In this episode of "That's Wild!", hosts Joy Matlock and Susan Altrui are joined by Kate Neal, the interim and senior carnivore keeper at the Little Rock Zoo, to explore the world of cheetahs. Neal clarifies right away that cheetahs are not actually classified as big cats, explaining, "Panthera is lions, tigers, jaguars, and leopards, where Acinonyx is the genus for cheetahs. So they are their own genus, there are no other extant members of that genus". The conversation highlights the species' remarkable adaptations for speed, including a flexible spine, semi-retractable claws that "act like cleats", and the black tear marks under their eyes that function "not unlike what football players do" to help reduce glare on the open savanna. Neal also shares that cheetahs are "obligate carnivores," meaning their short digestive systems require them to st ...