We know larger animals tend to have longer lifespans. But why do big cats(like leopards, etc)have such a short life(about 15 years) compared to humans(about 80 years)?

Question

p.s.Big cats and humans have similar body weights, if not higher.

In: Biology

Answer 1

There’s an interesting theory that heart has only so many beats in it’s life span regardless of which animal it’s in.

There seems to be a correlation between the resting heart rate of animals and their life span. Humans are around 60-100 but athletes can have resting heart rates as low as 40.

Big cats have higher heart rates around 80-150. Dogs and woves are 60-140. Mice are 500-700 and are very short lived.

While elephants despite there size have a resting heart rate of 30 times a minute, and turtles are 25.

The theory postulates that the higher an animals over metabolism, and energy level, the shorter their lives because they burn out their organs more quickly.

While plant eating animals tend to live longer because their metabolisms are slower.

Humans are omnivores, but eating meat is a relatively recent adaption for us in evolution. We are perfectly capable of eating nothing but plants our entire lives. So our metabolisms are a hybrid.

The average human lifespan is upwards of 50-60 years without medical care, but it is often reported as only 30-40 years.

This is because out lifespans are badly skewed because having children for us is very risky. The death rate of children below age of 4 is as high as 20% (without modern medical care). The chances of dying in child birth are also quick high compared to other animals.