WEBB and KEYES: SWIMMING KINEMATICS OF SHARKS 



Tabi.k 1.— Summary of mean kinematic parameters for six species of sharks. Data show mean values 

 t2SE. Sharks are ranked according to their morphology from the most elongate to most fusiform 

 species. This morphology would he expected to lie associated with more anguilli form and morecarangi- 

 form swimming, respectively. 



Species 



Specific 



swimming 



speed 



(U/L) 



Tail- 

 beat 

 frequency 

 (f. Hz) 



Specific 



tail-beat 



amplitude 



(ML) 



fA 



L 



Specific 

 stride 

 length 

 (S/L) 



Specific 

 wave- 

 length 

 (A/L) 



Phase 

 difference 

 (radians) 



Triakis hentei 



I I I I — I 



I 2 3 4 I 2 3 4 



U/L- SPECIFIC SWIMMING SPEED (Ls _l ) 



Figure 3. — Relationships between tail-beat frequency, f. specific amplitude, A/L. and 

 their product. fA/L, as functions of specific swimming speed, U/L for various sharks. A, 

 C, and E show data for blacktip sharks and best-fit functional regressions. These curves, 

 and the pertinent equation, are shown with the mean values for the other species in B, D, 

 and F. Values for the slope of the equations are the mean ±2SE. The key to symbols is in 

 Figure 1. Other data are teleosts and Triakis henlei from Hunter and Zweifel (1971)and 

 Carcharhinus plumbeus from Johnson (1970). 



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