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Morphological Characterization and Hydrodynamic Behavior of Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) Dorsal Fin Denticles

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 September 2019

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Abstract

The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is one of the fastest marine fishes, reaching speeds of up to 70 km·h−1. Their speed is related to the skin surface design composed of dermal denticles. Denticles vary in size and shape according to placement on the body and minimize turbulence around the body. The objective of this study is to analyze the interaction between seawater flow and denticles on the dorsal fin. High-resolution microscopy (scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy) were used to measure defined parts of the dermal denticles. These measurements, along with ratios based on length-to-width define three morphologies (rounded, semi-rounded, long) that were 3D reconstructed. Computational fluid dynamics simulated fluid passage over reconstructed denticles and describe hydrodynamic efficiency under different conditions. An increase in angle of inclination produced a relevant increase in the drag coefficient, especially for high velocity inlets. The lowest drag coefficient values were found in long and semi-rounded, followed by rounded morphologies. The hydrodynamic behavior of shark skin demonstrates a relation to the morphological characteristics of dermal denticles on the dorsal fin. It is concluded that the best hydroefficiency relies on the rounded morphology and may serve to design hydrodynamically efficient surfaces or manmade assemblies.

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Change history

  • 11 October 2019

    The names of the authors were incorrect in the published paper and should be revised as “Patricia Fernandez-Waid, Guzman Diez, Iñigo Bidaguren, Urtzi Izagirre, Jesus Maria Blanco, Manu Soto”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU), University of the Basque Country, Bilbao and Areatza z/g, Plentzia 48620, Bizkaia, Spain

    Fernandez-Waid Patricia, Izagirre Urtzi & Soto Manu

  2. Marine Research Division, AZTI, Txatxarramendi s/n Sukarrieta, 48395, Bizkaia, Spain

    Diez Guzman

  3. Department of Nuclear Engineering and Fluid Mechanics, School of Engineering, (UPV/EHU) University of the Basque Country, Plaza Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1., 48013, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain

    Bidaguren Iñigo & Blanco Jesus Maria

Authors
  1. Fernandez-Waid Patricia
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  2. Diez Guzman
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  3. Bidaguren Iñigo
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  4. Izagirre Urtzi
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  5. Blanco Jesus Maria
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  6. Soto Manu
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Correspondence to Soto Manu.

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Patricia, FW., Guzman, D., Iñigo, B. et al. Morphological Characterization and Hydrodynamic Behavior of Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) Dorsal Fin Denticles. J Bionic Eng 16, 730–741 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-019-0059-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-019-0059-7

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