Figure 1.

Body temperature (solid black line) and activity (grey vertical bars) patterns for two days during which a male cheetah (M1) was observed hunting (solid arrows). Grey bands indicate the nychthemeral body temperature rhythm (mean ± s.d.) for that cheetah. (c,d) Expansion of the areas between the dotted lines in (a) and (b), respectively. (a) Unsuccessful hunt on an adult female kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). (b) Successful hunt on an adult warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus). Following both chases, the cheetah appeared exhausted (respiratory rate approx. 100 breaths min⁻¹) and rested in the shade for 2 h. In neither case did body temperature rise measurably during the hunt.