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[deleted] OP t1_jdrnqns wrote

Reply to comment by athomasflynn in Can elephants canter or gallop? by [deleted]

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Constant_Breadfruit t1_jdrrnkf wrote

This is not very satisfying but it does not have a name. Elephants are unique in their size. I watched the video closely a number of times. For part of the charge, the footfall pattern indeed matches a gallop. But you’re only halfway there because all 4 feet need to be off the ground at some point and that can’t happen. This gait as far as I can tell does not have a name in English.

noun: gallop the fastest pace of a horse or other quadruped, with all the feet off the ground together in each stride.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/elephant-locomotion/

https://www.animatornotebook.com/learn/quadrupeds-gaits

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[deleted] OP t1_jdtky6k wrote

This answered my question. Thank you very much.

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Van-garde t1_jds85xl wrote

The double-suspension is wonderful. I also found the camel at pace very pleasing. Thanks for sharing

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FickleSycophant t1_jdtxf0y wrote

So the word “gallop” has been around and used to describe the fastest pace of a horse for a long time, but it’s my understanding that we didn’t discover that all four feet were off the ground at the same time until the early days of photography demonstrated it. So it’s hard to believe that the term gallop requires all four feet off the ground when we didn’t even know horses did that until maybe 150 years ago.

Edit: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-19th-century-photographer-first-gif-galloping-horse-180970990/

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d4m1ty t1_jdrqngm wrote

Elephant wasn't galloping in the vid. A gallop requires the animal to have all 4 feet off of the ground at the same time. Animal must be fully airborne. Gallop has nothing to do with speed, it is a terminology that defines 4 suspended feet while running.

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billyhicks69 t1_jdrq2rb wrote

Your link doesn't work. But as the other commenter said, a gallop is when all 4 feet are suspended in air at the same time, and elephants aren't capable of doing that.

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TheresNoAmosOnlyZuul t1_jdst6i3 wrote

Honestly it looked like that elephant might have some hip problems. It did t wanna move it's back legs separately. The definition of a gallop is that all four feet are off the ground at the same time which is a physical impossibility for an elephant. I'd say it's entirely possible that an elephant can do a trot. I'm unsure about a cantor.

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KimberelyG t1_jdthm3d wrote

In OP's video example, that elephant's front legs are hobbled - that's when you rope or chain together (as in this case) a pair of legs to restrict an animal's natural range of motion, movement ability, and speed.

You can hear the chains rattle as the elephant moves, as well as see the hobbles, especially when the animal is close to the camera, like around 25 seconds into the video. The hobbles are causing this elephant to have an unusual gait.

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TheresNoAmosOnlyZuul t1_jdubn83 wrote

Ah. I didn't have sound on. That makes perfect sense. Personally I wish we could have more respect for elephants freedom. They're too intelligent for us to just have as pets.

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