Fish F E, Baudinette R V, Frappell P B, Sarre M P
Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA.
J Exp Biol. 1997 Oct;200(Pt 20):2647-52. doi: 10.1242/jeb.200.20.2647.
The metabolism of swimming in the platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus Shaw was studied by measurement of oxygen consumption in a recirculating water flume. Platypuses swam against a constant water current of 0.45-1.0 ms-1. Animals used a rowing stroke and alternated bouts of surface and submerged swimming. Metabolic rate remained constant over the range of swimming speeds tested. The cost of transport decreased with increasing velocity to a minimum of 0.51 at 1.0 ms-1. Metabolic rate and cost of transport for the platypus were lower than values for semiaquatic mammals that swim at the water surface using a paddling mode. However, relative to transport costs for fish, the platypus utilized energy at a similar level to highly derived aquatic mammals that use submerged swimming modes. The efficient aquatic locomotion of the platypus results from its specialised rowing mode in conjunction with enlarged and flexible forefeet for high thrust generation and a behavioral strategy that reduces drag and energy cost by submerged swimming.
通过在循环水槽中测量耗氧量，对鸭嘴兽（Ornithorhynchus anatinus Shaw）游泳时的新陈代谢进行了研究。鸭嘴兽逆着0.45 - 1.0米/秒的恒定水流游动。动物采用划水动作，交替进行水面游泳和水下游泳。在所测试的游泳速度范围内，代谢率保持恒定。运输成本随着速度增加而降低，在1.0米/秒时降至最低0.51。鸭嘴兽的代谢率和运输成本低于使用划水模式在水面游泳的半水生哺乳动物的值。然而，相对于鱼类的运输成本，鸭嘴兽利用能量的水平与采用水下游泳模式的高度特化水生哺乳动物相似。鸭嘴兽高效的水生运动源于其特殊的划水模式，以及用于产生高推力的增大且灵活的前肢，还有通过水下游泳减少阻力和能量消耗的行为策略。
