Chapter 7 Cheetah specialization: Physiology and Morphology

Julie Meachen; Anne Schmidt-Küntzel; Holly Haefele; Gerhard Steenkamp; James M. Robinson; Marcela Randau; Natasha McGowan; David M. Scantlebury; Nikki Marks; Aaron Maule; Laurie Marker

doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-804088-1.00007-1

Chapter 7 Cheetah specialization: Physiology and Morphology

Julie Meachen^*, Anne Schmidt-Küntzel, Holly Haefele, Gerhard Steenkamp, James M. Robinson, Marcela Randau, Natasha McGowan, David M. Scantlebury, Nikki Marks, Aaron Maule, Laurie Marker

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Built for speed, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is adapted for a running lifestyle. This chapter covers musculoskeletal and thermoregulatory adaptations that contribute in making it the world's fastest land mammal. It also covers physiological and morphological traits relating to characteristics of the cheetah's physical appearance, vocalizations, visual systems, and organ systems. The cheetah's spotted coat confers camouflage protection. The cheetah has a small head with reduced tooth-size, long limbs with semiretractile claws, and a flexible spine that increases the cheetah's stride. Unable to roar, cheetahs purr, sharing osteological anatomy with domestic cats. Cheetahs also have a visual system that is distinct from other cats, with more short wavelength cones and visual acuity based on the horizon. Physiological adaptations are seen in skeletal musculature, and the fact that cheetahs dissipate heat quickly during and after a hunt through specialized and enlarged nasal passages. These combined characteristics make the cheetah a unique felid species.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Cheetahs
Subtitle of host publication	Biology and Conservation: Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes
Editors	Anne Schmidt-Kunzel
Publisher	Elsevier
Pages	93-105
Number of pages	13
ISBN (Electronic)	9780128041208
ISBN (Print)	9780128040881
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804088-1.00007-1
Publication status	Published - 01 Jan 2018

Keywords

Limb bones
Morphology
Muscles
Organ systems
Physiology
Skull
Thermoregulation
Visual system
Vocalization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

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Cite this

Meachen, J., Schmidt-Küntzel, A., Haefele, H., Steenkamp, G., M. Robinson, J., Randau, M., McGowan, N., Scantlebury, D. M., Marks, N., Maule, A., & Marker, L. (2018). Chapter 7 Cheetah specialization: Physiology and Morphology. In A. Schmidt-Kunzel (Ed.), Cheetahs: Biology and Conservation: Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes (pp. 93-105). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804088-1.00007-1

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abstract = "Built for speed, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is adapted for a running lifestyle. This chapter covers musculoskeletal and thermoregulatory adaptations that contribute in making it the world's fastest land mammal. It also covers physiological and morphological traits relating to characteristics of the cheetah's physical appearance, vocalizations, visual systems, and organ systems. The cheetah's spotted coat confers camouflage protection. The cheetah has a small head with reduced tooth-size, long limbs with semiretractile claws, and a flexible spine that increases the cheetah's stride. Unable to roar, cheetahs purr, sharing osteological anatomy with domestic cats. Cheetahs also have a visual system that is distinct from other cats, with more short wavelength cones and visual acuity based on the horizon. Physiological adaptations are seen in skeletal musculature, and the fact that cheetahs dissipate heat quickly during and after a hunt through specialized and enlarged nasal passages. These combined characteristics make the cheetah a unique felid species.",

keywords = "Limb bones, Morphology, Muscles, Organ systems, Physiology, Skull, Thermoregulation, Visual system, Vocalization",

author = "Julie Meachen and Anne Schmidt-K{\"u}ntzel and Holly Haefele and Gerhard Steenkamp and {M. Robinson}, James and Marcela Randau and Natasha McGowan and Scantlebury, {David M.} and Nikki Marks and Aaron Maule and Laurie Marker",

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doi = "10.1016/B978-0-12-804088-1.00007-1",

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Meachen, J, Schmidt-Küntzel, A, Haefele, H, Steenkamp, G, M. Robinson, J, Randau, M, McGowan, N, Scantlebury, DM , Marks, N , Maule, A & Marker, L 2018, Chapter 7 Cheetah specialization: Physiology and Morphology. in A Schmidt-Kunzel (ed.), Cheetahs: Biology and Conservation: Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes. Elsevier, pp. 93-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804088-1.00007-1

Chapter 7 Cheetah specialization: Physiology and Morphology. / Meachen, Julie; Schmidt-Küntzel, Anne; Haefele, Holly et al.

Cheetahs: Biology and Conservation: Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes. ed. / Anne Schmidt-Kunzel. Elsevier, 2018. p. 93-105.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

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AU - Randau, Marcela

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AB - Built for speed, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is adapted for a running lifestyle. This chapter covers musculoskeletal and thermoregulatory adaptations that contribute in making it the world's fastest land mammal. It also covers physiological and morphological traits relating to characteristics of the cheetah's physical appearance, vocalizations, visual systems, and organ systems. The cheetah's spotted coat confers camouflage protection. The cheetah has a small head with reduced tooth-size, long limbs with semiretractile claws, and a flexible spine that increases the cheetah's stride. Unable to roar, cheetahs purr, sharing osteological anatomy with domestic cats. Cheetahs also have a visual system that is distinct from other cats, with more short wavelength cones and visual acuity based on the horizon. Physiological adaptations are seen in skeletal musculature, and the fact that cheetahs dissipate heat quickly during and after a hunt through specialized and enlarged nasal passages. These combined characteristics make the cheetah a unique felid species.

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KW - Visual system

KW - Vocalization

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M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)

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SN - 9780128040881

SP - 93

EP - 105

BT - Cheetahs

A2 - Schmidt-Kunzel, Anne

PB - Elsevier

ER -

Chapter 7 Cheetah specialization: Physiology and Morphology

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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