Humpback whale flippers

animaltoyforum · February 14, 2016, 01:27:10 AM

Does anyone know what humpback whales use their large flippers for? Presumably humpback whales generate thrust mostly using their tails like other whales, or do they use their limbs to generate thrust as well? Maybe their diet/behaviour is different to short-flippered baleen whales?

AcroSauroTaurus · February 14, 2016, 01:48:18 AM

Humpback Whales use their specialized pectoral flippers for "slapping" the waters surface as a means of communication over long range.

stargatedalek · February 14, 2016, 03:07:26 AM

IIRC they also give it greater agility for circling tightly when using bubble nets.

animaltoyforum · February 14, 2016, 10:48:06 AM

Do any other whales slap the water surface in that way?

animaltoyforum · February 14, 2016, 10:49:47 AM

Quote from: stargatedalek on February 14, 2016, 03:07:26 AM
IIRC they also give it greater agility for circling tightly when using bubble nets.

That makes sense. Can you remember where you heard that?

stargatedalek · February 14, 2016, 04:05:59 PM

Quote from: animaltoyforum on February 14, 2016, 10:49:47 AM
Quote from: stargatedalek on February 14, 2016, 03:07:26 AM
IIRC they also give it greater agility for circling tightly when using bubble nets.

That makes sense. Can you remember where you heard that?

Afraid not so don't quote me on that.

sbell · February 14, 2016, 05:50:14 PM

Again, I have no idea where I read it--but I seem to recall aerodynamic (hydrodynamic?) studies on humpback flippers that indicated how their large size and the morphology of the anterior margin did something to improve efficiency.

animaltoyforum · February 14, 2016, 09:05:08 PM

Found this, which has citations that confirm some of the things you have raised. Thanks for your help! http://www.asknature.org/strategy/3f2fb504a0cd000eae85d5dcc4915dd4

sbell · February 14, 2016, 11:03:32 PM

Quote from: animaltoyforum on February 14, 2016, 09:05:08 PM
Found this, which has citations that confirm some of the things you have raised. Thanks for your help! http://www.asknature.org/strategy/3f2fb504a0cd000eae85d5dcc4915dd4

No worries--this wouldn't have something to do with plesiosaur flippers, would it? Because that would be super!

AcroSauroTaurus · February 15, 2016, 12:33:27 AM

Quote from: sbell on February 14, 2016, 11:03:32 PM
Quote from: animaltoyforum on February 14, 2016, 09:05:08 PM
Found this, which has citations that confirm some of the things you have raised. Thanks for your help! http://www.asknature.org/strategy/3f2fb504a0cd000eae85d5dcc4915dd4

No worries--this wouldn't have something to do with plesiosaur flippers, would it? Because that would be super!

Well, knowing the Admin has an "obsession" with plesiosaurs, I would assume so...

Owen Leo · March 11, 2016, 07:19:19 AM

The flippers of the humpback whale channel flow and increase aerodynamic efficiency due to tubercles or bumps. So basically they use them for swimming

animaltoyforum · April 15, 2018, 03:12:58 PM

Quote from: AcroSauroTaurus on February 15, 2016, 12:33:27 AM
Quote from: sbell on February 14, 2016, 11:03:32 PM
Quote from: animaltoyforum on February 14, 2016, 09:05:08 PM
Found this, which has citations that confirm some of the things you have raised. Thanks for your help! http://www.asknature.org/strategy/3f2fb504a0cd000eae85d5dcc4915dd4

No worries--this wouldn't have something to do with plesiosaur flippers, would it? Because that would be super!

Well, knowing the Admin has an "obsession" with plesiosaurs, I would assume so...

Of course it did! Humpback whales seem to be the only whales that (sometimes) use wing-like flippers for propulsion. I wondered if there was anything about their behaviour that could account for this adaptation, and if that might help us to understand plesiosaurs.

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Humpback whale flippers