- Fish, Frank E. and Howle, Laurens E. and Murray, Mark M.,
Hydrodynamic flow control in marine mammals, INTEGRATIVE AND
COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY, vol. 48 no. 6 pp. 788--800 [doi] . (last
updated on 2011/07/03) Synopsis The ability to control the flow
of water around the body dictates the performance of marine
mammals ill the aquatic environment. Morphological
specializations of marine mammals afford mechanisms for passive
flow control. Aside from the design of the body, which minimizes
drag, the morphology of the appendages provides hydrodynamic
advantages with respect to drag, lift, thrust, and stall. The
flukes of cetaceans and sirenians and flippers of pinnipeds
possess geometries with flexibility, which enhance thrust
production for high efficiency swimming. The pectoral flippers
provide hydrodynamic lift for maneuvering. The design of the
flippers is constrained by performance associated with stall.
Delay of stall call be accomplished passively by modification of
the flipper leading edge. Such a design is ex