Cheetahs

The cheetah (acinonyx jubatus) is the only species of big cat that isn't in the genus panthera. It is the fastest land animal in existence and can reach speeds of 70 mph. Its large heart and respiratory system are the main reason the cheetah can reach those speeds. The cheetah has a thin aerodynamic body with a large chest and small waist. Unlike all other big cats, cheetahs claws cannot be retracted. This adaptation gives them more traction while running.
Cheetahs are very genetically close and this can cause them trouble when trying to find a mate. Close breeding is thought to be the cause of the spot mutation known as king cheetah. King Cheetahs were once thought to be a subspecies but science has proved that untrue.
There are six cheetah subspecies:

• The Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), is not confined to Asia. True they can be found in the Asian countries of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan, Oman, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Syria but in the African countries of Tunisia, Egypt, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Mali, Djibouti, Morocco and Niger. This is the most common cheetah subspecies.
• Northwest African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki), is found in Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Ghana. They may have ventured in to Nigeria but that is uncertain.
  

The other Cheetah subspecies have no common name. These are listed below

• Acinonyx jubatus raineyii is found in eastern Africa in the countries of Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.
• Acinonyx jubatus jubatus is found in southern Africa. They are found in the countries of South Africa, D. R. Congo, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola , Bostwana, Namibia, and Malawi
• Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii, is found in found in the Central and Northern African countries of Central African Republic, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia and Sudan.
• Acinonyx jubatus velox, has been sighted and proven to be a subspecies, but not much else is known about this cheetah subspecis.

Please check out the map of Africa at the following link http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/4927/africants7.gif