Lubricating the swordfish head.

The swordfish is reputedly the fastest swimmer on Earth. The concave head and iconic sword are unique characteristics, but how they contribute to its speed is still unknown. Recent computed tomography scans revealed a poorly mineralised area near the base of the rostrum.

Sperm storage and mating in the deep-sea squid Joubin, 1931 (Oegopsida: Octopoteuthidae).

Spermatangium implantation is reported in the large oceanic squid , based on ten mated females from the stomachs of sperm whales. Implanted spermatangia were located in the mantle, head and neck (on both sides) or above the nuchal cartilage, under the neck collar and were often associated with incisions. These cuts ranged from 30 to 65 mm in length and were probably made by males, using the beak or arm hooks.

Escape from viscosity: the kinematics and hydrodynamics of copepod foraging and escape swimming.

Feeding and escape swimming in adult females of the calanoid copepod Temora longicornis Müller were investigated and compared. Swimming velocities were calculated using a 3-D filming setup. Foraging velocities ranged between 2 and 6 mm s(-1), while maximum velocities of up to 80 mm s(-1) were reached during escape responses.

Copepod feeding currents: flow patterns, filtration rates and energetics.

Particle image velocimetry was used to construct a quasi 3-dimensional image of the flow generated by the feeding appendages of the calanoid copepod Temora longicornis. By scanning layers of flow, detailed information was obtained on flow velocity and velocity gradients. The flow around feeding T.

The scaling and structure of aquatic animal wakes.

Animal generated water movements are visualized and quantified using two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV). The resulting vector flow fields allow for the study of the distribution of velocity, vorticity and vortices. Structural and temporal aspects of animal-induced flows covering a range of Reynolds (Re) numbers between less than 1 to more than 10(4) are presented.

Riding the waves: the role of the body wave in undulatory fish swimming.

A continuously swimming mullet modulates its thrust production by changing slip-the ratio between its swimming speed U and the speed V with which the body wave travels down its body. This variation in thrust is reflected in the wake of the fish. We obtained 2-dimensional impressions of the wake behind a mullet swimming at a slip of 0.