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Video link) A cheetah running full speed covers about 22 feet during each stride. Notice how the head stays steady as the rest of the body moves around its cycle.
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Video link) This video shows how the photographers got the shots. They built a long dolly track at the Cincinnati Zoo, with a slow motion camera following the cheetah. The trainers worked with the animal to be sure she didn't get distracted.
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Whoa! That was fantastic! :D I loved how you could see all the muscles moving during each phase of the cheetah's posture as it was running. XD
ReplyDeleteHere is a video of birds of prey flying in slow motion that I found to be quite amazing as well! :) I love how their feathers, like the cheetah's muscles, move independantly to control the flight of the kite. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYOx-iCMZhk
Very cool! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! The San Diego zoo has a cheetah run where you can see this in person. I had the pleasure of checking it our recently and lemme tell you, seeing those cats reach top speed in person is just staggering. Great to see the slo-mo version too.
ReplyDeletePure, unadulterated elegance. - mp
ReplyDeleteThis is what is rightfully referred to as "nature porn."
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteTwo comments: The back legs move together like a rabbit's (until they are way ahead of the front legs, which I assume is part of what gives cheetahs their his great speed), but then the feet touch down one at a time. Do dogs and other running (as opposed to hopping) digitigrade mammals run with that same gait, I wonder? Or does each animal have its own peculiar gait, not shared with others?
Comment #2: I hope that after having him chase that rolled up plastic bag, they actually gave him a piece of meat.