Cheetah acceleration key to success
The fastest animal on land rarely uses its top speed to capture prey, according to a new analysis.
A study of cheetahs has shown that instead, the animal uses incredible acceleration and rapid changes in speed when hunting.
The animals get this acceleration by exerting nearly five times more power than that of famed sprinter Usain Bolt during his record-breaking 100m run.
Cheetahs were filmed at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre in South Africa making a series of quick turns, starts and stops.
Video courtesy of Royal Veterinary College, and Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre.