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Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
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Lubricating the swordfish head.

John J Videler1, Deniz Haydar2, Roelant Snoek3

  • 1Prof. Em. Groningen & Leiden University, Zuidlaarderweg 57, Noordlaren 9479 TH, The Netherlands j.j.videler@rug.nl.

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|July 8, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Swordfish possess a unique head organ that produces oil. This oil, combined with skin denticles, likely creates a super-hydrophobic surface to reduce drag and enhance swimming speed.

Keywords:
Drag reductionFunctional morphologyOil glandPorous skinSwordfish

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Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Biomechanics
  • Functional Morphology

Background:

  • The swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is renowned as Earth's fastest swimmer.
  • Its unique head morphology, including a concave cranial region and rostrum (sword), is implicated in its speed, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
  • Previous studies using computed tomography (CT) scans indicated poorly mineralized cranial bone near the rostrum base.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional morphology of the swordfish's head.
  • To elucidate the physiological mechanisms contributing to the exceptional swimming speed of swordfish.

Main Methods:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electron microscopy scanning were employed to examine the swordfish's cranial structure.
  • Analysis of the chemical composition of the secreted substance and its distribution on the skin.

Main Results:

  • A novel complex organ was discovered, comprising an oil-producing gland connected to a capillary network.
  • This network facilitates the transport of oil to numerous pores on the head's skin, which are surrounded by denticles.
  • The secreted oil, a mixture of methyl esters, was found to be identical to the substance on the skin, forming a continuous layer.
  • The oil layer, in conjunction with denticles, is hypothesized to form a super-hydrophobic surface.

Conclusions:

  • The discovered oil-secreting organ and its associated structures represent a unique adaptation for reducing friction drag.
  • This hydrodynamic mechanism likely plays a significant role in the high-speed swimming capabilities of the swordfish.
  • Further research is warranted to fully understand the biomechanical implications of this super-hydrophobic system.