Biomechanics of predator–prey arms race in lion, zebra, cheetah and impala

Alan M. Wilson (), Tatjana Y. Hubel, Simon D. Wilshin, John C. Lowe, Maja Lorenc, Oliver P. Dewhirst, Hattie L. A. Bartlam-Brooks, Rebecca Diack, Emily Bennitt, Krystyna A. Golabek, Roger C. Woledge, J. Weldon McNutt, Nancy A. Curtin and Timothy G. West
Additional contact information
Alan M. Wilson: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Tatjana Y. Hubel: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Simon D. Wilshin: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London
John C. Lowe: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Maja Lorenc: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Oliver P. Dewhirst: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Hattie L. A. Bartlam-Brooks: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Rebecca Diack: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Emily Bennitt: Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana
Krystyna A. Golabek: Botswana Predator Conservation Trust
Roger C. Woledge: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London
J. Weldon McNutt: Botswana Predator Conservation Trust
Nancy A. Curtin: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London
Timothy G. West: Structure & Motion Lab, Royal Veterinary College, University of London

Nature, 2018, vol. 554, issue 7691, 183-188

Abstract: Abstract The fastest and most manoeuvrable terrestrial animals are found in savannah habitats, where predators chase and capture running prey. Hunt outcome and success rate are critical to survival, so both predator and prey should evolve to be faster and/or more manoeuvrable. Here we compare locomotor characteristics in two pursuit predator–prey pairs, lion–zebra and cheetah–impala, in their natural savannah habitat in Botswana. We show that although cheetahs and impalas were universally more athletic than lions and zebras in terms of speed, acceleration and turning, within each predator–prey pair, the predators had 20% higher muscle fibre power than prey, 37% greater acceleration and 72% greater deceleration capacity than their prey. We simulated hunt dynamics with these data and showed that hunts at lower speeds enable prey to use their maximum manoeuvring capacity and favour prey survival, and that the predator needs to be more athletic than its prey to sustain a viable success rate.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/nature25479

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