| MadSci Network: Zoology |
I found lots of good information on whales on the internet, but nothing about the dorsal fin straightening, although I did read a reference about exercising Keiko (Willie from the movie "Free Will")and it mentioned his dorsal fin, as if a larger swimming area would "exercise" his dorsal fin. The fin is made up of cartilage and blood vessels. It is used as a keel in the water when they swim. Males are much taller and more triangular shaped, the females are smaller and can be curved at the tip. Sorry I couldn't answer your question more completely. You may want to try e-mailing one of the whale experts listed on one of the following web sites: http://www.seaworld.org/killer_whale/physchkw.html http://www.aquarium.org/Keiko/Keikohome_main.htm http://www.physics.helsinki.fi/whale/
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