Editing Cheetah (section)

===Speed and acceleration===
[[File:Cheetahs on the Edge (Director's Cut).ogv|thumb|thumbtime=2:24|[[:File:Cheetahs on the Edge (Director's Cut).ogv|Documentary video]] filmed at 1200 frames per second showing the movement of [[Sarah (cheetah)|Sarah]], the fastest recorded cheetah, over a set run|alt=Video of the cheetah Sarah sprinting over a set run]]

The cheetah is the world's [[Fastest animals|fastest]] land animal.<ref name=gonyea>{{cite journal |last1=Gonyea |first1=W. J. |title=Functional implications of felid forelimb anatomy |journal=Acta Anatomica |year=1978 |volume=102 |issue=2 |pages=111–121 |pmid=685643 |doi=10.1159/000145627}}</ref><ref name=hudson>{{cite journal |last1=Hudson |first1=P. E. |author2=Corr, S. A. |author3=Payne-Davis, R. C. |author4=Clancy, S. N. |author5=Lane, E. |author6=Wilson, A. M. |name-list-style=amp |year=2011 |title=Functional anatomy of the cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') hindlimb |journal=Journal of Anatomy |volume=218 |issue=4 |pages=363–374 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7580.2010.01310.x |pmc=3077520 |pmid=21062282}}</ref> Estimates of the maximum speed attained range from {{cvt|80|to|128|km/h}}.<ref name=wcw/><ref name=nowak/> A commonly quoted value is {{cvt|112|km/h}}, recorded in 1957, but this measurement is disputed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Knapton |first1=S. |date=2015 |title=Which creature makes Sir David Attenborough's jaw drop? It's not what you'd expect |work=[[The Telegraph (London)|The Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/11372002/Which-creature-makes-Sir-David-Attenboroughs-jaw-drop-Its-not-what-youd-expect.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/11372002/Which-creature-makes-Sir-David-Attenboroughs-jaw-drop-Its-not-what-youd-expect.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=24 April 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2012, an 11-year-old cheetah from the [[Cincinnati Zoo]] set a world record by running {{cvt|100|m}} in 5.95 seconds over a set run, recording a maximum speed of {{cvt|98|km/h}}.<ref name=Pappas>{{cite news |date=2012 |author=Pappas, S. |title=Wow! 11-year-old cheetah breaks land speed record |url=http://www.livescience.com/22080-cheetah-breaks-speed-record.html |access-date=24 March 2016 |work=[[LiveScience]] |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192235/http://www.livescience.com/22080-cheetah-breaks-speed-record.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Cheetahs equipped with [[GPS collar]]s hunted at speeds during most of the chase much lower than the highest recorded speed; their run was interspersed with a few short bursts of a few seconds when they attained peak speeds. The average speed recorded during the high speed phase was {{cvt|53.64|km/h|sigfig=3}}, or within the range {{cvt|41.4|–|65.88|km/h|sigfig=3}} including error. The highest recorded value was {{cvt|93.24|km/h|sigfig=3}}. A hunt consists of two phases, an initial fast acceleration phase when the cheetah tries to catch up with the prey, followed by slowing down as it closes in on it, the deceleration varying by the prey in question. The initial linear acceleration observed was 13 [[Metre per second squared|m/s²]], more than twice than 6 m/s² of horses and greater than 10 m/s² of greyhounds.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Williams |first1=S. B. |last2=Tan |first2=H. |last3=Usherwood |first3=J. R. |last4=Wilson |first4=A. M. |date=2009 |title=Pitch then power: limitations to acceleration in quadrupeds |journal=Biology Letters |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=610–613 |doi=10.1098/rsbl.2009.0360 |pmc=2781967 |pmid=19553249 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> Cheetahs can increase up 3 m/s (10.8 km/h) and decrease up 4 m/s (14.4 km/h) in a single stride.<ref name="Wilson_al2013">{{cite journal |author1=Wilson, A. M. |author2=Lowe, J. C. |author3=Roskilly, K. |author4=Hudson, P. E. |author5=Golabek, K. A. |author6=McNutt, J. W. |name-list-style=amp |year=2013 |title=Locomotion dynamics of hunting in wild cheetahs |url=https://www.academia.edu/108858304 |url-status=live |journal=Nature |volume=498 |issue=7453 |pages=185–189 |bibcode=2013Natur.498..185W |doi=10.1038/nature12295 |pmid=23765495 |s2cid=4330642 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115212308/https://www.originalwisdom.com/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/2019/04/wilson-et-al_2013_Locomotion-dynamics-of-hunting-in-wild-cheetahs.pdf |archive-date=15 January 2024 |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref> Speed and acceleration values for a hunting cheetah may be different from those for a non-hunter because while engaged in the chase, the cheetah is more likely to be twisting and turning and may be running through vegetation.<ref name=Wilson_al2013/><ref name="WilsonBiologyLetters" /> The speeds of more than 100 km/h attained by the cheetah may be only slightly greater than those achieved by the [[pronghorn]] at {{cvt|88.5|km/h}}<ref>{{cite book |author=Carwardine, M. |title=Animal Records |year=2008 |publisher=Sterling |location=New York |isbn=978-1-4027-5623-8 |page=11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T3FEKopUFkUC&pg=PA11 |access-date=4 January 2020 |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328014409/https://books.google.com/books?id=T3FEKopUFkUC&pg=PA11 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[springbok]] at {{cvt|88|km/h}},<ref>{{cite book |author1=Burton, M. |author2=Burton, R. |title=International Wildlife Encyclopedia |year=2002 |publisher=[[Marshall Cavendish]] |location=New York |isbn=9780761472841 |pages=2499–2501 |volume=18 |edition=Third |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> but the cheetah additionally has an exceptional acceleration, can go from 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) in less than 3 seconds, "faster than a Ferrari".<ref name="Philips, J. A.-1997">{{Cite journal |last1=Williams, T. M. |last2=Dobson, G. P. |last3=Mathieu-Costello, O. |last4=Morsbach, D. |last5=Worley, M. B. |last6=Philips, J. A. |name-list-style=amp |date=1997 |title=Skeletal muscle histology and biochemistry of an elite sprinter, the African cheetah |url=https://williams.eeb.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CheetahMuscleHistology_WilliamsEtAl1997.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Journal of Comparative Physiology B |volume=167 |issue=8 |pages=527–535 |doi=10.1007/s003600050105 |pmid=9404014 |s2cid=22543782 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328014516/https://williams.eeb.ucsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CheetahMuscleHistology_WilliamsEtAl1997.pdf |archive-date=28 March 2023 |access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kaplan |first=Matt |date=2013-06-01 |title=Speed test for wild cheetahs |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/498150a |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=498 |issue=7453 |pages=150 |doi=10.1038/498150a |pmid=23765470 |bibcode=2013Natur.498..150K |issn=1476-4687}}</ref> For comparison, [[Polo|polo horses]] can go from 0 to 36 km/h in 3.6 seconds.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tan |first=H. |last2=Williams |first2=S. |last3=Usherwood |first3=J. |last4=Wilson |first4=A. |date=2008 |title=Acceleration and turning performance of polo horses under field conditions |url=https://www.academia.edu/23264545/Acceleration_and_turning_performance_of_polo_horses_under_field_conditions |journal=Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology |series=Abstracts of the Annual Main Meeting of the Society of Experimental Biology, 6th - 10th July 2008, Marseille, France |volume=150 |issue=3, Supplement |pages=S83 |doi=10.1016/j.cbpa.2008.04.141 |issn=1095-6433}}</ref>

One stride of a galloping cheetah measures {{cvt|4|to|7|m}}; the stride length and the number of jumps increases with speed.<ref name=wcw/> During more than half the duration of the sprint, the cheetah has all four limbs in the air, increasing the stride length.<ref name=taylor>{{cite book |author=Taylor, M. E. |chapter=Locomotor Adaptations by Carnivores |year=1989 |publisher=Springer |location=New York |isbn=9781461282044 |pages=382–409 |title=Carnivore Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution |editor=Gittleman, J. L. |doi=10.1007/978-1-4757-4716-4_15}}</ref> Running cheetahs can retain up to 90% of the heat generated during the chase. A 1973 study suggested the length of the sprint is limited by excessive build-up of body heat when the body temperature reaches {{cvt|40|–|41|C|F}}. However, a 2013 study recorded the average temperature of cheetahs after hunts to be {{cvt|38.6|C|F}}, suggesting high temperatures need not cause hunts to be abandoned.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Taylor, C. R. |author2=Rowntree, V. J. |year=1973 |title=Temperature regulation and heat balance in running cheetahs: a strategy for sprinters? |journal=The American Journal of Physiology |volume=224 |issue=4 |pages=848–851 |doi=10.1152/ajplegacy.1973.224.4.848 |pmid=4698801|doi-access=free |name-list-style=amp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |author=Hetem, R. S. |author2=Mitchell, D. |author3=Witt, B. A. de |author4=Fick, L. G. |author5=Meyer, L. C. R. |author6=Maloney, S. K. |author7=Fuller, A. |year=2013 |title=Cheetah do not abandon hunts because they overheat |journal=Biology Letters |name-list-style=amp |volume=9 |issue=5 |page=20130472 |doi=10.1098/rsbl.2013.0472 |pmid=23883578 |pmc=3971684}}</ref>

The running speed of {{cvt|71|mph}} of the cheetah was obtained as an result of a single run of one individual by dividing the distance traveled for time spent. The run lasted 2.25 seconds and was supposed to have been {{cvt|73|m}} long, but was later found to have been {{cvt|59|m}} long. It was therefore discredited for a faulty method of measurement.<ref name=Hildebrand1959>{{Cite journal |last=Hildebrand |first=M. |date=1959 |title=Motions of the running cheetah and horse |journal=American Society of Mammalogists |volume=40 |issue=4 |pages=481–495 |url=http://www.catsg.org/cheetah/05_library/5_3_publications/H/Hildebrand_1959_Motions_of_cheetah_and_horse.pdf |access-date=4 November 2022 |archive-date=5 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105001230/http://www.catsg.org/cheetah/05_library/5_3_publications/H/Hildebrand_1959_Motions_of_cheetah_and_horse.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
Cheetahs have subsequently been measured at running at a speed of {{cvt|104|km/h}} as the fastest speed from three runs including in opposite direction, for a single individual, over a marked {{cvt|201|m|order=|yd}} course, even starting the run {{cvt|18|m}} behind the start line, starting the run already running on the course. Again dividing the distance by time, but this time to determine the maximum sustained speed, completing the runs in an time of 7.0, 6.9 and 7.2 seconds. Being a more accurate method of measurement, this test was made in 1965 but published in 1997.<ref name="Sharp-1997">{{Cite journal |last=Sharp |first=Craig N. C. |date=1997 |title=Timed running speed of a cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=241 |issue=3 |pages=493–494 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb04840.x}}</ref>

In 2010, the running speed of 15 cheetahs was measured by means of high speed camera stationed on a tripod and placed at specific points on a track; the cheetahs were chasing a lure and there were several attempts per individual, and their length from the nose to base of the tail was used as a scale. The speed was estimated from the time the tip of the nose appeared until it was no longer visible on camera. The maximum speed recorded was 100.1 km/h for one individual.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Quirke |first1=T. |last2=O'Riordan |first2=R. |last3=Davenport |first3=J. |date=2013 |title=A comparative study of the speeds attained by captive cheetahs during the enrichment practice of the "cheetah run"|journal=Zoo Biology |volume=32 |issue=5 |pages=490–496 |doi=10.1002/zoo.21082 |url=https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/projectsandcentres/zooresearchgroup/documents/ckczoowebpublications/TQ_A_comparative_study_of_the_speeds_attain.pdf}}</ref>
Subsequently, with GPS-[[Inertial measurement unit|IMU]] collars, in 2011 and 2012, running speed was measured for wild cheetahs during hunts with turns and manoeuvres, and the maximum speed recorded was {{cvt|58|mph}} sustained for 1–2 seconds. The speed was obtained by dividing the length by the time between footfalls of a stride.<ref name=Wilson_al2013/> 
There are indirect ways to measure how fast a cheetah can run. One case is known of a cheetah that overtook a young male [[pronghorn]]. Cheetahs can overtake a running antelope with a {{cvt|150|yards|order=flip}} head start. Both animals were clocked at {{cvt|50|mph|order=flip}} by speedometer reading while running alongside a vehicle at full speed.<ref name=Hildebrand1959/> Cheetahs can easily capture gazelles galloping at full speed ({{cvt|70-80|km/h}}).<ref name=Schaller-1972/>

The physiological reasons for speed in cheetahs are:
*Small head and long lumbar region of the spine, 36.8% of the presacral vertebral column.<ref name=marker2/><ref name=Gonyea1976/><ref name=Valkenburgh1990/>
*A [[tibia]] and [[radius (bone)|radius]] longer than the [[femur]] and [[humerus]], with a femorotibial index of 101.9–105 and a humeroradial index of 100.1–103.3.<ref name=marker2 /><ref name=Valkenburgh1990>{{Cite journal |last1=Van Valkenburgh |first1=B. |last2=Grady |first2=F. |last3=Kurtén |first3=B. |name-list-style=amp |date=1990 |title=The Plio-Pleistocene cheetah-like cat ''Miracinonyx inexpectatus'' of North America |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=434–454 |doi=10.1080/02724634.1990.10011827 |bibcode=1990JVPal..10..434V |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254313576}}</ref><ref name=Gonyea1976>{{Cite journal |last=Gonyea |first=W. J. |date=1976 |title=Adaptive differences in the body proportions of large felids |journal=Acta Anatomica |volume=96 |issue=1 |pages=81–96 |doi=10.1159/000144663 |pmid=973541}}</ref>
*Elongated and slender long bones of the limbs, especially femur, tibia, humerus, radius and [[pelvis]], specially the [[ischium]].<ref name=marker7/><ref name=Gonyea1976/><ref name=hudson/>
*Enlarged respiratory passages and [[Frontal sinus|frontal sinuses]] that allow to cool inhaled and exhaled air with each breath, which helps dissipate body heat.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sicuro |first=F. L. |last2=Oliveira |first2=L. F. B. |date=2011 |title=Skull morphology and functionality of extant Felidae (Mammalia: Carnivora): a phylogenetic and evolutionary perspective |url=https://www.academia.edu/81994735/Skull_morphology_and_functionality_of_extant_Felidae_Mammalia_Carnivora_a_phylogenetic_and_evolutionary_perspective |journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=414–462 |doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00636.x}}</ref>
*A higher concentration of [[Glycolysis|glycolytic]] [[fast twitch muscle]] fibers (Type IIx) than other cats and animals in general.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Abraham Kohn |first1=T. |last2=Burroughs |first2=R. |last3=Jacobus Hartman |first3=M. |last4=David Noakes |first4=T. |date=2011 |title=Fiber type and metabolic characteristics of lion (''Panthera leo''), caracal (''Caracal caracal'') and human skeletal muscle |url=https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/2263/19598/1/Kohn_Fiber%282011%29.pdf |journal=Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology |volume=159 |issue=2 |pages=125–133 |hdl=2263/19598 |doi=10.1016/j.cbpa.2011.02.006 |pmid=21320626 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hyatt |first1=J.-P. K. |last2=R. Roy |first2=R. |last3=Rugg |first3=S. |last4=Talmadge |first4=R. J. |date=2009 |title=Myosin heavy chain composition of Tiger (''Panthera tigris'') and Cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') hindlimb muscles |journal=Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology |volume=313A |issue=1 |pages=45–57 |pmid=19768738 |doi=10.1002/jez.574 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> A very high [[Lactate dehydrogenase|LDH]] activity is indicative of this principally anaerobic muscle metabolism.<ref name="Philips, J. A.-1997" />
*Most of the locomotor muscle mass is concentrated proximally close to the body in shoulders, thighs and spine, and is reduced in shins and forearms. Long tendons finish off the distal locomotor muscles.<ref name=marker7/><ref name=hudson/>
*Muscular hindlimbs form 19.8% of the body mass, whereas the forelimbs form 15.1%.<ref name=hudson/><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hudson |first1=P. E. |last2=Corr |first2=S. A. |last3=Payne-Davis |first3=R. C. |last4=Clancy |first4=S. N. |last5=Lane |first5=E. |last6=Wilson |first6=A. M. |date=2011 |title=Functional anatomy of the cheetah (''Acinonyx jubatus'') forelimb |journal=Journal of Anatomy |volume=218 |issue=4 |pages=375–385 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01344.x |pmc=3077521 |pmid=21332715 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> The [[hamstring]]s, [[quadriceps]], [[adductor muscles of the hip]] and [[psoas major muscle]]s are especially large.<ref name="McNeill">{{Cite book |last=Alexander |first=R. McNeill |url=https://archive.org/details/mammalsaspredato0000unse/mode/2up |title=Mammals as Predators: The Proceedings of a Symposium held by The Zoological Society of London and The Mammal Society: London, 22nd and 23rd November 1991 |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-854067-0 |editor-last=Dunstone |editor-first=N. |pages=1–13 |chapter=Legs and locomotion of carnivora |doi=10.1093/oso/9780198540670.003.0001 |editor-last2=Gorman |editor-first2=M. L.}}</ref>
*Enlarged [[Betz cell]]s in the [[motor cortex]] M1 and innervating muscle fibers, to fit its predominant type IIx fibers and powerful muscles.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nguyen |first1=V. T. |last2=Uchida |first2=R. |last3=Warling |first3=A. |last4=Sloan |first4=L. J. |last5=Saviano |first5=M. S. |last6=Wicinski |first6=B. |last7=Hård |first7=T. |last8=Bertelsen |first8=M. F. |last9=Stimpson |first9=C. D. |last10=Bitterman |first10=K. |last11=Schall |first11=M. |last12=Hof |first12=P. R. |last13=Sherwood |first13=C. C. |last14=Manger |first14=P. R. |last15=Spocter |first15=M. A. |name-list-style=amp |date=2020 |title=Comparative neocortical neuromorphology in felids: African lion, African leopard, and cheetah |journal=Journal of Comparative Neurology |volume=528 |issue=8 |pages=1392–1422 |doi=10.1002/cne.24823 |pmid=31749162 |url=https://www.coloradocollege.edu/academics/dept/neuroscience/documents/Nguyen%20et%20al.%202019a-compressed.pdf}}</ref>