Jumping archer fish exhibit multiple modes of fin–fin interaction

Abstract

Aquatic organisms jumping for aerial prey require high-performance propulsion, accurate aim, and trajectory control to succeed. Archer fish, capable of jumping up to twice their body length out of the water, address these considerations through multifaceted fin and body kinematics. In this study, we utilized 3D synthetic aperture particle image velocimetry to visualize the wakes of archer fish throughout the jumping process. We found that multiple modes of interaction between the anal and caudal fins occur during jump behaviors. Time-resolved volumetric measurements presented herein illustrate the hydrodynamics of each interaction mode in detail. Additionally, regardless of which fin uses and interactions were exhibited during a jump, we found similar relationships between the cumulative impulse of multiple propulsive vortices in the wake and the instantaneous ballistic momentum of the fish. Our results suggests that fin use may compensate for variations in individual kinematic events and in the aiming posture assumed prior to jumping and highlight how interactions between tailbeats and other fins help the archer fish reach necessary prey heights in a spatially- and visually-constrained environment. In the broader context of bioinspired propulsion, the archer fish exemplifies that multiple beneficial hydrodynamic interactions can be generated in a high-performance scenario using a single set of actuators.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Nov 17, 2020
Source ID
10.1088/1748-3190/abb78e

Entities

People

  • Alexandra H Techet
  • Leah Mendelson

Organizations

  • Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems
  • Office of Naval Research

Tags

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Riverine Ecology
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology