Penguin wings help them turn underwater

As one of the most charismatic birds around, penguins are famous for being unable to fly. But just because these can't fly, doesn't mean that they don't use their wings move. Penguins swim by using as if were flying, flapping them glide gracefully through water in search food. Perhaps even more importantly, able make some remarkably acrobatic underwater manoeuvres order escape predators or catch particularly agile prey. However, not much is known about how perform simple movements, such turning, while swim. This led Natsuki Harada and Hiroto Tanaka Tokyo Institute Technology, Japan, ask question: what penguin's doing turn underwater? So headed Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium Nagasaki, March 2018 again September 2019 film gentoo (Pygoscelis papua) swam enclosure. manoeuvred duo was interested turns. When turn, do so with belly facing inside turn. different from flying airplanes, which bellies outside While swimming, also two types turns: gliding turns where held out side, but flap, powered flap. Because acting only rudders, a means propelling themselves forwards, researchers focused attention on turns.During upward motion help downward flap move forwards. surprising when straight forward, upwards generates slightly power forwards than downwards Not changing aquatic timing flaps. swimming line, left right wing would be sync. flaps earlier The videos showed rotating wing, makes combination all movements generate centripetal force, helping speed animals turn.So manoeuvrable penguins? noted without motivation predator chasing food catch, complete less 1 body length, 0.5 m. compared those other marine animals, fell middle, neither extremely nor unwieldy. states, ‘our measurements captured gentler studies', suggesting adding an incentive may increase manoeuvrability. quick point part turn; feet, body, head tail probably play role manoeuvrability well. certainly under escaping dangerous leopard seals catching delicious fish, ability take skies.