References / paperThe four-flipper swimming method of plesiosaurs enabled efficient and effective locomotion
Muscutt, L.E.; Dyke, G.; Weymouth, G.D.; Naish, D.; Palmer, C.; Ganapathisubramani, B.
Year2017
Source roleprimary-study
DOI / ID10.1098/rspb.2017.0951
Fitness and scope
ecology · event-mechanism · methods
The study is a recirculating-water-channel experiment with prescribed flipper models; supplementary data are archived at DOI 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3846208.
Claim ledger
event-mechanism · mediumA water-channel flipper model found performance benefits at selected fore- and hind-flipper phase offsets through vortex interaction; this experimental feasibility result does not directly observe extinct plesiosaur strokes or establish one universal gait.
claim:event:plesiosaur-four-flipper-model