Kinematics and efficiency of steady swimming in adult axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Abstract

The kinematics of steady swimming at a wide range of velocities was analysed using high-speed video recordings (500 frames s-1) of eight individuals of Ambystoma mexicanum swimming through a tunnel containing stationary water. Animals in the observed size range (0.135­0.238 m total body length) prefer to swim at similar absolute speeds, irrespective of their body size. The swimming mechanism is of the anguilliform type. The measured kinematic variables ­ the speed, length, frequency and amplitude (along the entire body) of the propulsive wave ­ are more similar to those of anguilliform swimming fish than to those of tadpoles, in spite of common morphological features with the latter, such as limbs, external gills and a tapering tail. The swimming speed for a given animal size correlates linearly with the tailbeat frequency (r2=0.71), whereas the wavelength and tail-tip amplitude do not correlate with this variable. The shape of the amplitude profile along the body, however, is very variable between the different swimming bouts, even at similar speeds. It is suggested that, for a given frequency, the amplitude profile along the body is adjusted in a variable way to yield the resulting swimming speed rather than maintaining a fixed-amplitude profile. The swimming efficiency was estimated by calculating two kinematic variables (the stride length and the propeller efficiency) and by applying two hydrodynamic theories, the elongated-body theory and an extension of this theory accounting for the slope at the tail tip. The latter theory was found to be the most appropriate for the axolotl's swimming mode and yields a hydromechanical efficiency of 0.75±0.04 (mean ± s.d.), indicating that Ambystoma mexicanum swims less efficiently than do anuran tadpoles and most fishes. This can be understood given its natural habitat in vegetation at the bottom of lakes, which would favour manoeuvrability and fast escape.