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Created: 2011-12-21
Updated: 2011-12-21

Body designed for fast, efficient swimming: shortfin mako shark


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Slide_show_arrows  1 of 1 Shortfin mako shark / Mark Conlin / LicensePD - Public Domain

The bodies of shortfin mako sharks and some tuna are designed for fast, efficient swimming thanks to internalized red muscle associated with a force-transmission system.

Biomimicry Taxonomy
 
Taxonomy_1 Move or stay put >
Taxonomy_2 Move >
Taxonomy_3 In/on liquids
Biomimetic Application Ideas
 
  • Improve speed and reducing energy needs of ships
  • Artificial muscles

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[Collapse all sections] Summary
"Through distinct evolutionary pathways lamnid sharks and tunas have converged on the same mechanical design principle, that of having internalized red muscle associated with a highly derived force-transmission system, two features that form the basis for their thunniform swimming mode. Our study shows that not only have the physical demands of the external environment sculpted the body shapes of large pelagic cruisers, but also the internal physiology and morphology of their complex locomotor systems has been finetuned over the course of their evolution." (Donley et al. 2004:64)
About the inspiring organism
Threat Categories LONG_VU Med_800pxisurus_oxyrinchus_by_mark_conlin2 Short-finned mako
Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810
[Atlantic mako, Blue pointer, Blue shark, Bonito shark, Dog shark, Mackerel porbeagle, Mackerel shark, Mako, Mako shark, Moro shark, Pointed nose shark, Shortfin shark, Sharpnose mackerel shark, Sharp-nose mackerel shark, Sharp-nosed mackerel shark, Sharp-]

IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Habitat(s): Marine Oceanic

Some organism data provided by: FishBase
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist
Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Useful information for improving speed and reducing energy needs of ships, robots, artificial muscles.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Transportation, Medical

References
Donley, JM; Sepulveda, CA; Konstantinidis, P; Gemballa, S; Shadwick, RE. 2004. Convergent evolution in mechanical design of lamnid sharks and tunas. Nature. 429(6987): 61-65.
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