Fig. 9. Schematic diagram of the force balance on Triakis semifasciata
swimming at 1.0 Ls-1, where L is total body
length, while holding position (also representative of Chiloscyllium
punctatum), rising and sinking in the water column. The yellow circle
represents the center of mass, and vectors indicate forces F exerted
by the fish on the fluid. Lift forces are generated by the ventral body
surface, both anterior and posterior to the center of mass. The jet produced
by the beating of the tail maintains a constant angle relative to body angle
and path angle and results in an anterodorsally directed reaction force
oriented dorsal to the center of mass during all three behaviors, supporting
the classical model. Data on pectoral fin function are from Wilga and Lauder
(2000,
2001). Tail vortex jet angles
are predicted mean values from Table
2.