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Asymmetric toes aid underwater swimming

Johansson, Christoffer LU and Lindhe-Norberg, Ulla (2000) In Nature 407(6804). p.582-583
Abstract
The unique morphology of the toes of the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), which are asymmetrically lobed with a narrower skin flap on the lateral side of the toe, enables these birds to swim very efficiently. Here we study video recordings of a diving grebe and stroboscopic pictures of its moving feet and conclude that the bird uses a hydrodynamically lift-based foot (power) stroke to propel itself underwater, with the separated toes functioning as multiple slots to increase the lift-to-drag ratio. The asymmetric lobes are an adaptation for self-stabilization of the toes during the power stroke, and the toes themselves act as separate hydrofoils, each producing lift and each being twistable individually under hydrodynamic load.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Nature
volume
407
issue
6804
pages
582 - 583
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:0034609788
ISSN
0028-0836
DOI
10.1038/35036689
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
a4bfb013-034e-4140-9180-e609bfab771e (old id 951406)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:50:27
date last changed
2022-01-26 19:03:30
@article{a4bfb013-034e-4140-9180-e609bfab771e,
  abstract     = {{The unique morphology of the toes of the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), which are asymmetrically lobed with a narrower skin flap on the lateral side of the toe, enables these birds to swim very efficiently. Here we study video recordings of a diving grebe and stroboscopic pictures of its moving feet and conclude that the bird uses a hydrodynamically lift-based foot (power) stroke to propel itself underwater, with the separated toes functioning as multiple slots to increase the lift-to-drag ratio. The asymmetric lobes are an adaptation for self-stabilization of the toes during the power stroke, and the toes themselves act as separate hydrofoils, each producing lift and each being twistable individually under hydrodynamic load.}},
  author       = {{Johansson, Christoffer and Lindhe-Norberg, Ulla}},
  issn         = {{0028-0836}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6804}},
  pages        = {{582--583}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Nature}},
  title        = {{Asymmetric toes aid underwater swimming}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/35036689}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/35036689}},
  volume       = {{407}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}