The size helps the fastest mottled leopard on land

American scientists hypothesize new explanation for the ability of jaguar racing and other fastest animals.

The energy needed to move from standing to moving is the deciding factor for the fast running of animals, including the jaguar, BBC yesterday reported.

Step into the jaguar run.(Video: National Geographic).

"Scientists have long sought to explain the fact that the largest animals are not the fastest. In our work, we explain this based on the simple understanding that animals use up all their energy. available before their bodies reach their maximum speed, so the biggest animal theory may be the fastest, but the energy and time required to boost their large bodies accelerate. preventing them from reaching the highest speed , " said Professor Walter Jetz of Yale University, USA.

The study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution explains why elongated medium-sized animals often easily possess fast speeds. This hypothesis holds true for all species from fruit flies to blue whales, which can even predict the maximum running speed of long-lost animals.

Scientists compare results from the model with data on hundreds of animals. They found data consistent with their prediction and the maximum speed dropped sharply when large animals exceeded average size.

"The hypothesis can explain the maximum speed of more than 450 species living on land, air and water in diverse sizes from less than a gram to 10 tons," Professor Jetz said. "Hypothesis can also predict the maximum speed of extinct species such as birds and dinosaurs."

Jaguar is the fastest animal on land.(Photo: Silver Medals).

The fastest animals like jaguars evolved their bodies primarily to catch prey. They possess the optimum size to reach the maximum speed. Acceleration requires a lot of energy and muscles can only work at such a strong intensity for a short time.

Therefore, an elephant can never run faster than jaguars because the energy to accelerate, including anaerobic respiration will be exhausted before the animal reaches its hypothetical maximum speed.

Information from the study will help scientists better understand the ecological and behavior of a species, including diet, hunting, migration and seeking partners.

Hypothetically, humans are an exception."In terms of body mass, we humans are not really too different from jaguars. But obviously, for millions of years, our bodies have not adapted to run faster than prey like big cats Our limbs and limbs move in proportion to a less specialized diet, making it easier for us to be left out by jaguars or lions because their bodies are fully optimized for speed. " Professor Jetz said.