Abstract
The leaps of porpoising captive Humboldt (Spheniscus humboldti) and blackfoot (Spheniscus demersus) and free-ranging Adelie (Pygoscelis adeliae) penguins were analyzed from film. Captive and free-ranging penguins leap with a mean (±SD) emergence angle of 32°(±5°), significantly different from the 45° angle assumed by some hydromechanical models. Captive bird leaps occurred over a maximum of 22% of the total distance travelled, making energy savings marginal. Although physically able to leap at 2.3 m s−1, captive birds showed a minimum swimming speed of 3 m s−1 for the onset of leaping behavior, providing minimum in-air time comparable to the measured respiratory inhalation time. Porpoising may minimize energy expended for ventilation.
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