Functional morphology and locomotion of the arctic ctenophore Mertensia ovum (Fabricius) (Tentaculata: Cydippida)
1991; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 76; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/00364827.1991.10413473
ISSN1503-1128
Autores Tópico(s)Micro and Nano Robotics
ResumoAbstract Mertensia ovum is an ambush predator, abundant in the Arctic regions, and reaches lengths of 8.9 cm and can swim at velocities up to 13.4 cm s-1. The mean Reynolds number for cilia (Rec) is 96 while the mean Reynolds number for the body (Reb) is 1738. Based on laboratory investigations using a flow tank and dynamically scaled models of M. ovum (without cilia), M. ovum may experience drag forces up to 848 dynes with drag coefficients (CD) from 0.3 to 1.6. Comparison of flow patterns around living M. ovum in situ and around models reveals that flow stagnation behind the keels is a result of the body morphology while the narrowing of the wake is a result of body morphology and differential ctene row propulsive forces. The ctene plate and ctene row are important as individual edge vortices are generated from single ctene plates, and the edge vortices are joined into larger aboral vortices that form beyond the posterior region of the ctenophore. The eight characteristic ctene rows are on top of ridges that are separated by deep grooves.
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