Comments on: How Do Whales and Dolphins Swim? http://nmlc.org/2009/04/how-do-whales-and-dolphins-swim/ P.O. Box 269, 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532-0269 PHONE: 508-743-9888 | FAX: 508-759-5477 | E-Mail: nmlc@nmlc.org Sat, 28 Apr 2012 01:05:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kathy Zagzebski http://nmlc.org/2009/04/how-do-whales-and-dolphins-swim/comment-page-1/#comment-19647 Kathy Zagzebski Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:35:48 +0000 http://nmlc.org/?p=282#comment-19647 Thanks, Stephanie, for answering Susan's question! It does indeed have to do with the evolution of dolphins as mammals. Thanks, Stephanie, for answering Susan’s question! It does indeed have to do with the evolution of dolphins as mammals.

]]> By: Stephanie http://nmlc.org/2009/04/how-do-whales-and-dolphins-swim/comment-page-1/#comment-19535 Stephanie Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:10:28 +0000 http://nmlc.org/?p=282#comment-19535 Hey Susan! Cetaceans move their bodies up and down through the water because they are mammals. Look at the way a dog runs. Its spine moves up and down in a fluid motion, which is the same motion a dolphin's spine makes when it swims. Likewise, you can see how reptiles are more closely related to fish than mammals because they retain the side to side motion that originated in fish. I don't think it has anything to do with diving as there are many fish that live at great depths. Hope this helps you! Hey Susan!

Cetaceans move their bodies up and down through the water because they are mammals. Look at the way a dog runs. Its spine moves up and down in a fluid motion, which is the same motion a dolphin’s spine makes when it swims. Likewise, you can see how reptiles are more closely related to fish than mammals because they retain the side to side motion that originated in fish. I don’t think it has anything to do with diving as there are many fish that live at great depths.

Hope this helps you!

]]> By: Susan http://nmlc.org/2009/04/how-do-whales-and-dolphins-swim/comment-page-1/#comment-9565 Susan Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:16:59 +0000 http://nmlc.org/?p=282#comment-9565 Can you please explain why bony fish and cetaceans have a different motion for their tail. If both are used for propulsion why do bony fish have a sideways motion and whales and dolphins use an up and down motion. Does this account for the depths these mammals can reach upon diving? Thank you Susan Can you please explain why bony fish and cetaceans have a different motion for their tail. If both are used for propulsion why do bony fish have a sideways motion and whales and dolphins use an up and down motion. Does this account for the depths these mammals can reach upon diving?
Thank you
Susan

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