Plump turtles swim better: First models of swimming animals

Date:

October 29, 2014

Source:

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Summary:

Bigger is better, if you're a leatherback sea turtle. For the first time, researchers have measured the forces that act on a swimming animal and the energy the animal must expend to move through the water.

A surprising finding: Longer, slender turtles are less efficient swimmers than more rotund turtles, which get better stroke for their buck.

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