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| Cheetah (Jagluiperd - Acinonyx jubatus) |
English: Cheetah
Afrikaans: Jagluiperd
Scientific: Acinonyx jubatus
Description
A large cat like animal with an skinny athletic build. Generally golden-brown on top, fading to white under the body. Behind the ears are black and white markings. The tail is very think and long.
Distribution
Historically throughout South Africa in areas with open vegetation or hills and enough food. Nowadays restricted to the less disturbed areas in the north and east of the country.
Unique Features
- Spots
- Black dots of varying size.
- Tail
- The body pattern extends onto the tail, but ends in black and white rings.
- Other
- Black tear marks from the inner eye to the corner of the mouth.
- Claws not fully retractable.
Compared To Similar Species
- Leopard
- Leopard has spots that form rosettes.
- Leopard does not have any tear marks.
- Leopard has shorter legs.
- Leopard's tail is white underneath all the way to the end, and doesn't end in rings.
- Serval
- Serval's spots are dots and stripes, not only dots.
- Serval has larger ears.
- Serval has a shorter tail.
- Serval's tail doesn't have any white, and ends in black rings.
- Serval has only faint tear marks on the face.
