Low-flying Chinook

[shadesofmauve]

I complained via twitter about two Chinooks -- the dual-rotor cargo helicopters -- shaking my building this morning. Naturally, when I said "low flying chinook" two people immediately thought of the salmon. So I did a little painting at lunch today.



Oncorhynchus tshawytscha subsp CH-47.
Male, freshwater phase.

The tandem rotors of this subspecies allow easier travel to shallow stream beds for spawning. With this advantage CH47 would be expected to out-breed the straight species under natural conditions, but this seems to be cancelled out by increased avian predation -- osprey can often be seen waiting by waterfalls during the spring run. In addition, lab experimentation and careful observation in situ suggest that most female Chinook actually prefer the bruised and battered males which had to swim up the falls, perhaps for their more macho appearance.

Note that the adipose fin has been replaced by the hind rotor housing. With the adipose unavailable, dorsal fin clips are used to mark hatchery fish.

Comments

[t-c-da.livejournal.com]

The rotor synchronisation must require a fair amount of brainpowere, given that the fore rotor is 3 bladed and the rear rotor appears to be 4 bladed...

[\runs and hides rapidly....]

[shadesofmauve]

Nope, actually they're both three blades, and because I cheated and copied pretty much straight* from a photo of an actual tandem rotor helicopter, it's even fairly accurate. :P Now, the plane they're rotating in may be off, which would also make it fly funny... but it is a fish.


*Er, it didn't look like a fish...

EDIT to add: I'm going to assume involuntary nervous system, though. Instinct. No way a fish has enough brain to fly/be a helicopter.

[sinvraal.livejournal.com]

This made me laugh when I saw it on Tumblr. Great painting too!

[shadesofmauve]

Heh, thanks! I admit it was pretty much a copy-mashup of stock photos, so I wasn't figuring that much out, but it was certainly a simple way to get practice in with the tools.

[oddlittleturtle.livejournal.com]

ROFL
This right here? This is the best thing.

[westrider.livejournal.com]

So it would be a ROFLCopter, then?

[oddlittleturtle.livejournal.com]

Ha!
Indeed it could be.

[shadesofmauve]

*grins*

[stasia]

This is excellent!!

Stasia

[shadesofmauve]

Heh, I was hoping you'd see it! I almost texted you with "Stasia! I've drawn more weird animals!"

[stasia]

ALWAYS text me with that!! I'm always up for Moar Weerd Aminalz!

And, you're online! I should poke you, just for fun.

Stasia

[shadesofmauve]

Give it fifteen minutes. I must go bathe!

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

... The fish would've been my first thought as well.