Cheetah vs plains zebra

Acinonyx jubatus compared with Equus quagga

Key Differences

  • Cheetah is Vulnerable while plains zebra is Near Threatened.
  • Cheetah is carnivore while plains zebra is herbivore.
  • plains zebra is 7.0x heavier than Cheetah.
  • plains zebra lives longer (25 years vs 12 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Cheetah plains zebra
Kingdom same Animalia (Animals) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same Chordata (cordados) Chordata (cordados)
Class same Mammalia (mamíferos) Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order Carnivora (carnívoros) Perissodactyla (perissodáctilos)
Family Felidae (Cats) Equidae (Horses & Zebras)
Genus Acinonyx (Cheetahs) Equus (Horses & Zebras)
Species Acinonyx jubatus Equus quagga

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Cheetah

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~6.7K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

plains zebra

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~750.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Cheetah plains zebra
Diet Carnivore Herbivore
Average Lifespan 12 years 25 years
Average Length 1.5 m 2.3 m
Average Weight 50.0 kg 350.0 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.

plains zebra

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 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. 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.

plains zebra

O equideo selvagem mais numeroso, as zebras-das-planices habitam pastagens e savanas do leste e sul da Africa em manadas que variam de pequenos grupos familiares a vastas agregacoes. Seus padroes de listras preto-e-brancas ousados sao unicos para cada individuo e podem servir para confundir predadores, deter insetos picadores e facilitar o reconhecimento individual. As zebras formam presa chave para leoes, hienas e crocodilos, sustentando as cadeias alimentares da savana.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

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