Animal feet with non-pathogenic interdigital webbing
This article is primarily about non-human animals. For humans, see Webbed toes.
Webbed feet of a mute swan. Here, the delta (triangular) shape of the foot is clearly visible. This shape allows for the formation of leading edge vortices and lift-based propulsion during swimming.[1]
The webbed foot is a specialized limb with interdigital membranes (webbings) that aids in aquatic locomotion, present in a variety of tetrapod vertebrates. This adaptation is primarily found in semiaquatic species, and has convergently evolved many times across vertebrate taxa.
Unlike other waders, the pied avocet has webbed feet, and can swim well.
It likely arose from mutations in developmental genes that normally cause tissue between the digits to apoptose. These mutations were beneficial to many semiaquatic animals because the increased surface area from the webbing allowed for more swimming propulsion and swimming efficiency, especially in surface swimmers.[2] The webbed foot also has enabled other novel behaviors like escape responses and mating behaviors. A webbed foot may also be called a paddle to contrast it from a more hydrofoil-like flipper.
^Johansson, L. Christoffer; Norberg, R. Ake (2003-07-03). "Delta-wing function of webbed feet gives hydrodynamic lift for swimming propulsion in birds". Nature. 424 (6944): 65–68. Bibcode:2003Natur.424...65J. doi:10.1038/nature01695. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 12840759. S2CID 4429458.
^Fish, F. E. (1984-05-01). "Mechanics, power output and efficiency of the swimming muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)". The Journal of Experimental Biology. 110: 183–201. doi:10.1242/jeb.110.1.183. ISSN 0022-0949. PMID 6379093.
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