Question

Webbed feet help an animal to lead an .......... Life.
A)Arboreal
B)Aquatic
C)Aerial
D)All the above

Answer 1

Hint: The webbed foot is a specialized limb which is present in a number of vertebrates that help in assisting in locomotion. This adaptation is mainly seen in semi-aquatic organisms and has evolved through vertebrate taxa several times.

Complete answer:
Mutations occurring in the developmental genes have resulted in apoptosis in between the digits. These sorts of mutations were found to be beneficial to semi-aquatic animals as it helped to increase the surface area and propulsion. It has also helped in many other behaviours like escape responses and mating. A webbed foot can also be called a paddle to differentiate from a hydrofoil-like flipper. These webbed feet help in swimming like a frog.

A webbed foot possesses a connecting tissue in between the toes. There are many different conditions that might result in webbed feet, which includes syndactyly and interdigital webbing. The webbing may consist of either a membrane or skin that differs according to the organism. The legs in birds use countercurrent heat exchange for cooling the blood which is reaching feet and its returning to heart minimizes this effect.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B)

Note: In the case of ducks, the webbed feet have been enabled in such a way that they serve many functions altogether like propulsion, escape behaviours and mating. The surface swimmers have their speed-limited because of increasing drag when they approach the physically-defined speed that determines their body length.