Wing design and morphology of the harbor porpoise dorsal fin

The correlation between skin structure and hydrodynamic design of the dorsal fin of the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) was examined. For the study of fin morphology and geometry, a scheme of sampling representing a two‐parameter mesh on the fin surface was used. At each data point the thickness of the epidermis, papillary and subpapillary layers of the dermis, the ligamentous layer of the fin, as well as the angle formed by the direction of dermal ridges and the fin root chord were measured. On the basis of fin cross‐sections the three‐dimensional surface models of the fin in a 1 : 1 scale were created with a CAD program. The shape of the model was evaluated by the wing and hydrofoil parameters (angle of leading edge sweep, leading edge radius, maximum thickness of the fin cross‐section, and position of maximum thickness from the leading edge). Hydrodynamic performance of the fin cross‐sections was studied with a CFD program. Regional variability of the parameters of morphology was compared with spanwise variability of the parameters of cross‐sectional geometry. It was found that skin structure parameters correlate with the hydrodynamically relevant parameters of the fin and fin cross‐sections. Regularities of skin structure of the harbor porpoise dorsal fin are considered indirect evidence of the adaptation of porpoise skin to the fin flow. J. Morphol. 258:284–295, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.