PACE, C.M.*; BLOB, R.W.; WESTNEAT, M.W.: Comparative kinematics of the forelimb during swimming in red-eared slider and spiny softshell turtles. In freshwater turtles the hindlimb typically has been viewed as the primary propulsive organ during swimming. However, in highly aquatic softshell turtles, extensive webbing is present between the digits of the hand as well as […]

MOTANI, R.: Using models of extant swimmers to infer aspects of locomotion in thunniform ichthyosaurs. Studying the functional morphology of extinct vertebrates poses challenges because only fossil remains are available. Robust correlations among certain physical, physiological, or kinematic variables in extant vertebrates can help infer functional parameters of extinct animals. I present a case where […]

Castro-Santos, T.*; Haro, A.: Optimal sprint speeds of fish traversing velocity barriers: further thoughts on burst-swimming data. Migrating fish traversing velocity barriers are often forced to swim at speeds greater than Ucrit. Since prolonged and burst-swimming are powered by inefficient anaerobic metabolic processes, models predicting optimal swim speeds based on maximized energetic efficiency are inappropriate […]

WESTNEAT, M.W.*: Mechanical design for swimming in big fish: Locomotor function in tunas and relatives. The axial morphology of big marine fishes is a mechanical system specialized for both high performance swimming and long-distance cruising. The axial musculature, connective tissues, and skeleton of tunas, mackerels, billfishes and their relatives exhibit modifications of the basic actinopterygian […]

SYME, D.A.*; SHADWICK, R.E.: Mechanical Power Production by Internal Red Muscle at Different Longitudinal Body Positions in Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) in Relation to Swimming The work loop technique was used to study power output by internal red muscle from skipjack tuna, to understandthe primary function of this muscle in swimming, how different strain amplitudes […]

WILGA, C.D.*; LAUDER, G.V.: Function of the heterocercal tail in sharks: quantitative wake dynamics during steady horizontal swimming and vertical maneuvering. The function of the heterocercal tail in sharks has long been debated in the literature. Previous kinematic data have supported the classical theory which proposes that the beating of the heterocercal caudal fin during […]

ROSENBERGER, L.* J.; WALKER, J. A.; COLLAR, D.; WESTNEAT, M. W.: Effects of fin shape and fin motion on labriform swimming performance Labriform locomotion in fishes is performed by either rowing or flapping the pectoral fins. In this study, we tested a priori hypotheses of causal associations between fin shape, fin kinematics, and swimming performance […]

NAUEN, J.C.*; LAUDER, G.V.: Small-scale flow around the finlets and caudal peduncle of free-swimming chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) The trajectory and speed of flow in the vicinity of the finlets (small fins on the dorsal and ventral body margin anterior to the caudal fin) and caudal peduncle of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) swimming steadily in […]

FREUND, E.V.*; DEWAR, H.; CROLL, D.A.: Locomotor Tracking of the Spine-tailed Devil Ray, Mobula japanica Three-dimensional movements and foraging ecology of a small manta ray species, the spine-tailed devil ray, Mobula japanica, were monitored using acoustic tracking (n = 2) and archival tagging techniques (n = 4) in the southern Sea of Cortez. The rays […]

LIAO, J.: Locomotion in needlefish: anguilliform swimming with fins Anguilliform locomotion involves the undulation of an elongate body axis and is characteristic of a diverse array of vertebrates, ranging from fishes to salamanders and reptiles. The Atlantic needlefish, Strongylura marina, is an elongate fish that displays anguilliform locomotion and also possesses a typical percomorph fin […]