Acinonyx jubatus
- noun
- /ˌæsɪˈnɒnɪks ˈdʒuːbətəs/
- Specialized
:
Acinonyx jubatus
- Conservationists are working to protect the natural habitats of Acinonyx jubatus, the fastest land mammal.
Examples
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Did you know that the Acinonyx jubatus can reach speeds of up to 75 mph?
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The Acinonyx jubatus population has declined due to habitat loss and poaching.
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Conservationists are working to protect the natural habitats of Acinonyx jubatus.
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Researchers studied the hunting techniques of Acinonyx jubatus in the open savannah.
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The Acinonyx jubatus is known for its incredible speed.
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Researchers studied the hunting techniques of Acinonyx jubatus in the open savannah to understand its behavior.
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The Acinonyx jubatus population faces threats from habitat loss and poaching, prompting conservation efforts.
Synonyms
45
1.0
A large slim spotted wild cat that runs faster than any other land animal
A large wild cat with long legs and black spots that runs very fast
Surface Forms
Morphology
Acinonyx + jubatus
This is a Latin binomial: the first element 'Acinonyx' indicates a genus of large, speedy cats, so a learner who knows that can infer the phrase refers to a kind of fast cat. However, the species epithet 'jubatus' is not transparent (and is not defined here) and the specific identity 'cheetah' is a taxonomic label that cannot be fully derived from the literal constituents, so the meaning is only partly recoverable.
Etymology
Acinonyx jubatus may come from old Greek and Latin words that describe the cheetah. The first part, Acinonyx, may mean 'fixed claw' because cheetahs' claws are more visible than in other cats, and jubatus comes from Latin 'juba' meaning 'mane' for the short mane of young cheetahs, so the name points to the animal's visible claws and small mane.