Acinonyx

Uncommon card · No. 158453

Acinonyx is a genus of feline, the only living species of which is the cheetah (A. jubatus) that inhabits the open grasslands of Africa and Asia in parts of Iran. This genus represents a highly adapted lineage within the felids, which specialize in speed and open-terrain hunting. Evidence suggest that the Acinonyx genus evolved from other feline ancestors early on, to become specialized in stealth and running. 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 changed dramatically, starting in the Pleistocene period, making it difficult to survive in open terrain and grasslands upon which these cats depend. Human civilization also began to change and expand, resulting in lots of these species losing their homes or hunting grounds. This also forced some species to be isolated, making reproducing more difficult. Food scarcity became another consequence of human...

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