Why do coots have such weird feet?

Why do coots have such weird feet?

A coot's feet are perfectly designed to cope with a life on both dry land and water, says Stuart Blackman

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Published: February 4, 2025 at 1:17 pm

Webbed toes are great for propulsion in water, but as anyone who has tried walking in flippers knows, they are not built for elegance on land - so evolution had to come up with a solution for coots who need to be able to move efficiently on land and in water.

The answer? A hinged flap. A coot’s “lobate” foot is an exquisitely engineered solution to unfettered locomotion in both worlds. Each toe sports hinged flaps that increase the foot’s surface area for swimming but can fold back out of the way when not in use. 

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