Species Characteristics

The cheetah is classified in the following manner.

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Subphylum: Vertebrata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Family: Felidae
• Genus: Acinonyx
• species: jubatus

• Do you know why the cheetah is found in each of these groups?
• Why do you think Acinonyx was chosen as the genus name for this cat? (Hint: they are derived from Greek words.)
• Why are the genus and species names listed above in italics?
• What is the derivation of the word cheetah?
• What about the King Cheetah?

Taxonomists like to think about evolutionary relationships. To do this they use anatomy and several biochemical tools. Cheetahs are unique among the large cats since they appeared over 2 million years ago.

• What do you think are some of the features that separate cheetahs from other felids and what organ systems do they include?

Click here to see if your list contains these features that set cheetahs apart from other cats.