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Science 25 November 1960:
Vol. 132. no. 3439, pp. 1550 - 1551
DOI: 10.1126/science.132.3439.1550
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Articles

Sustained Swimming Speeds of Dolphins

Carl L. Johannessen 1 and James A. Harder 2

1 Department of Geography, University of Oregon, Eugene
2 Department of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

Observations of fout large groups of dolphins suggest that they are able to swim at a sustained speed of 14 to 18 knots. The blackfish are able to maintain speeds of about 22 knots, and one killer whale seemed able to swim somewhat faster. This implies that the apparent coefficient of surface friction remains approximately constant for dolphins from 6 to 22 ft long, as is the case for rigid bodies.


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)