Nils B Tack

Shrimp swim by metachronal paddling with five pairs of appendages known as pleopods, which create and detach vortices at their tips and edges. The tip vortices produced by adjacent pleopods are thought to interact, potentially enhancing hydrodynamic performance. Although edge vortices have garnered less focus, their interactions may also contribute positively to propulsion.

Abstract Many of the most abundant aquatic invertebrates display metachronal swimming by sequentially beating closely spaced flexible appendages. Common biophysical mechanisms like appendage spatial asymmetry and phase drive the success and performance of this locomotor mode, which is generally explained by the need to maximize thrust production.