Nature World Today

Nature's Best Site

Cheetah’s Evolved Ears Help Them Hunt

by 18 Comments

Cheetahs are successful hunters, not just because of their blinding speed, but because of a special organ inside their ear, according to new research in the journal Scientific Reports.

While cheetahs are known for their ability to outrun prey, they can also sprint without moving their head. That helps them track as they chase, a unique trait that comes from their evolved inner ear. This discovery — made by researchers at the American Museum of Natural History — sheds new light on the species and gives insight into how they changed over time.

In the study, the team took a look at the big cat’s inner ear, which is composed of a series of sensory organs linked to hearing and balance. After scanning the heads of 21 specimens, researchers found that, not only are cheetahs’ inner ears different from other felids alive today, but, as the unique organs were not present in the now-extinct Acinonyx pardinensis, they also evolved quite recently.

123

“The vestibular system of modern cheetahs is extremely different in shape and proportions relative to other cats analyzed,” the team wrote in their study, according to Tech Times. “These distinctive attributes (i.e., one of the greatest volumes of the vestibular system, dorsal extension of the anterior and posterior semicircular canals) correlate with a greater afferent sensitivity of the inner ear to head motions, facilitating postural and visual stability during high-speed prey pursuit and capture.”

This finding is important because it gives new insight into how cheetahs became such efficient predators. Many animals are fast, but the control over balance could give the cats an edge other hunters lack. While the team is not sure, they think such efficiency came about as a result of needing to out-hunt other big cats.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 557804 657273Hello, Neat post. There is an issue along together with your web site in internet explorer, could test thisK IE still is the marketplace leader and a huge portion of other folks will miss your magnificent writing because of this difficulty. 587038

  2. 685342 295306It is a shame you dont have a donate button! Id most definitely donate to this outstanding web web site! I suppose in the meantime ill be happy with bookmarking and putting your Rss feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group: ) 266967

  8. 544752 331171Thank you a whole lot for sharing this with all people you in fact recognize what youre speaking about! Bookmarked. Please furthermore speak over with my internet website =). We could have a hyperlink alternate arrangement among us! 551456

  12. 212927 144956Immer etliche Firmen bentzen heutzutage Interimmanagement als innovatives und ergnzendes Gertschaft i. Spanne der Unternehmensfhrung. Denn hiermit wird Kenntnisstand leistungsfhig, bedarfsgerecht und schnell ins Unternehmen geholt. 674211

  16. 833735 890394Very greatest men and women messages are meant to charm allow honor toward groom and bride. Newbie speakers in front of excessive locations need to usually our own gold colored dominate in presenting and public speaking, which is to be individual interests home. very best man speach 311296

  17. 784440 394250Can I basically say exactly what a relief to get someone who really knows what theyre dealing with on the internet. You in fact know how to bring a difficulty to light and make it important. The diet must see this and fully grasp this side on the story. I cant believe youre not a lot more common because you undoubtedly hold the gift. 263795

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.