Acinonyx fossil map
Where fossils of Acinonyx have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 5.333 million years ago to the present (Zanclean to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Felidae |
| Named by | Brookes 1828 |
| Fossil records | 70 occurrences at 32 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Spain, France, South Africa, Italy, Morocco, Tajikistan, Russia, Germany, Georgia, Tanzania … |
| Rock formations | txn:41045, Khapry, Makapansgat, Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, C1/LR |
About Acinonyx
Acinonyx is a genus of feline, the only living species of which is the cheetah (A. jubatus) that inhabits the open grasslands of Africa and Asia in parts of Iran. This genus represents a highly adapted lineage within the felids, which specialize in speed and open-terrain hunting. Evidence suggest that the Acinonyx genus evolved from other feline ancestors early on, to become specialized in stealth and running.
The main reasons for all but one species going extinct revolve around climate changes, humans driving these species out of their habitats, and their prey populations shrinking. Climate changed dramatically, starting in the Pleistocene period, making it difficult to survive in open terrain and grasslands upon which these cats depend. Human civilization also began to change and expand, resulting in lots of these species losing their homes or hunting grounds. This also forced some species to be isolated, making reproducing more difficult. Food scarcity became another consequence of human expansion as their prey were being forced from their habitats or hunted by humans. These problems played a huge role in the extinction of the historic Acinonyx species.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Acinonyx (revision 1378485511), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q481907.
