Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 17 September 1976:
Vol. 193. no. 4258, pp. 1146 - 1148
DOI: 10.1126/science.193.4258.1146
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Drag Reduction by Formation Movement in Spiny Lobsters

ROBERT G. BILL 1 and WILLIAM F. HERRNKIND 1

1 Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee 32306

Movements of spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) in formation reduce drag during locomotion; such movement is of particular significance during mass migration. Queues (single-file lines) of spiny lobsters sustain less drag per individual than do individual lobsters moving at the same speed. It is proposed that queuing behavior conserves energy and is a consequence of the evolutionary role of migration in this particular species.

Submitted on January 9, 1976
Revised on May 19, 1976


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Fluid mechanics produces conflicting, constraints during olfactory navigation of blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus.
M. J. Weissburg, C. P. James, D. L. Smee, and D. R. Webster (2003)
J. Exp. Biol. 206, 171-180
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Running in the surf: hydrodynamics of the shore crab Grapsus tenuicrustatus.
M. M. Martinez (2001)
J. Exp. Biol. 204, 3097-3112
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

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