A hydrodynamically active flipper-stroke in humpback whales

• Published in: Current biology Vol. 27; no. 13; pp. R636 - R637
• Main Authors: Segre, Paolo S., Seakamela, S. Mduduzi, Meÿer, Michael A., Findlay, Ken P., Goldbogen, Jeremy A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 10.07.2017
• Subjects: Animal Fins - physiology; Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Feeding Behavior; Humpback Whale - physiology; Hydrodynamics; Swimming

A central paradigm of aquatic locomotion is that cetaceans use fluke strokes to power their swimming while relying on lift and torque generated by the flippers to perform maneuvers such as rolls, pitch changes and turns [1]. Compared to other cetaceans, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have...