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The cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') is a big cat in the subfamily Felinae that inhabits most of Africa and parts of Iran. It is the only extant member of the genus ''Acinonyx''. The cheetah can run as fast as , faster than any other land animal.〔 Although according to Cheetah, Luke Hunter and Dave Hamman, (Struik Publishers, 2003), pp. 37–38, the cheetah's fastest recorded speed was .〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Speed sensation )〕 It covers distances up to in short bursts, and can accelerate from in three seconds.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Cheetah fast facts )〕 The cheetah's closest extant relatives are the puma and jaguarundi of the Americas. Cheetahs are notable for adaptations in the paws as they are one of the few felids with only semi-retractable claws. Their main hunting strategy is to trip swift prey such as various antelope species and hares with its dewclaw. Almost every facet of the cheetah's anatomy has evolved to maximise its success in the chase, the result of an evolutionary arms race with its prey. Due to this specialisation, however, the cheetah is poorly equipped to defend itself against other large predators, with speed being its main means of defence. In the wild, the cheetah is a prolific breeder, with up to nine cubs in a litter. The majority of cubs do not survive to adulthood, mainly as a result of depredation from other predators. The rate of cub mortality varies from area to area, from 50% to 75%,〔http://www.tigerhomes.org/animal/cheetah-facts.cfm〕 and in extreme cases such as the Serengeti ecosystem, up to 90%. Cheetahs are notoriously poor breeders in captivity, though several organizations, such as the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre, have succeeded in breeding high numbers of cubs. The cheetah is listed as vulnerable, facing various threats including: loss of habitat and prey; conflict with humans; the illegal pet trade; competition with and predation by other carnivores; and a gene pool with very low variability. It is a charismatic species and many captive cats are "ambassadors" for their species and wildlife conservation in general. ==Etymology== The word "cheetah" is derived from Hindi 'चीता' (''cītā''), in turn from Sanskrit ', meaning "variegated". 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「cheetah」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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