Cheetah territory. Two cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) marking a tree with their urine. These carnivores are found in savannah and lightly- wooded areas o

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Cheetah territory. Two cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) marking a tree with their urine. These carnivores are found in savannah and lightly- wooded areas of Africa south of the Sahara, and in Arabia from Iran to Kazakhstan. It is thought that small groups of related cheetahs occupy fixed territories, which they mark by urination. However, the territory is not vigorously defended, as different groups share the same geographical area, occupying it at different times. Freshly-laid urine indicates that the territory is currently occupied, ensuring that other groups keep their distance.

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Size: 3145px × 4466px
Photo credit: © JOHN READER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: acinonyx, african, animal, arabian, asian, big, carnivore, carnivorous, cat, cheetah, endangered, felidae, hunter, jubatus, mammal, nature, pair, predator, rare, scent-marking, spotted, spotty, territorial, territory, tree, urinating, urination, urine, wildlife, zoology