QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by SIMONS, J. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by SIMONS, J. R.

Journal of Experimental Biology 52,95-107 (1970)
Published by Company of Biologists 1970

The Direction of the Thrust Produced by the Heterocercal Tails of Two Dissimilar Elasmobranchs: The Port Jackson Shark, Heterodontus Portusjacksoni (Meyer), and the Piked Dogfish, Squalus Megalops (Macleay)

J. R. SIMONS ¹

¹ School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney

1. A method of determining the location and direction of the thrust developed by the tail of a fish is described.

2. The thrust produced by the heterocercal tails of Heterodontus portusjacksoni and Squalus megalops was found to be upwardly inclined to the horizontal at approximately 12° and 26° respectively.

3. The angle of elevation of the line of thrust developed by the tails correlates with the general habits of the two elasmobranchs; particularly in regard to manoeuvrability in the vertical plane.

4. The direction of the line of thrust depends upon the positions of the leading and trailing edges of the lobes of the tail as well as the relative sizes, and general arrangement, of the lobes.

5. The ventral lobe of the tail acts primarily to reduce the angle of the elevation of the thrust. Minus the ventral lobe, both types of tail were found to be strongly epibatic with lines of thrust considerably more inclined than those of the whole tail.

6. The ventral lobe of the tail, by virtue of the radial muscles, also probably functions as a variable trim device whereby the elasmobranch can correct its ‘fore and aft trim’ by adjusting the direction of the line of thrust appropriately.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. D. Wilga and G. V. Lauder Function of the heterocercal tail in sharks: quantitative wake dynamics during steady horizontal swimming and vertical maneuvering J. Exp. Biol., August 15, 2002; 205(16): 2365 - 2374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J Liao and G. Lauder Function of the heterocercal tail in white sturgeon: flow visualization during steady swimming and vertical maneuvering J. Exp. Biol., January 12, 2000; 203(23): 3585 - 3594. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Wilga and G. Lauder Three-dimensional kinematics and wake structure of the pectoral fins during locomotion in leopard sharks Triakis semifasciata J. Exp. Biol., January 8, 2000; 203(15): 2261 - 2278. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I Plaut Effects of fin size on swimming performance, swimming behaviour and routine activity of zebrafish Danio rerio J. Exp. Biol., January 2, 2000; 203(4): 813 - 820. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Wilga and G. Lauder Locomotion in sturgeon: function of the pectoral fins J. Exp. Biol., January 9, 1999; 202(18): 2413 - 2432. [Abstract] [PDF]