Gepard vs Hermelin, Grosse Wiesel

Acinonyx jubatus compared with Mustela erminea

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gepard	Hermelin, Grosse Wiesel
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class same	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order same	Carnivora (Raubtiere)	Carnivora (Raubtiere)
Family	Felidae (Cats)	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Acinonyx (Cheetahs)	Mustela
Species	Acinonyx jubatus	Mustela erminea

Evolutionary Relationship

Gepard and Hermelin, Grosse Wiesel share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (Raubtiere)

Conservation Status

Gepard

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~6.7K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Hermelin, Grosse Wiesel

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gepard	Hermelin, Grosse Wiesel
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	12 years	—
Average Length	1.5 m	—
Average Weight	50.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gepard

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 9 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Botswana, Iran, Kenya, Namibia, and Tanzania. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Hermelin, Grosse Wiesel

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan and Oceanian realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Indonesia), Europe (6 countries), North America (United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Gepard

The fastest land animal on Earth, reaching speeds of 112 km/h over short distances across African and Iranian grasslands. Slender build with a deep chest, long legs, and distinctive black tear-stripe markings. Unlike other big cats, cheetahs vocalize with chirps and purrs. Vulnerable, with only ~7,000 remaining due to habitat fragmentation and competition with larger predators.

Hermelin, Grosse Wiesel

Stoat, Ermine (Mustela erminea) is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Facing a high risk of endangerment in the wild, with declining populations and increasing habitat pressure.