southern tip of Africa, the cheetah is now confined to sub-Saharan Africa and a small population in Iran.
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