microrobert
06-14-2013, 04:26 AM
Speed test for wild cheetahs
State-of-the-art collar reveals animal’s quick reflexes and phenomenal acceleration.
The cheetah crouches in the undergrowth. When a young antelope strays a little too far from the herd, the cheetah explodes out of the bush — and, with a burst of speed unrivalled in the natural world, brings down its next meal.
Or so we have assumed. But the first study to collect data on the animal’s movements in the wild reveals that, contrary to popular opinion, a cheetah’s sheer speed is not its only weapon when it comes to hunting. Its success as a predator also hinges on its lightning reflexes and its ability to accelerate faster than a Ferrari.
Speed test for wild cheetahs : Nature News & Comment (http://www.nature.com/news/speed-test-for-wild-cheetahs-1.13179)
State-of-the-art collar reveals animal’s quick reflexes and phenomenal acceleration.
The cheetah crouches in the undergrowth. When a young antelope strays a little too far from the herd, the cheetah explodes out of the bush — and, with a burst of speed unrivalled in the natural world, brings down its next meal.
Or so we have assumed. But the first study to collect data on the animal’s movements in the wild reveals that, contrary to popular opinion, a cheetah’s sheer speed is not its only weapon when it comes to hunting. Its success as a predator also hinges on its lightning reflexes and its ability to accelerate faster than a Ferrari.
Speed test for wild cheetahs : Nature News & Comment (http://www.nature.com/news/speed-test-for-wild-cheetahs-1.13179)