Javascript: prototypal inherence and super constructor

Question

how can i call super constructor from the inheriting object? for example, i have a simple animal 'class':

function Animal(legs) {
  this.legs = legs;
}

i want to create a 'Chimera' class that inherits from Animal but sets the number of legs to a random number (providing the maximum number of legs in the constructor. so far i have this:

function Chimera(maxLegs) {
    // generate [randLegs] maxed to maxLegs
    // call Animal's constructor with [randLegs]
}
Chimera.prototype = new Animal;
Chimera.prototype.constructor = Chimera;

how to call Animal's constructor? thanks

Answer 1

I think what you want is similar to constructor chaining:

function Chimera(maxLegs) {
    // generate [randLegs] maxed to maxLegs
    // call Animal's constructor with [randLegs]
    Animal.call(this, randLegs);
}

Or you may consider Parasitic Inheritance

function Chimera(maxLegs) {

    // generate [randLegs] maxed to maxLegs
    // ...

    // call Animal's constructor with [randLegs]
    var that = new Animal(randLegs);

    // add new properties and methods to that
    // ...

    return that;
}

Answer 2

You can use the call method every function has:

function Chimera(maxLegs) {
   var randLegs = ...;
   Animal.call(this, randLegs);
}

Answer 3

You should be able to do this:

new Animal();