Flipper (anatomy)

For distinctive feature of a fish anatomy, see Fish anatomy#Fins.

A flipper is a typically flat limb evolved for movement through water. Various creatures have evolved flippers, for example penguins (also called "wings"), cetaceans (e.g. dolphins and whales; usually called "fins"), pinnipeds, and reptiles such as some varieties of turtle and the now-extinct plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, ichthyosaurs, and metriorhynchids.

Some flippers are very efficient hydrofoils, analogous to wings (airfoils), used to propel and maneuver through the water with great speed and maneuverability (see Foil (fluid mechanics)). Some flippers are less foiled, with the appendages still apparent, as in the webbed forefeet seen in amphibious turtles.

Fins and foils – sails and wings Animals Bat wing Bird wing Caudal fin Dorsal fin Fish fin Flipper Insect wing Bird keel Pectoral fins Aircraft Airfoil Chord Leading edge Trailing edge Propeller Control aileron dive brake flaperon elevator flap spoileron stabilator stabilizer trim tab warping Wing blended canard circulation control flying tip tip device Fixed-wing configuration planform delta forward-swept swept tandem Variable wing camber incidence oblique sweep Tail assembly cruciform twin twin boom tailplane T-tail V-tail Boats Propeller Rudder Stabilizer Hydrofoil Keel bulb canting twin winged Centreboard bilgeboard daggerboard leeboard Sail gaff rig genoa head jib lateen main royal sail parts sail plan sail twist spinnaker square rig Submarine sail diving plane Other Annular fin Arrow fletch Boomerang Car tail fin downforce roof flap spoiler wing Heat transfer fin Flying disc Foil board Foil kite Glider Hang glider Grid fin Parafoil Rocket fin Solar sail Surfboard fin Swim fin Water rocket fin Turbine blade water wind Wing suit Physics Aerodynamics Aeroelasticity Coandă effect Flight dynamics Forces on sails Lift Lift-induced drag Magnus effect Wingtip vortices Related Aircraft flight control system Aquatic locomotion Bat wing development Origin of avian flight Fish locomotion Fin and flipper locomotion Flight feather Flying animal Points of sail Reefing Rigging Sailcloth Samara Tradeoffs for locomotion in air and water Undulatory locomotion