105-1 Sat Jan 2 Maneuverability of hatchling Sepia officinalis Ganley, A*; Bartol, I; Old Dominion University; Old Dominion University aganl001@odu.edu
Maneuvering is essential for predator avoidance, prey capture, and habitat exploration, yet biomechanical research on the turning capabilities of many swimming animals is limited, especially during early ontogeny. For this study, we focused on understanding turning performance in hatchling cuttlefish Sepia officinalis, which has complex locomotory systems with multiple control surfaces and propulsors (jet and fins) that may be used independently or in concert. The cuttlefish (0 -14 days old, 5-8 mm mantle length) were placed in viewing chambers, and swimming behaviors and wake flows were recorded using high-speed videography and particle image velocimetry (PIV), respectively. The cuttlefish exhibited a range of turning behaviors, including tight turns with significant body and jet flow interactions and broad turns with greater spatial and temporal body/jet flow separation. Jet propulsion outweighed fin contributions in most turns, with vortex rings being prominent features of jet wakes, and cuttlefish demonstrated both arms-first and tail-first turning. Our results suggest cuttlefish display a broad repertoire of turning capabilities even during early ontogenetic development.