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Comparative Kinematics And Hydrodynamics Of Odontocete Cetaceans: Morphological And Ecological Correlates With Swimming Performance, Frank E. Fish
Comparative Kinematics And Hydrodynamics Of Odontocete Cetaceans: Morphological And Ecological Correlates With Swimming Performance, Frank E. Fish
Frank E. Fish
Propulsive morphology and swimming performance were compared for the odontocete cetaceans Delphi,Delphinapterus leucas, Orcinus orca, Pseudorca crassidens and Tursiops truncatus. Morphological differences were apparent among the whales. The general body contour and low-aspect-ratio caudal flukes of D. leucas indicated that this species was a low-performance swimmer compared with the other species. Propulsive motions were video-taped as animals swam steadily in large pools. Video tapes were analyzed digitally using a computerized motion-analysis system. Animals swam at relative velocities ranging from 0.4 to 2.4 body lengths s(-1). The stroke amplitude of the flukes decreased linearly with velocity for D. leucas, but amplitude …