🌿Native Nature

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Mammalia ›Order: Carnivora ›Family: Felidae ›Genus: Acinonyx

About

The cheetah /ˈtʃiːtə/ (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large felid of the subfamily Felinae that occurs mainly in eastern and southern Africa and a few parts of Iran. The only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, the cheetah was first described by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1775. The cheetah is characterised by a slender body, deep chest, spotted coat, a small rounded head, black tear-like streaks on the face, long thin legs and a long...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Cheetah?
The scientific name of Cheetah is Acinonyx jubatus.
What is the conservation status of Cheetah?
The Cheetah has a conservation status of Vulnerable.
What kingdom does Cheetah belong to?
Cheetah belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does Cheetah belong to?
Cheetah belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does Cheetah belong to?
Cheetah belongs to the class Mammalia.
What order does Cheetah belong to?
Cheetah belongs to the order Carnivora.
What family does Cheetah belong to?
Cheetah belongs to the family Felidae.
What genus does Cheetah belong to?
Cheetah belongs to the genus Acinonyx.

In the News

War on Iran may threaten conservation of the world’s rarest big cat

The Asiatic cheetah, the world’s most endangered big cat, faces an increasingly precarious future as ongoing conflict in Iran disrupts critical conservation efforts, reports Mongabay contributor Kayleigh Long. Once ranging from the Arabian Peninsula to India, the cheetah subspecies (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) is now confined to just 16% of its former territory, with fewer than […]

Mongabay · 5/18/2026