Could a dragon use its wings to swim?
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I have three types of dragons; dragons that primarily fly, dragons that primarily run, and dragons that primarily swim, with all three types being able to do the other two things for a limited amount of time.
What kind of wings would a water dragon have to have to be able to fly as well as swim? I had envisioned them using their wings as flippers, but I don't know if that would work for flying too.
biology mythical-creatures dragons
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NadiraSpzirglasNadiraSpzirglas
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I have three types of dragons; dragons that primarily fly, dragons that primarily run, and dragons that primarily swim, with all three types being able to do the other two things for a limited amount of time.
What kind of wings would a water dragon have to have to be able to fly as well as swim? I had envisioned them using their wings as flippers, but I don't know if that would work for flying too.
biology mythical-creatures dragons
asked 5 hours ago
NadiraSpzirglasNadiraSpzirglas
212
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NadiraSpzirglas is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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I don't know much about the physics or biology of this kind of thing, but it seems to me the needed motion for swimming vs flying is different? You push "down" against the air when flying, as opposed to pushing "back" against the water when swimming? So, anyone please correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like the range of motion is different for these two things and your dragons would need pretty versatile joints? I'm also now pretty interested in this question, looking forward to seeing what the science-literate folks on here say. P.S. Welcome to Stack Exchange
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– MarielS
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I have three types of dragons; dragons that primarily fly, dragons that primarily run, and dragons that primarily swim, with all three types being able to do the other two things for a limited amount of time.
What kind of wings would a water dragon have to have to be able to fly as well as swim? I had envisioned them using their wings as flippers, but I don't know if that would work for flying too.
biology mythical-creatures dragons
asked 5 hours ago
NadiraSpzirglasNadiraSpzirglas
212
New contributor
NadiraSpzirglas is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
I have three types of dragons; dragons that primarily fly, dragons that primarily run, and dragons that primarily swim, with all three types being able to do the other two things for a limited amount of time.
What kind of wings would a water dragon have to have to be able to fly as well as swim? I had envisioned them using their wings as flippers, but I don't know if that would work for flying too.
biology mythical-creatures dragons
biology mythical-creatures dragons
asked 5 hours ago
NadiraSpzirglasNadiraSpzirglas
212
New contributor
NadiraSpzirglas is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
NadiraSpzirglasNadiraSpzirglas
212
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asked 5 hours ago
NadiraSpzirglasNadiraSpzirglas
212
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asked 5 hours ago
NadiraSpzirglasNadiraSpzirglas
212
asked 5 hours ago
NadiraSpzirglasNadiraSpzirglas
212
212
New contributor
NadiraSpzirglas is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
NadiraSpzirglas is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
NadiraSpzirglas is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$begingroup$
I don't know much about the physics or biology of this kind of thing, but it seems to me the needed motion for swimming vs flying is different? You push "down" against the air when flying, as opposed to pushing "back" against the water when swimming? So, anyone please correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like the range of motion is different for these two things and your dragons would need pretty versatile joints? I'm also now pretty interested in this question, looking forward to seeing what the science-literate folks on here say. P.S. Welcome to Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– MarielS
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I don't know much about the physics or biology of this kind of thing, but it seems to me the needed motion for swimming vs flying is different? You push "down" against the air when flying, as opposed to pushing "back" against the water when swimming? So, anyone please correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like the range of motion is different for these two things and your dragons would need pretty versatile joints? I'm also now pretty interested in this question, looking forward to seeing what the science-literate folks on here say. P.S. Welcome to Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– MarielS
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
I don't know much about the physics or biology of this kind of thing, but it seems to me the needed motion for swimming vs flying is different? You push "down" against the air when flying, as opposed to pushing "back" against the water when swimming? So, anyone please correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like the range of motion is different for these two things and your dragons would need pretty versatile joints? I'm also now pretty interested in this question, looking forward to seeing what the science-literate folks on here say. P.S. Welcome to Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– MarielS
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
I don't know much about the physics or biology of this kind of thing, but it seems to me the needed motion for swimming vs flying is different? You push "down" against the air when flying, as opposed to pushing "back" against the water when swimming? So, anyone please correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like the range of motion is different for these two things and your dragons would need pretty versatile joints? I'm also now pretty interested in this question, looking forward to seeing what the science-literate folks on here say. P.S. Welcome to Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– MarielS
5 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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Totally yes.
If these ducks can do it, your dragons can do it. The video is great - these ducks are flying down to the ocean floor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7wY4Cnuk-s
It occurs to me that it would be good for something like a dragon to be able to use only part of its wing at first. I worry the forces put over the entirety of the wing to move that much water could tear the wing. As the dragon got up to speed it could use more and more wing.
answered 4 hours ago
WillkWillk
115k27218484
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There are certainly real-life birds that can fly in air and primarily hunt underwater... gannets and puffins, for example. There's plenty of footage on youtube of them doing just this. There are other flying birds that can fold their wings back neatly and use their feet for propulsion underwater, such as cormorants or diving ducks, so both options could work for you (though dragons with huge webbed feet might not be quite so intrinsically bad-ass as ones with talons. ymmv)
I strongly suspect that there will be scaling issues... for the same reason that large flying dragons are awkward things to make plausible (see countless questions on this site passim ad nauseam) making very large flippers remain light and strong and fast enough for flight and remain tough and powerful enough for swimming is likely to be very difficult. If you've already handwaved dragons into your scenario, perhaps this is less of an issue for you.
answered 4 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
1717
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
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active
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active
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votes
$begingroup$
Totally yes.
If these ducks can do it, your dragons can do it. The video is great - these ducks are flying down to the ocean floor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7wY4Cnuk-s
It occurs to me that it would be good for something like a dragon to be able to use only part of its wing at first. I worry the forces put over the entirety of the wing to move that much water could tear the wing. As the dragon got up to speed it could use more and more wing.
answered 4 hours ago
WillkWillk
115k27218484
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Totally yes.
If these ducks can do it, your dragons can do it. The video is great - these ducks are flying down to the ocean floor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7wY4Cnuk-s
It occurs to me that it would be good for something like a dragon to be able to use only part of its wing at first. I worry the forces put over the entirety of the wing to move that much water could tear the wing. As the dragon got up to speed it could use more and more wing.
answered 4 hours ago
WillkWillk
115k27218484
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Totally yes.
If these ducks can do it, your dragons can do it. The video is great - these ducks are flying down to the ocean floor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7wY4Cnuk-s
It occurs to me that it would be good for something like a dragon to be able to use only part of its wing at first. I worry the forces put over the entirety of the wing to move that much water could tear the wing. As the dragon got up to speed it could use more and more wing.
answered 4 hours ago
WillkWillk
115k27218484
$endgroup$
Totally yes.
If these ducks can do it, your dragons can do it. The video is great - these ducks are flying down to the ocean floor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7wY4Cnuk-s
It occurs to me that it would be good for something like a dragon to be able to use only part of its wing at first. I worry the forces put over the entirety of the wing to move that much water could tear the wing. As the dragon got up to speed it could use more and more wing.
answered 4 hours ago
WillkWillk
115k27218484
answered 4 hours ago
WillkWillk
115k27218484
answered 4 hours ago
WillkWillk
115k27218484
answered 4 hours ago
WillkWillk
115k27218484
115k27218484
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
There are certainly real-life birds that can fly in air and primarily hunt underwater... gannets and puffins, for example. There's plenty of footage on youtube of them doing just this. There are other flying birds that can fold their wings back neatly and use their feet for propulsion underwater, such as cormorants or diving ducks, so both options could work for you (though dragons with huge webbed feet might not be quite so intrinsically bad-ass as ones with talons. ymmv)
I strongly suspect that there will be scaling issues... for the same reason that large flying dragons are awkward things to make plausible (see countless questions on this site passim ad nauseam) making very large flippers remain light and strong and fast enough for flight and remain tough and powerful enough for swimming is likely to be very difficult. If you've already handwaved dragons into your scenario, perhaps this is less of an issue for you.
answered 4 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
1717
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
There are certainly real-life birds that can fly in air and primarily hunt underwater... gannets and puffins, for example. There's plenty of footage on youtube of them doing just this. There are other flying birds that can fold their wings back neatly and use their feet for propulsion underwater, such as cormorants or diving ducks, so both options could work for you (though dragons with huge webbed feet might not be quite so intrinsically bad-ass as ones with talons. ymmv)
I strongly suspect that there will be scaling issues... for the same reason that large flying dragons are awkward things to make plausible (see countless questions on this site passim ad nauseam) making very large flippers remain light and strong and fast enough for flight and remain tough and powerful enough for swimming is likely to be very difficult. If you've already handwaved dragons into your scenario, perhaps this is less of an issue for you.
answered 4 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
1717
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
There are certainly real-life birds that can fly in air and primarily hunt underwater... gannets and puffins, for example. There's plenty of footage on youtube of them doing just this. There are other flying birds that can fold their wings back neatly and use their feet for propulsion underwater, such as cormorants or diving ducks, so both options could work for you (though dragons with huge webbed feet might not be quite so intrinsically bad-ass as ones with talons. ymmv)
I strongly suspect that there will be scaling issues... for the same reason that large flying dragons are awkward things to make plausible (see countless questions on this site passim ad nauseam) making very large flippers remain light and strong and fast enough for flight and remain tough and powerful enough for swimming is likely to be very difficult. If you've already handwaved dragons into your scenario, perhaps this is less of an issue for you.
answered 4 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
1717
$endgroup$
There are certainly real-life birds that can fly in air and primarily hunt underwater... gannets and puffins, for example. There's plenty of footage on youtube of them doing just this. There are other flying birds that can fold their wings back neatly and use their feet for propulsion underwater, such as cormorants or diving ducks, so both options could work for you (though dragons with huge webbed feet might not be quite so intrinsically bad-ass as ones with talons. ymmv)
I strongly suspect that there will be scaling issues... for the same reason that large flying dragons are awkward things to make plausible (see countless questions on this site passim ad nauseam) making very large flippers remain light and strong and fast enough for flight and remain tough and powerful enough for swimming is likely to be very difficult. If you've already handwaved dragons into your scenario, perhaps this is less of an issue for you.
answered 4 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
1717
answered 4 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
1717
answered 4 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
1717
answered 4 hours ago
Starfish PrimeStarfish Prime
1717
1717
add a comment |
add a comment |
NadiraSpzirglas is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
NadiraSpzirglas is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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$begingroup$
I don't know much about the physics or biology of this kind of thing, but it seems to me the needed motion for swimming vs flying is different? You push "down" against the air when flying, as opposed to pushing "back" against the water when swimming? So, anyone please correct me if I'm wrong but I feel like the range of motion is different for these two things and your dragons would need pretty versatile joints? I'm also now pretty interested in this question, looking forward to seeing what the science-literate folks on here say. P.S. Welcome to Stack Exchange
$endgroup$
– MarielS
5 hours ago