I’ve heard that a Cheetahs heart is like a nuclear power reactor compared to other mammals including humans. Can someone explain why or how?
In: Biology
Decided to look it up to actually answer your question.
Cheetah’s don’t seem to be remarkable design-wise; it’s not like they have extra chambers in their hearts or super blood or w/e. So the “nuclear reactor” comparison isn’t great. It’s simply that their organs are enlarged compared to their bodies. They have large hearts, large lungs, large nostrils, long legs, and relatively long claws on a body that’s adapted to be much smaller and lighter than other cats of similar sizes. Basically, they have an excess of energy (oxygen) being used for a body that needs less energy. The drag car is a much better comparison. This means they can breathe and run much more efficiently, allowing them to sprint with excessive speed and recover better from sprinting.
If they didn’t have these adaptations, they wouldn’t be able to run as fast and would suffer more from overexertion.
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