Relevant, cheetahs running filmed with an high speed camera:
Cheetahs on the Edge—Director’s Cut
<a href="https://vimeo.com/53914149" rel="nofollow">https://vimeo.com/53914149</a>
>> the cheetah, is a successful hunter not only because it is quick, but also because it can hold an incredibly still gaze while pursuing prey.<p>A bit off-topic but I have a theory on athletic ability when it comes to certain sports related to this post. Before I share my theory, consider this 1 minute clip narrated by an apex predator.<p><a href="https://youtu.be/S9MtJ164XJI?t=1m24s" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/S9MtJ164XJI?t=1m24s</a><p>When I was young there was a lot of ethic tension in my neighborhood. Being a minority, I always felt like prey. I didn't even trust the police. I lost every street fight and broke a few bones along the way. And I was terrible at almost all <i>ball</i> sports because I could not get my eyes to smoothly track the motion of a basketball for example.<p>I suspect, but don't know for a fact, that they eyes of prey being chased by said cheetah are darting chaotically looking for any and all escape routes and to avoid additional predators.<p>In my 30's I spent time training in brutal martial art combat techniques. I trained in powerlifting and 10 years ago I weighed 200lbs. I grew muscles I didn't know existed. Now, I have lost nearly all of these gains because I no longer train, but I managed to achieve and maintain that predator instinct. When I play racquetball, I <i>murder</i> that ball. I can track it perfectly.<p>The downside is I have safely ridden a motorcycle most of my life. I find I have more "close calls" now that I lost my innate ability to feel like prey which no longer comes naturally.
Interesting article. Sounds like the cheetah has a sort of natural implementation of camera stabilization. Their head stays still despite the exaggerated motion of everything else during a high speed chase.
> The inner ear facilitates the cheetah's remarkable ability to maintain visual and postural stability while running and capturing prey at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour. Until now, no one has investigated the inner ear's role in this incredible hunting specialization.<p>This is crazy. How does the ear affect the ability to move? I guess Cheetahs and cats in general just have insanely acute hearing.