Acinonyx

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Acinonyx
Temporal range: Pliocene – Holocene, 3–0  Ma
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Cheetah Botswana.jpg
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Acinonyx
Brookes, 1828
Type species
Felis jubata
Schreber, 1775
Species
Synonyms
  • CynailurusWagner, 1830
  • CynofelisLesson, 1842
  • GueparBoitard, 1842
  • GuepardaGray, 1843
  • GuepardusDuvernoy, 1834
  • Paracinonyx Kretzoi, 1929

Acinonyx is a genus that is within the Felidae family [1] , also known as the cat family. The only living species of the genus and most commonly known, the cheetah (A. jubatus) inhabits the open grasslands of Africa and Asia along with parts of Iran. [2] This genus represents a highly adapted lineage within the felids, which specialize in speed and open-terrain hunting. Evidence suggest the Acinonyx genus evolved from other feline ancestors early on, to become specialized in stealth and running. [3]

Contents

The main reasons for all but one species going extinct revolve around climate changes, humans driving these species out of their habitats, and their prey populations shrinking. Climate drastically changed starting in the Pleistocene period, making it difficult to survive in open terrain and grasslands upon which these cats depend. [4] Human civilization also began to change and expand resulting in lots of these species to lose their home or hunting grounds. This also forced some species to be isolated making reproducing more difficult. [3] Another factor of humans expanding was the lack of prey for these cats; their prey were eating being hunted by humans or being forced from their habitats. These problems played a huge role in the extinction of the species in the genus Acinonyx other than the cheetah (A. jubatus). [1]

Fossil remains related to cheetah-like cats were excavated that date back to the late Pliocene and Middle Pleistocene [5] , indicating a wide time range. These cats occurred across much of the old world 10,000 years ago, some extinct species such as A. pardinenesis and A. intermedius were found in parts of Europe and Asia. [4] Several similar species classified in the genus Miracinonyx lived in North America at the same time; these may have been more closely related to the genus Puma . [2]

A primary characteristic of this genus are bodies adapted for speed and swiftness; however the species at the time were much different in morphology. Species found 10,000 years ago show a large and vigorous build for these cats compared to the modern day Cheetah which has accommodated to fast prey, with a much slimmer build used for a quick pursuit. [4] Species within the Acinonyx genus are also unable to retract their claws fully, this can be a disadvantage in some cases. However claws give extra traction while running. [6]

Taxonomy

Acinonyx was proposed by Joshua Brookes in 1828. [7]

The word Acinonyx is greek, the first portion of "akinetos" translates to "unmoved" or "motionless" and the second portion "onyx" translates to "nail" or "claw". [8] Which represents one the main traits used to recognize this genus, not being able to retract their claws fully. [9]

Between the late 18th century and the early 20th century, the following Acinonyx species and subspecies were described: [10]

In 1993, Acinonyx was placed in the monophyletic subfamily Acinonychinae. Molecular phylogenetic analysis has shown that it is the sister group of the genus Puma, and it is now placed within the subfamily Felinae. [10]

In addition, the following fossil Acinonyx species were described:

The Asiatic cheetah ("Acinonyx jubatus venaticus") is part of the last surviving lineages that are outside of Africa. Recent genetic studies have shown that this subspecies separated from African populations roughly 32,000 to 67,000 years ago, suggesting a prolonged adaptation to dry landscapes. [19]

The "Linxia Cheetah" ("A. kurteni") was initially described by Christiansen and Mazák in 2009 on the basis of a skull from Pliocene strata in China, and touted as the most primitive member of the genus. [20] In 2012, "A. kurteni" was invalidated as a species when the holotype was determined to be a forgery composed of Miocene-aged fragments. [21] [22]

The extended duration and broad range of fossil records suggests the long evolutionary presence across the old world into the present day. The fossils also suggest how the genus Acinonyx once ranged widely across Eurasia, eventually population declining to climatic shifts and the habitat being broken into different locations due to human activities. [23]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Genus Acinonyx". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 532–533. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  2. 1 2 Krausman, P. R. & Morales, S. M. (2005). "Acinonyx jubatus" (PDF). Mammalian Species (771): 1–6. doi:10.1644/1545-1410(2005)771[0001:aj]2.0.co;2. S2CID   198969000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 Marker, Laurie (20 November 2019), "Cheetahs Race for Survival: Ecology and Conservation", Wildlife Population Monitoring, IntechOpen, doi:10.5772/intechopen.82255, ISBN   978-1-78984-169-5 , retrieved 14 October 2025
  4. 1 2 3 Jiangzuo, Qigao; Wang, Yaming; Madurell-Malapeira, Joan; Bartolini Lucenti, Saverio; Li, Shijie; Wang, Shiqi; Li, Zhaoyu; Yang, Rong; Jia, Yi; Zhang, Lu; Chen, Shanqin; Jin, Changzhu; Wang, Yuan; Liu, Jinyi (15 May 2024). "Massive early Middle Pleistocene cheetah from eastern Asia shed light onto the evolution of Acinonyx in Eurasia". Quaternary Science Reviews. 332 108661. Bibcode:2024QSRv..33208661J. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108661. ISSN   0277-3791.
  5. ↑ Hemmer, H.; Kahlke, R.-D.; Keller, T. (2008). "Cheetahs in the Middle Pleistocene of Europe: Acinonyx pardinensis (sensu lato) intermedius (Thenius, 1954) from the Mosbach Sands (Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany)". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen. 249 (3): 345–356. Bibcode:2008NJGPA.249..345H. doi:10.1127/0077-7749/2008/0249-0345.
  6. ↑ Fraenkel, Amy; Zikova, Dagmar; Bahramlouian, Aydin (2025), "The convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (CMS)", Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Elsevier, doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-14082-2.00143-5, ISBN   978-0-12-409548-9 , retrieved 13 October 2025
  7. ↑ Brookes, J. (1828). "Section Carnivora". A catalogue of the Anatomical and Zoological Museum of Joshua Brookes. London: Richard Taylor. p. 16.
  8. ↑ "Definition of ACINONYX". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Fraenkel, Amy; Zikova, Dagmar; Bahramlouian, Aydin (2025), "The convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (CMS)", Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Elsevier, doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-14082-2.00143-5, ISBN   978-0-12-409548-9 , retrieved 13 October 2025
  10. 1 2 Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Genus Acinonyx". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 532–533. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  11. ↑ Schreber, J. C. D. (1777). "Der Gepard". Die Säugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen (Dritter Theil). Erlangen: Wolfgang Walther. pp. 392–393.
  12. ↑ Griffith, E. (1821). "Felis venatica". General and particular descriptions of the vertebrated animals, arranged conformably to the modern discoveries and improvements in zoology. Order Carnivora. London: Baldwin, Cradock and Joy.
  13. ↑ Fitzinger, L. (1855). "Bericht an die kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenchaften über die von dem Herrn Consultatsverweser Dr. Theodor v. Heuglin für die kaiserliche Menagerie zu Schönbrunn mitgebrachten lebenden Thiere". Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe. 17: 242–253.
  14. ↑ Hilzheimer, M. (1913). "Über neue Gepparden nebst Bemerkungen über die Nomenklatur dieser Tiere". Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin (5): 283–292.
  15. 1 2 Croizet, J. B.; Jobert, A. C. G. (1862). Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles du département du Puy-de-Dôme. Paris: Chez les principaux libraires.
  16. ↑ Thenius, E. (1954). "Gepardreste aus dem Altquartär von Hundsheim in Niederösterreich". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte: 225–238.
  17. ↑ Geraads, D. (1997). "Carnivores du Pliocène terminalde Ahl al Oughlam (Casablanca, Maroc)". Geobios. 30 (1): 127–164. Bibcode:1997Geobi..30..127G. doi:10.1016/s0016-6995(97)80263-x.
  18. ↑ Jiangzuo, Q.; Wang, Y.; Madurell-Malapeira, J.; Bartolini Lucenti, S.; Li, S.; Wang, S.; Li, Z.; Yang, R.; Jia, Y.; Zhang, L.; Chen, S.; Jin, C.; Wang, Y.; Liu, J. (2024). "Massive early Middle Pleistocene cheetah from eastern Asia shed light onto the evolution of Acinonyx in Eurasia". Quaternary Science Reviews. 332 108661. Bibcode:2024QSRv..33208661J. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108661.
  19. ↑ Fraenkel, Amy; Zikova, Dagmar; Bahramlouian, Aydin (2025), "The convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (CMS)", Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Elsevier, doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-14082-2.00143-5, ISBN   978-0-12-409548-9 , retrieved 13 October 2025
  20. ↑ Christiansen, P.; Mazák, J. H. (2009). "A primitive Late Pliocene cheetah, and evolution of the cheetah lineage". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106 (2): 512–515. Bibcode:2009PNAS..106..512C. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0810435106 . PMC   2626734 . PMID   19114651. (Retracted, see doi:10.1073/pnas.1211510109, PMID   22908293,  Retraction Watch)
  21. ↑ Knevitt, O. (2011). "Five Greatest Palaeontology Fakes Of All Time #5: The Linxia Cheetah". Science 2.0. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  22. ↑ Mazák, J. H. (2012). "Retraction for Christiansen and Mazák. A primitive Late Pliocene cheetah, and evolution of the cheetah lineage". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 109 (37): 15072. Bibcode:2012PNAS..10915072.. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1211510109 . PMC   3443189 . PMID   22908293.
  23. ↑ Jiangzuo, Qigao; Wang, Yaming; Madurell-Malapeira, Joan; Bartolini Lucenti, Saverio; Li, Shijie; Wang, Shiqi; Li, Zhaoyu; Yang, Rong; Jia, Yi; Zhang, Lu; Chen, Shanqin; Jin, Changzhu; Wang, Yuan; Liu, Jinyi (15 May 2024). "Massive early Middle Pleistocene cheetah from eastern Asia shed light onto the evolution of Acinonyx in Eurasia". Quaternary Science Reviews. 332 108661. Bibcode:2024QSRv..33208661J. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.108661. ISSN   0277-3791.
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