Swimming Speeds of Some Common Fish
Koichi Hirata, October 1, 1999
The swimming speed of fish is determined by its shape, size and build. In addition, fish generally cruise at a different speed than their all-out full attack speed.
The following are typical values for various fish. I have included the speed (m/s), and also typical values for body length L (m), and the ratio of velocity to length V/L [1]. Reference [2] has more details.
 Herring
|
Speed = 6 km/h = 1.67 m/s = 3.7 MPH
Length = 0.3 m
V/L = 5.6
|
 Pike
|
Speed = 6 km/h = 1.67 m/s = 3.7 MPH
Length = 0.5 m
V/L = 3.3
|
 Carp
|
Speed = 6 km/h = 1.67 m/s = 3.7 MPH
Length = 0.8 m
V/L = 2.1
|
 Cod
|
Speed = 8 km/h = 2.22 m/s = 5 MPH
Length = 1.2 m
V/L = 1.9
|
 Mackerel
|
Speed = 11 km/h = 3.06 m/s = 6.8 MPH
Length = 0.5 m
V/L = 6.1
|
 Salmon
|
Speed = 45 km/h = 12.5 m/s = 28 MPH
Length = 1.0 m
V/L = 12.5
|
 Bonito
|
Speed = 60 km/h = 16.7 m/s = 37 MPH
Length = 0.9 m
V/L = 18.6
|
 Small Tuna (KIHADA)
|
Speed = 60 km/h = 16.7 m/s = 37 MPH
Length = 3.0 m
V/L = 5.6
|
 Black Tuna
|
Speed = 80 km/h = 22.2 m/s = 50 MPH
Length = 3.0 m
V/L = 7.4
|
 Swordfish
|
Speed = 96 km/h = 26.7 m/s = 60 MPH
Length = 4.0 m
V/L = 6.7
|
References
(1) T. Iwai and M. Hisada: Fishes - Illustrated Book of Gakken (in Japanese), (1998), Gakken.
(2) H. Nagai: Fluiddynamics Learned from Dolphin (in Japanese), (1999), Ohm Books.
[Outline of the Fish Robot]
[Fish Robot Home Page]
|
