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SHORT COMMUNICATION
Lubricating the swordfish head
John J. Videler, Deniz Haydar, Roelant Snoek, Henk-Jan T. Hoving, Ben G. Szabo
Journal of Experimental Biology 2016 219: 1953-1956; doi: 10.1242/jeb.139634
John J. Videler
1Prof. Em. Groningen & Leiden University, Zuidlaarderweg 57, Noordlaren 9479 TH, The Netherlands
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  • ORCID record for John J. Videler
  • For correspondence: j.j.videler@rug.nl
Deniz Haydar
2Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, Groningen 9712 TS, The Netherlands
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Roelant Snoek
3Waterproof, Marine Consultancy & Services BV, Flevo Marina Trade Centre, IJsselmeerdijk 2, Lelystad 8221 RC, The Netherlands
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Henk-Jan T. Hoving
4GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, Kiel D-24105, Germany
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Ben G. Szabo
5Faculty of Medical Sciences, Groningen University, Institute for Medical Education, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, Groningen 9713 AV, The Netherlands
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ABSTRACT

The swordfish is reputedly the fastest swimmer on Earth. The concave head and iconic sword are unique characteristics, but how they contribute to its speed is still unknown. Recent computed tomography scans revealed a poorly mineralised area near the base of the rostrum. Here we report, using magnetic resonance imaging and electron microscopy scanning, the discovery of a complex organ consisting of an oil-producing gland connected to capillaries that communicate with oil-excreting pores in the skin of the head. The capillary vessels transport oil to abundant tiny circular pores that are surrounded by denticles. The oil is distributed from the pores over the front part of the head. The oil inside the gland is identical to that found on the skin and is a mixture of methyl esters. We hypothesize that the oil layer, in combination with the denticles, creates a super-hydrophobic layer that reduces streamwise friction drag and increases swimming efficiency.

FOOTNOTES

  • Competing interests

    The authors declare no competing or financial interests.

  • Author contributions

    J.J.V. is the initiator of the swordfish project of the former department of Marine Biology of Groningen University. R.S. discovered the capillary network during his master’s project. D.H. and H.-J.T.H. prepared and analysed SEM pictures of the pores in the skin. B.G.S. initialised and supervised the MRI procedure.

  • Funding

    This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Supplementary information

    Supplementary information available online at http://jeb.biologists.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.1242/jeb.139634/-/DC1

  • Received February 29, 2016.
  • Accepted April 17, 2016.
  • © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd
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Keywords

  • Swordfish
  • Functional morphology
  • Drag reduction
  • Oil gland
  • Porous skin

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SHORT COMMUNICATION
Lubricating the swordfish head
John J. Videler, Deniz Haydar, Roelant Snoek, Henk-Jan T. Hoving, Ben G. Szabo
Journal of Experimental Biology 2016 219: 1953-1956; doi: 10.1242/jeb.139634
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SHORT COMMUNICATION
Lubricating the swordfish head
John J. Videler, Deniz Haydar, Roelant Snoek, Henk-Jan T. Hoving, Ben G. Szabo
Journal of Experimental Biology 2016 219: 1953-1956; doi: 10.1242/jeb.139634

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