Impala

Impalas demonstrate how prey evolve multi-modal defense against speed predators rather than matching their single capability. Against cheetahs, impalas use alarm calls, herd vigilance, and unpredictable leaping—jumping 10 feet high and 30 feet forward in random directions that even the fastest predator can't anticipate. They've evolved to be unpredictable rather than fast.

The impala's defense system operates on different principles than the cheetah's offense. Cheetahs optimize for straight-line speed; impalas optimize for maneuverability and randomness. A cheetah running at 70 mph cannot turn quickly; an impala can change direction mid-leap. By introducing chaos into the pursuit equation, impalas neutralize cheetah speed advantage without matching it.

The business parallel is asymmetric defense against specialized competitors. Impalas are like companies that respond to aggressive competitors not by matching their capability but by making their capability irrelevant. When a competitor optimizes for price, respond with service complexity they can't profitably match. When they optimize for speed, respond with customization that requires deliberation. The impala strategy accepts that you can't out-run a cheetah but demonstrates you can out-maneuver one.