Fish F E, Battle J M
Department of Biology, West Chester University, Pennsylvania 19383.
J Morphol. 1995 Jul;225(1):51-60. doi: 10.1002/jmor.1052250105.
The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is reported to use its elongate pectoral flippers during swimming maneuvers. The morphology of the flipper from a 9.02-m whale was evaluated with regard to this hydrodynamic function. The flipper had a wing-like, high aspect ratio planform. Rounded tubercles were regularly interspersed along the flipper's leading edge. The flipper was cut into 71 2.5-cm cross-sections and photographed. Except for sections near the distal tip, flipper sections were symmetrical with no camber. Flipper sections had a blunt, rounded leading edge and a highly tapered trailing edge. Placement of the maximum thickness placement for each cross-section varied from 49% of chord at the tip to 19% at mid-span. Section thickness ratio averaged 0.23 with a range of 0.20-0.28. The humpback whale flipper had a cross-sectional design typical of manufactured aerodynamic foils for lift generation. The morphology and placement of leading edge tubercles suggest that they function as enhanced lift devices to control flow over the flipper and maintain lift at high angles of attack. The morphology of the humpback whale flipper suggests that it is adapted for high maneuverability associated with the whale's unique feeding behavior.
据报道，座头鲸（Megaptera novaeangliae）在游泳时会使用其细长的胸鳍。针对这种流体动力学功能，对一头9.02米长的座头鲸的胸鳍形态进行了评估。该胸鳍具有类似翅膀的、高展弦比的平面形状。圆形瘤状突起沿着胸鳍的前缘规则分布。将胸鳍切成71个2.5厘米的横截面并拍照。除了靠近远端尖端的部分，胸鳍各部分是对称的，没有弯度。胸鳍各部分的前缘钝圆，后缘高度渐缩。每个横截面的最大厚度位置从尖端弦长的49%到翼展中部的19%不等。截面厚度比平均为0.23，范围在0.20至0.28之间。座头鲸的胸鳍具有典型的用于产生升力的人造空气动力学翼型的横截面设计。前缘瘤状突起的形态和位置表明，它们起到增强升力装置的作用，以控制胸鳍上的水流，并在大攻角时保持升力。座头鲸胸鳍的形态表明，它适应了与鲸鱼独特觅食行为相关的高机动性。
