Why you can't outrun a cheetah, explained.
- Thread starter Spang
- Start date
Mr Crunchy
Forum Legend
kazyeeqen
Superb Owl
Doesn't really matter for us though, we couldn't outrun anything that might want to eat us in the animal world, so it's just a matter of how quickly it'd catch us, not if it would catch us.
kazyeeqen
Superb Owl
OP
OP
- Joined
- May 31, 2012
- Reaction score
- 6,172
- Age
- 46
Clueless Git
Plant powered
ledboots
Peace
It makes sense, since cats see movement so clearely, if you stayed still, he might think you are a bush or something. Except for the fear sweat that I'm sure he could smell...
Cheetahs are just the prettiest, most elegant creature.
Cheetahs are just the prettiest, most elegant creature.
ledboots
Peace
I have been hearing a pretty loud alligator at night in the lake behind the house. No crocs, though.
"...So, now you have an idea of how crocodiles can run. But how quickly can they run? Most crocodiles can achieve speeds of around 12 to 14 kph for short periods, which is somewhat slower than a fit human can run. Don't believe the hype - if you're reasonably fit, you can definitely outrun a crocodile! Even faster are galloping crocodiles, and Australian freshwater crocodiles have been clocked at just over 17 kph over distances of perhaps 20 to 30 metres before they begin to tire. In these cases, the crocodile is running away from a threat - only certain extinct species of terrestrial crocodyliforms regularly hunted using a similar gait, which perhaps explains its origins.
However, crocodiles can accelerate much faster than this over very short distances by exploding into action - I have measured adult saltwater crocodiles (around 4 metres total length) moving at 12 metres per second for a quarter of a second, which is long enough to capture prey standing within one body length before it even has time to react. This is where crocodiles excel - launching themselves into motion from a standing start, hoping to cover the short distance between themselves and their prey before the prey can react. This isn't running, however, because the crocodile cannot maintain this acceleration for more than a very brief instant.
Bear in mind that crocodiles do not normally chase their prey - their typical hunting strategy is one of surprise, lunging at prey and capturing it in a single fluid movement. Secondly, crocodiles have a relatively low stamina and their physiology does not permit sustained exercise. When a crocodile runs, it is nearly always away from a potential threat and into the water (see photo). Adult males and females defending their territory or a nest may pursue an intruder, but this is normally over a short distance until the intruder has retreated a sufficient distance. Be aware that crocodilians are not the sluggish creatures they are often portrayed to be, and can move very rapidly when they need to. However, they can not run around at speeds most cheetahs would be proud of." http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/cbd-faq-q4.htm
hungryraccoon
Forum Legend
I have been hearing a pretty loud alligator at night in the lake behind the house. No crocs, though.
"...So, now you have an idea of how crocodiles can run. But how quickly can they run? Most crocodiles can achieve speeds of around 12 to 14 kph for short periods, which is somewhat slower than a fit human can run. Don't believe the hype - if you're reasonably fit, you can definitely outrun a crocodile! Even faster are galloping crocodiles, and Australian freshwater crocodiles have been clocked at just over 17 kph over distances of perhaps 20 to 30 metres before they begin to tire. In these cases, the crocodile is running away from a threat - only certain extinct species of terrestrial crocodyliforms regularly hunted using a similar gait, which perhaps explains its origins.
However, crocodiles can accelerate much faster than this over very short distances by exploding into action - I have measured adult saltwater crocodiles (around 4 metres total length) moving at 12 metres per second for a quarter of a second, which is long enough to capture prey standing within one body length before it even has time to react. This is where crocodiles excel - launching themselves into motion from a standing start, hoping to cover the short distance between themselves and their prey before the prey can react. This isn't running, however, because the crocodile cannot maintain this acceleration for more than a very brief instant.
Bear in mind that crocodiles do not normally chase their prey - their typical hunting strategy is one of surprise, lunging at prey and capturing it in a single fluid movement. Secondly, crocodiles have a relatively low stamina and their physiology does not permit sustained exercise. When a crocodile runs, it is nearly always away from a potential threat and into the water (see photo). Adult males and females defending their territory or a nest may pursue an intruder, but this is normally over a short distance until the intruder has retreated a sufficient distance. Be aware that crocodilians are not the sluggish creatures they are often portrayed to be, and can move very rapidly when they need to. However, they can not run around at speeds most cheetahs would be proud of." http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/cbd-faq-q4.htm
You can hear an alligator near your house?! That is actually terrifying...
yakherder
老外
A cat is a cat. If a cheetah is chasing you, just say "No, bad kittie!" and spray it in the face with a squirt gun so it knows not to do it again. Another option is to simply walk up and pet it, which will cause it to lay down and start purring and it's leg will start going as well.
Blobbenstein
.......
yakherder
老外
I felt the need to do a youtube search for purring cheetah and was reminded why I define myself as a cat person. Damn they purr loud.
from what i understand cheetahs are very worried about being injured so if you represent any threat at all they won't fight you. after all, they rely on speed more than any other cat and the possibility of being injured is too great a risk to take
yakherder
老外
If a cheetah breaks a toe, it will probably die. So yeah that makes sense not to attack something that poses even a minor threat.
