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Alca torda torda is a subspecies of birds in the family auks. Individuals can grow to 68 cm. They rely on flight and lift powered swimming to move around.

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  • URI: https://eol.org/schema/terms/lift_based_swimming
  • Definition: Hydrofoils, or fins, are used to push against the water to create a normal force to provide thrust, propelling the animal through water. The reduction of fin cross-sectional area helps to minimize drag, and therefore increase efficiency. Regardless of size of the animal, at any particular speed, maximum possible lift is proportional to (wing area) x (speed)<sup>2</sup>. Dolphins and whales have large, horizontal caudal hydrofoils, while many fish and sharks have vertical caudal hydrofoils.
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EOL has data for 11 attributes, including:

Known occurrences, collected specimens and observations of Alca torda torda Linnaeus 1758 from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility   GBIF provides free and open access to biodiversity data. View this species on GBIF