Flow patterns around bodies undergoing flow-induced vibrations and biomimetic flows have intriguing similarities, and similar flow mechanisms can be used to understand their principal properties and find ways to alter their behavior. The long history and extensive study of flow-structure interaction allowed the rapid development of the new field of biomimetic fluid mechanics. In return, the properties that were revealed and the discoveries that were made through the study of the swimming of fish and cetaceans and of bird flight are now entering the engineering domain, suggesting new ways to control the flow and how to devise new technology as well as invigorating our profession.