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Stotting or pronking is a behavior of gazelles, particularly Thomson's Gazelles, involving leaping straight up during pursuit by a predator, typically a cheetah or lion. This reduces the lead distance and speed of the pursued gazelle when performed, and as such increases the risk of being caught and killed by the predator. This apparently counterproductive behavior may signal to the predator or potential mates its comparative fitness as a form of boasting or taunting, and so therefore may be an evolutionarily selected behavior. Evidence supports the hypothesis of advertising unprofitability - for example cheetahs abandon more hunts when the gazelle stots, and in the event they do give chase, they are far less likely to make a kill.[1] This is offered by adherents of the handicap principle as a prime example.