<Li> F. megaballa Heuglin, 1868 </Li> <Li> F. venatica Griffith, 1821 </Li> <P> The cheetah / ˈtʃiːtə / (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large felid of the subfamily Felinae that occurs mainly in eastern and southern Africa and a few parts of Iran . The only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, the cheetah was first described by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1775 . The cheetah is characterised by a slender body, deep chest, spotted coat, a small rounded head, black tear - like streaks on the face, long thin legs and a long spotted tail . Its lightly built, slender form is in sharp contrast with the robust build of the big cats, making it more similar to the cougar . The cheetah reaches nearly 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 in) at the shoulder, and weighs 21--72 kg (46--159 lb). Though taller than the leopard, it is notably smaller than the lion . Typically yellowish tan or rufous to greyish white, the coat is uniformly covered with nearly 2,000 solid black spots . </P> <P> Cheetahs are active mainly during the day, with hunting their major activity . Adult males are sociable despite their territoriality, forming groups called "coalitions". Females are not territorial; they may be solitary or live with their offspring in home ranges . Carnivores, cheetah mainly prey upon antelopes and gazelles . They will stalk their prey to within 100--300 metres (330--980 ft), charge towards it and kill it by tripping it during the chase and biting its throat to suffocate it to death . The cheetah's body is specialised for speed; it is the fastest land animal . The speed of a hunting cheetah averages 64 km / h (40 mph) during a sprint; the chase is interspersed with a few short bursts of speed, when the animal can attain 112 km / h (70 mph), although this is disputed by more recent measurements . Cheetahs are induced ovulators, breeding throughout the year . Gestation is nearly three months long, resulting in a litter of typically three to five cubs (the number can vary from one to eight). Weaning occurs at six months; siblings tend to stay together for some time . Cheetah cubs face higher mortality than most other mammals, especially in the Serengeti region . Cheetahs inhabit a variety of habitats--dry forests, scrub forests and savannahs . </P>

What is the scientific name of the cheetah