Cheetah vs Patagonian mara

Acinonyx jubatus compared with Dolichotis patagonum

Key Differences

• Cheetah is Vulnerable while Patagonian mara is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cheetah	Patagonian mara
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (cordados)	Chordata (cordados)
Class same	Mammalia (mamíferos)	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order	Carnivora (carnívoros)	Rodentia (Roedores)
Family	Felidae (Cats)	Caviidae
Genus	Acinonyx (Cheetahs)	Dolichotis
Species	Acinonyx jubatus	Dolichotis patagonum

Evolutionary Relationship

Cheetah and Patagonian mara share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mamíferos)

Conservation Status

Cheetah

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~6.7K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Patagonian mara

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cheetah	Patagonian mara
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	12 years	—
Average Length	1.5 m	—
Average Weight	50.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Patagonian mara

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Belgium. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.