Locomotion in scombrid fishes: visualization of flow around the caudal peduncle and finlets of the chub mackerel Scomber japonicus

Abstract

SUMMARY Scombrid fishes are known for high-performance locomotion; however, few data are available on scombrid locomotor hydrodynamics. In this paper, we present flow visualization data on patterns of water movement over the caudal peduncle and finlets (small fins on the dorsal and ventral body margin anterior to the caudal fin). Chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus, ranging in fork length from 20 to 26 cm, swam steadily at 1.2forklengthss−1 in a recirculating flow tank. Small, reflective particles in the flow tank were illuminated by a vertical (xy) or horizontal (xz) laser light sheet. Patterns of flow in the region near the caudal peduncle were measured using digital particle image velocimetry. Patterns of flow along the peduncle and finlets were quantified using manual particle tracking; more than 800 particles were tracked for at least 12ms over a series of tailbeats from each of four fish. In the vertical plane, flow trajectory and flow speed were independent of the position of the finlets, indicating that the finlets did not redirect flow or affect flow speed. Along, above and below the trailing surface of the peduncle, where the finlets were oriented along the peduncular surface, flow was convergent. Along, above and below the leading surface of the peduncle, where the finlets were absent, the flow trajectory was effectively horizontal. The lack of divergent flow on the leading surface of the peduncle is consistent with cross-peduncular flow formed by the lateral motion of the peduncle interacting with convergent flow resulting from forward movement of the body. In the horizontal plane, particles illuminated by the xz light sheet situated approximately 3 mm below the ventral body surface were tracked within the laser light sheet for up to 40ms, indicating strong planar flow. As the peduncle decelerates, the most posterior finlet is frequently at an angle of attack of at least 20° to the incident flow, but this orientation does not result in thrust production from lift generation. Finlet 5 does redirect cross-peduncular flow and probably generates small vortices undetectable in this study. These data are the first direct demonstration that the finlets have a hydrodynamic effect on local flow during steady swimming.