The mating system

Coalition formation in the cheetah is considered to enhance male reproductive success, although no evidence to support this was gleaned in this study. Females advertised oestrus by spray-urinating and often undertook extensive movements at this time. Additionally some evidence for mating rendezvous areas was obtained. Male cheetahs sometimes vocalized extensively when an oestrus female was in the vicinity, although females were not seen to respond. After coming together few copulations occur and often the female resented the presence of the male. Multiple paternities, but never from males of the same coalition, were found in 29% of litters. Interactions between males over oestrus females from different groups were often aggressive. DNA analyses of paternity revealed that successful mating was not skewed to a small number of males, and that single males sired relatively as many cubs as coalition males. Phylogenetic inertia may drive sociality in male cheetahs and other felids.