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| Acinonyx aicha Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Felidae |
| Subfamily: | Felinae |
| Genus: | Acinonyx |
| Species: | †A. aicha |
| Binomial name | |
| †Acinonyx aicha Geraads, 1997 | |
Acinonyx aicha is an extinct felid species belonging to the genus Acinonyx . It was first described in 1997 based on fossils from the Pliocene of Morocco. [1]
Acinonyx aicha was discovered in the Ahl al Oughlam site in Morocco, from the late Pliocene. [1] It is known from the holotype AaO-1456 which is a complete and disfigured skull, as well as maxilla and some teeth. [1] [2] The specific name is derived from a cheetah called Ayesha from Tintin, specifically from The Red Sea Sharks . [1]
The cranial lacks a strong convexity compared to other species, such as the cheetah, and the zygomatic arch also suggest a normal temporal fossa. [1] [2] The skull also includes a very concave glenoid cavity, which is limited by a string rim. [1] The upper teeth are longer than Acinonyxpardinensis and longer relative to the width, and the anterior tubercle is much less developed compared to the posterior, especially compared to other species. [1]