"Still just a prince, a rare king cheetah (worth [U.S.]$25,000) is the result of a recessive gene. Except for darker elongated spots, kings are genetically identical to other cheetahs."
The king cheetah, once thought to be a separate sub-species as Acinonyx jubatus rex, is an African cheetah exhibiting a rare fur pattern mutation. A recessive gene must be inherited from both parents in order for this "blotchy" pattern to appear. This very rare animal has been seen in the wild only 6 times. It has been known to exist in Zimbabwe, Botswana and in the northern part of South Africa's Transvaal province.
