| Re: Mind blowing
The acceleration and top speeds which some fish can attain are simply amazing. Great White sharks can attain 35MPH+. Dolphin and porpoise, 35-40MPH. Tuna, marlin, and swordfish can attain 60MPH in short bursts. Their fins actually retract into small slots in their bodies for better streamlining at high speed!
Most amazing of all,the shortfin mako shark can accelerate at a rate of 50'per second, per second! That equates to 70MPH+ over a VERY short distance(quicker than 99.9% of the cars on this forum)!It's no wonder that navies worldwide have applied these fish's/mammal's hydrodynamic properties to modern nuclear submarine technology!
Anyway you look at it, they are very cool creatures!
Pete,
You are correct about dolphins/porpoises enjoying a good splash. Many times,I have seen them race at full speed for hundreds of yards, in order to catch up to my boat, and play in it's wake(jumps, flips, etc.). They are definitely having a ball!
Bill
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