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Related Experiment Video

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A Robotic Platform to Study the Foreflipper of the California Sea Lion

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Body Flexibility Enhances Maneuverability in the World's Largest Predator.

P S Segre¹, D E Cade¹, J Calambokidis²

¹Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, United States.

Integrative and Comparative Biology

|November 17, 2018

Summary

Blue whales use body flexibility and distinct flipper and fluke movements for complex underwater maneuvers. This research reveals surprising agility in these large marine mammals, challenging previous assumptions about their swimming capabilities.

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Area of Science:

Marine Biology
Biomechanics
Animal Locomotion

Background:

Blue whales were traditionally viewed as stable, open-ocean swimmers prioritizing endurance over agility.
Recent observations suggest blue whales engage in complex underwater behaviors, but the mechanics of these maneuvers remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify the locomotor dynamics and control surface movements of foraging blue whales.
To investigate how blue whales achieve complex maneuvers and the role of body flexibility.

Main Methods:

Utilized multi-sensor biologgers with integrated cameras to record blue whale movements.
Analyzed data to correlate control surface (flippers, flukes) actions with body dynamics during maneuvers.

Main Results:

Simple maneuvers (rolls, turns, pitch changes) involve specific combinations of flipper, fluke, and body movements.
Complex trajectories are formed by sequencing these simple maneuvers.
Blue whales employ banked turns, leveraging their significant dorso-ventral flexibility to enhance turning performance.

Conclusions:

Body flexibility is crucial for enhancing maneuver control and performance in large animals like blue whales.
The blue whale's body can supplement the function of hydrodynamically active surfaces, suggesting a novel mechanism for aquatic locomotion control.