Need For Speed
by Miroslava Jurcik
Title
Need For Speed
Artist
Miroslava Jurcik
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
King Cheetah mum having a play with her cubs.
So just how can this big cat accelerate faster than a Ferrari? On the exterior, the cheetah is the most slender of the big cats; its lightweight body (weighing about 80-140 lbs.), small head and long legs are designed for aerodynamics. Structurally, the cheetah has a unique, flexible spine, which allows for extreme flexion and extension while running at top speeds. In spine flexion, when the cats legs are directly underneath its body, the scapula and hip are able to rotate to such an extreme angle that the cheetahs front and hind legs overlap. To reach extension, the spine recoils like a spring propelling the cheetahs legs out; it is this portion of the gait where the cheetah is able to reach strides up to 25 feet. Lastly, the cheetah is equipped with blunt, semi-retractable claws, which function similarly to soccer cleats. Since its claws never fully retract, like other big cats, they are always at-the-ready to provide powerful traction to the ground.
Uploaded
April 27th, 2015
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