Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ƒ/2
100 mm
1/4,000
100
The King Cheetah has a recessive fur pattern mutation (racing stripes and mohawk down the back). First discovered in Zimbabwe in 1926, this very rare animal has been seen in the wild only 6 times.
About 10K years ago, the population of cheetahs plummeted, perhaps to a single pregnant female worldwide. Modern cheetahs are so genetically similar as to be virtual clones, making this novel coat pattern all the more interesting.
When running, the cheetah expands and compresses like an accordian. It has a uniquely flexible spine and a pelvis that rotates; otherwise it would not be capable of the land speed record. It expands to an incredible stride of 23 feet and completes four strides per second.
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