Black-backed jackal vs Cheetah

Canis mesomelas compared with Acinonyx jubatus

Key Differences

• Black-backed jackal is Least Concern while Cheetah is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black-backed jackal	Cheetah
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (cordados)	Chordata (cordados)
Class same	Mammalia (mamíferos)	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order same	Carnivora (carnívoros)	Carnivora (carnívoros)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Acinonyx (Cheetahs)
Species	Canis mesomelas	Acinonyx jubatus

Evolutionary Relationship

Black-backed jackal and Cheetah share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (carnívoros)

Conservation Status

Black-backed jackal

LC — Least Concern

Cheetah

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~6.7K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black-backed jackal	Cheetah
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	12 years
Average Length	—	1.5 m
Average Weight	—	50.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-backed jackal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Cheetah

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.

Black-backed jackal

The Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) is a species in the genus Canis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Cheetah

A chita (Acinonyx jubatus) é o animal terrestre mais veloz do mundo, capaz de atingir 120 km/h em corridas curtas. Possui corpo esbelto, pernas longas e manchas negras sólidas sobre pelagem dourada. Distribui-se nas savanas africanas e, em pequena população, no Irã. Diferentemente de outros grandes felinos, não ruge. Caça durante o dia, utilizando visão aguçada e velocidade para perseguir presas. Classificada como espécie vulnerável, com menos de 7.000 indivíduos na natureza.