There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(07-30-2019, 09:48 AM)Spalea Wrote: @GuateGojira : Schaller compared the lion's and tiger's speed. He told that if any lion was able to outrun any tiger on 100 meters, no one lion could compete with a tiger on the first 20 meters. I see in this comparaison that tiger was more an ambush predator on very short distances than lion. And in my mind, it is what reflects the difference of hunting inside two different biotops: open savannah for the lion, covered and dense jungle for the tiger.
The tiger would be the "internal combustion engine" feline. But otherwise, as @Shadowsays, we cannot generalize and compare the tiger's speed with the cheetah's speed. The adrenalin rush could make believe that if it is continued the tiger could compete with a cheetah, but it's impossible. We are speaking about two different things: brutal attack over a few meters (tiger) and maximal speed reached after a full short but complete acceleration (cheetah). If I want to extrapolate in the extreme can we compare the speed of a professionnal boxer's fist that is going to hit the opponent's face with the 100 meters sprinter's speed ?
But I could be agree with you to state that perhaps among felines the tiger's adrenalin rush is unequalled. Although the lion's is very violent as well as the leopard's and jaguar's.
@Spalea, when we are talking about running speed, if you check some studies about the subject, cheetahs have peaked on flat terrain at 64 mph and covered terrain 59 mph. 100 meter world record for cheetahs is, as far as I know 5.95 seconds. These figures can be checked. Also acceleration of cheetah is described to be incredible fast.
Quote: "We recorded some of the highest measured values for lateral and forward acceleration, deceleration and body-mass-specific power for any terrestrial mammal."
Quote: "A cheetah accelerates very quickly, allowing it to overtake prey at close range."
Another: "In addition to speed, a cheetah attains high acceleration. It can reach a speed of 47 mph (75 km/hr) in two seconds, or go from zero to 60 mph in 3 seconds and three strides. A cheetah accelerates as fast as one of the world's most powerful sports cars."
One more: "Scientists calculate a cheetah's top speed is 75 mph, but the fastest recorded speed is somewhat slower."
So even though this is off topic in this thread, I just point out, that if Thapar really says, that tigers could run at peaks 60 mph, he would actually claim that tiger would be as fast runner as cheetah in short distances or even faster depending about terrain. And that is something, what I have never seen suggested anywhere before. What comes to cheetahs, there is a lot of information. What comes to tigers and lions, there are maybe some contradictions depending about source, but none has never suggested, that they would be close to cheetahs. And when looking at hunting videos of these animals, it´s quite easy to see why not. No matter are we talking about first 20 meters, 100 meters or 400 meters.
And in this area I don´t think, that Thapar is an expert and his competence can and should be questioned if he alone claims something like that :) But we will know, what he claims and with what proof/reasoning soon.
I have to add this still, there is a study about cheetah maximum speed with running start. Looks like to be tested in some track etc.
Quote: "The speed of an adult cheetah was timed at 29ms-1 (mean of three trials over a 201.2 m course, with a running start). This is the highest running speed that has been recorded reliably for any animal."
29 meters in second is same as 104,4 kph or 65,09 mph. I think, that some might be interested about cheetah speed alone if reading this discussion, so maybe good to have this here too.
The following 1 user Likes Shadow's post:1 user Likes Shadow's post • epaiva
