SWIMMING OF THE MANDARIN FISH SYNCHROPUS-PICTURATUS (CALLIONYIIDAE, TELEOSTEI)

The kinematics and energetics of forward swimming in Synchropus picturatus (Peters), a slow swimming, negatively buoyant (s.G. = 1.12) demersal teleost was studied. The induced power (for one fin) decreased from 4.78 x 103 erg s-1 at 0.12 lengths s-1 (= 0.76 cm s-1) to 2.7 x 103 erg s-1 at 3.05 L s-1 (= 19.2 cm s-1). The profile power required to overcome the drag on an undulatory fin was calculated for the case of a laminar boundary layer (values range from about 1.0 x 102 erg s-1 at 0.12 L s-1 to about 5.5 x 102 erg s-1 at 3.05 L s-1) and a turbulent boundary layer (values range from about 6.0 x 101 erg s-1 at 0.12 L s-1 to about 2.1 x 102erg s-1 at 3.05 L s-1) over the fins. Values of the power required to overcome the drag on the body (parasite power) were calculated, assuming a laminar boundary layer over the body and ranged from 0.2 erg s-1 at 0.12 L s-1 to about 4.5 x 102 erg s-1 at 3.05 L s-1. Results are discussed in relation to the swimming of other fish and the flight energetics of birds and helicopters. © 1979, Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. All rights reserved.