It's not flapping, because that's for movement with wings, but what...? And not swimming either. I'm looking for a word that I can use to say 'the number of flaps', but a different word to replace 'flaps'. I have no idea if that made any sense...
2007-02-25 07:09:31 · 3 answers · asked by Haley D 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
More generally, fin movement is defined as "abduction" when the fin is moved away from the body, and "adduction" when it is moved toward the body.
The rate of movements is called "pectoral fin-beat frequency" in this scientific publication. Check it out and see if you can use the terminology:
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/abstract/199/10/2235
Furthermore, two terms are used for fish fin movements:
"Rowing": back and forth movement in a plane parallel to the motion of the fish (performed by paddle-shaped fins)
"Flapping": up and down movement in a plane perpendicular to the movement of the fish (in the case of wing-shaped fins)
There are many variations in between these extremes, but I think these are the terms you're looking for. I looked them up in this other article http://icb.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/42/5/1032
I hope this helps!
2007-02-25 09:26:24 · answer #1 · answered by Calimecita 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
flipping
flippery!
a quick flip of the fins?
Prob not gramatically correct, but might be OK
2007-02-25 15:13:48 · answer #2 · answered by s g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
propelling? but they're not propellers... hm.
2007-02-25 15:13:03 · answer #3 · answered by freebird31wizard 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋