Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Measurements of Swimming Speeds of Yellowfin Tuna and Wahoo

Nature volume 202, pages 208–209 (1964)Cite this article

Abstract

Bainbridge1 and Nursall2 have questioned the validity of certain fish swimming speed estimates because these require that either completely laminar flow or very high power factors must be postulated in order to explain the animals' performance. Speeds in excess of 45 km/h are included in this suspect category. Walters3 showed that certain morphological features indicate that scombroid fishes may attain velocities of 10 body-lengths/sec, and the large species should be able to attain maximum speeds considerably in excess of 45 km/h.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bainbridge, R., Problems of Fish Locomotion, Zool. Soc. London, Symp., 5, 13 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Nursall, J. R., Amer. Zool., 2, 127 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Walters, V., Amer. Zool., 2, 143 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of California, Los Angeles

    VLADIMIR WALTERS & HARRY L. FIERSTINE

Authors
  1. VLADIMIR WALTERS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. HARRY L. FIERSTINE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

WALTERS, V., FIERSTINE, H. Measurements of Swimming Speeds of Yellowfin Tuna and Wahoo. Nature 202, 208–209 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/202208b0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/202208b0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing