Ambush predators sacrifice locomotion speed for close-range striking power
Evidence
Like piranhas, ambush predators no longer chase after prey to hunt them down. In fact, most of them don’t run or swim fast at all. Instead, they lurk motionless, often blending spectacularly with their backgrounds like a hunter in a blind, waiting for prey to come to them. When unlucky edibles happen by, these predators lunge from their hiding places, striking out with a snap of their jaws or a flick of their legs to snatch and incapacitate prey before they even recognize what is happening, much less have time to escape. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 113
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Aerial arms races favor speed and agility over sheer size; Ambush predators evolve large weapons because they strike rather than chase prey — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 956; Ambush predation releases predators from chasing speed, allowing extreme weapon evolution. (+8 more)
Related
- Ambush predators depend on appendage speed more than body speed (similarity 0.93)
- Ambush predators evolve large weapons because they strike rather than chase prey (similarity 0.91)
- Ambush predation releases predators from chasing speed, allowing extreme weapon evolution. (similarity 0.91)
- Praying mantis ambush hunting explains their spring-loaded raptorial forelegs. (similarity 0.86)
- Loss of pursuit hunting drives evolution toward heavier jaws and teeth (similarity 0.82)
- Aerial arms races favor speed and agility over sheer size (similarity 0.81)
- Smilodon was a heavy ambush predator of lumbering large prey. (similarity 0.80)
- Predator diversity is best explained by weapon adaptation to habitat and prey (similarity 0.78)
Broader Connections
- Ambush predators depend on appendage speed more than body speed
#expands(0.85) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 123